Korean Grammer #2. 저의 vs 저희

Korean Grammer #2. 저의 vs 저희

며칠 전, 제 미국인 친구와 저는 '저의'와 '저희'에 관해 이야기를 나눴어요.
A few days ago, my American friend and I talked about Korean grammar about 저의 vs. 저희.


Differences between 저의 vs 저희:

* 의 vs 희
저의: 'My' in English - '나의'와 같은 뜻이지만 상대방을 높일 때 사용해요
저희: This is the same meaning of 'Our' - '우리'와 같은 뜻이지만 상대방을 높일 때 사용해요

You may use 저희 instead of 우리 (possessive form of 'we') to express that you respect for someone listening to your speaking.

It's the same way of using 나의 vs 저의. :)


* For example,

My dog's name is 막내.
나의 개의 이름은 막내입니다.

If I and my brother both raise 막내, we can say that as follows:
Our dog's name is 막내.
우리 개의 이름은 막내입니다.

If you want to say this sentence to older people or someone you respect, you may say that as follows:
Our dog's name is 막내.
저희(I and my brother's) 개의 이름은 막내입니다.


Both 제 and 저의 have the same meaning. It means 'My'.
It is simply a contraction. :)

제 sounds more natural in informal speaking and writing. :)


Additional question, "Does 저희 have a contraction also?"

I answered, "You might use 제 instead of 저희, but I recommend you use 저희 when your speaking and writing."

저희들은 => no contraction
저희 개 => 제 개 (possible, but not natural or… feeling less polite)
저희 엄마 => 제 엄마 (possible, but feeling less polite)


질문이 있다면 이메일을 보내주세요. :)
If you have any questions about Korean, e-mail me! (lyoung.lkim@gmail.com)

Korean Grammar #1. 제 vs 저의 / 이에요 vs 이예요

Korean Grammar #1. 제 vs 저의 / -이에요 vs -이예요

저는 현재 외국인이 쓴 한글 일기와 한글 에세이를 수정하는 작업을 하고 있어요. 때때로 한국어 문법에 관한 질문을 받고 있어요.
I am currently correcting Korean journals and essays written by foreigners. Sometimes I have received some questions about Korean grammar.

오늘 한 친구가 저에게 한국어 문법에 관해 질문을 했어요.
Today, someone asked me about Korean grammar as follows:

'제'와 '저의' 그리고 '-이예요'와 '-이에요' 중 어떤 것이 문법적으로 맞느냐는 질문이었어요.
Difference between: 제 and 저의 / -이예요 or- 이에요 Which is correct?
한국어를 모국어로 하는 많은 한국인들도 이 문법은 헷갈려해요. 그래서 이 질문을 여기에 공유하기로 했어요.
Many native speakers are confused this grammar, so this question is very good to share here.

My answer was as follows:* 제, 저의 both are correct.* 이에요 is correct. 이예요 is wrong.

You can use 이에요 as the same with 예요,
but '이에요' sounds more natural and formal in your writing.

When you have prop consonants with your last word, you should say 이에요.
On the other hand, without prop consonants, you should say 예요.

ex) 제 스마트폰은 아이폰이에요. = 제 스마트폰은 아이폰예요. (with prop consonants)
제 이름은 마리예요. (without prop consonants)



질문이 있으면 이메일을 보내주세요. :)
If you have any questions about it, just let me know via email - lyoung.lkim@gmail.com.

Three Important Inventions

Three Important Inventions 

Lian Kim 

  What is your stance about technological inventions? Many people believe that technology may ruin our lives and our relationships. However, I personally disagree with this idea. In our history, people have invented a lot of meaningful novelties based on technology. Among them, I would like to choose three crucial inventions: the printing press, the laundry machine, and the smartphone. Why I chose these three features is because these changed our social systems, women's lifestyles, and ways of communication.  

Image from http://blog.daum.net/kmozzart/3417

Printing Press

  First of all, the printing press changed social systems. The invention of the printing press was the most crucial among many important inventions because printing became a foundation of the Renaissance and aided the Protestant Reformation (Rubin, 2014, p. 270). Before this invention, books were hand-written on parchment. According to Kim (2005), several dozen baby sheep were needed to make a book. It took a long time to finish a book, and a handwriting expert was necessary (Kim, 2005). Because the number of books was very few, books were not only very expensive but also only available in limited areas. However, after creating the printing press, massive productions were possible. Books became cheaper and productions expanded rapidly. In the 16th century in Europe, which had severe religious problems, books including new religious ideologies, spread widely. Printing press aided the change, and made people aware of the Reformation (Kim, 2005). Moreover, during 19th Century in France, many people could suddenly read a bunch of information about radical ideas. Some people accepted new political ideas, and fought to find their own rights. Printing press affected on and progressed our social systems. 

          Secondly, laundry machines made women free to do more than before. Before we have laundry machines, women washed clothes by hand. According to Rosling (2010), "It's a hard, time-consuming labor, which they [women] have to do for hours every week. And sometimes they also have to bring water from far away to do the laundry at home, or they have to bring the laundry away to a stream far off" (Ted Women). Women needed thick sticks and soaps for hand-washed laundry. Afterward, they had to hang the clothes on a line in their house. Washing was physically hard and required a great amount of time. Rosling (2010) mentioned, "They don't want to spend such a large part of their life doing this hard work with so relatively low productivity" (Ted Women). Fortunately, when women could use the machine, they had more time to spend with their family, read any kinds of books, or worked outside to make money. For example, Rosling's (2010) mother got time to read for Rosling and herself. Moreover, she studied English and learned it as a second language and read many different novels thanks to the washing machine (Ted Women). This invention left her free to do what she wanted and created a practical change to her lifestyle. 

Image from http://www.today.com/health/smartphone-use-can-lead-hand-pain-t23161

          Last, smartphones changed ways of communication both personally and socially. For example, it was not popular to use a smartphone when I was fifteen years old. My friend and I usually sent each other messages on memo pads by handwriting. We would call each other to make appointments on where and when we would meet. However, these days I can just text her via Facebook messenger or What's App wherever I am. I can also check whether she checks my messages. The smartphone made our personal communication easier, faster, and more convenient than before. On the other hand, the smartphone affected public communication in emergency situations. For instance, if a natural disaster or a terrible terror attack occurred, people can receive emergency alerts such as text messages from state or federal governments, or news pop-up alerts from news applications. People can be early noticed about a dangerous situation and prepare against emergency situations without television. Moreover, according to Nishiyama, Ito, and Kato (2014), "The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami drastically changed Japanese society" (p. 56). He said that his team had developed device-to-device (D2D) communication using smart devices to exchange information with each other in poor communication infrastructures due to physical damage to base stations and insufficient available power (Nishiyama et el., 2014, p. 56). Smartphone technology helps protect human life. 

          In the conclusion, three inventions in our history have led to changes in our past and present. In brief, the printing press evolved our social systems during the Reformation. The laundry machines made women free, which resulted in women having more time to do more things. The smartphones altered recent communication both personally and publicly. Smartphones made personal communication quicker and easier. Smartphones have helped in emergencies. People have created new products for their freedom, their convenience, and their safety. Developments of technology have given us benefits. In the future, new various inventions will make people feel free and easy as well. 

R E F E R E N C E S 

Kim, E. (2005). The new paradigm in middle ages, the Reformation. News power. Retrieved
from http://m.newspower.co.kr/a.html?uid=5016
Nishiyama, H., Ito, M., & Kato, N. (2014). Realizing multi-hop device-to-device
communications. Smart-device-to-smart-device communications, 56-65. 

Rolling, H. (2010, Dec). The magic washing machine [Video file]. Ted Women 2010. Retrieved
from http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine 

Rubin, J. (2014). Printing and protestants : an empirical test of the role of printing in the
reformation. Review Of Economics & Statistics, 96(2), 270-286.
  

Moving to another dormitory

      나는 지난 6월부터 West Texas A & M University 안의 ESLi (English as Second Language)에서 영어를 공부하고 있다. 지난 8월 말부터 살았던 기숙사 the Cousins Hall에서 같은 가격의 the Stafford Hall로 오늘 거주지를 옮겼다. 이전 기숙사의 경우 우리 유닛에 총 3명의 아시안이 있었고, 모두가 나와 같은 층에 있었다. 우리 유닛은 흑인, 백인, 히스패닉 친구들이 다양하게 구성되어 있었다. 굉장히 친숙한 느낌이었다. 오늘 기숙사를 옮기고, 당일 밤 10시에 멕시칸 음식을 나눠먹는 파티(Mexican Fiesta)가 있다고 하여 메인 로비로 가 보았는데, 약 40명 정도 되어 보이는 인원 중 아시안은 나 혼자 뿐이었다. 히스패닉과 흑인 아이들도 손에 꼽을 정도이고 대부분이 백인 미국인 여자아이들이었다. 처음으로 내가 미국에 있구나, 느꼈다. 처음으로 내가 소수자(Minority)라는 걸 체감했다. 단지 단 한번의 모임에서 말이다.

      유일한 한국인 재학생 친구인 제이슨에게 이 상황을 얘기했더니 다섯글자를 적어주었다. "친해지세요." 그가 맞다. 나는 이 곳에 공부를 하러 왔지만, 단순히 성적을 잘 받기 위해서 온 것은 아니다. 이곳은 미국이고, 미국인을 이해하기 위해서는 그들과 친해지고 많은 이야기를 나누는 게 도움이 된다. 내 주변에 수많은 미국인 아이들이 있는데, 내가 그들에게 말을 걸지 않은 이유는 뭐였을까? 아무래도 공통의 관심사가 없었기 때문이 아닐까? 오늘 이사 후 한국인  혼혈 친구 나탈리와 함께 저녁을 먹으러 갔다. 그녀가 토요일에 미식축구를 보러가자고 제안했다. 주말과 다음 주에 일정이 많아 시간이 없을 것 같아서 생각해 보겠다고 했는데, 가 봐야겠다. 오빠에게 미식축구 룰에 대한 설명을 들었지만, 나탈리나 마크게 룰을 조금 더 가르쳐 달라고 해야 겠다.

      미국에 와서 지금까지 약 3개월이 이곳에 적응하는 시간이었다면, 지금부터 앞으로 2년 동안은 영어를 완벽히 말하고, 쓰고, 읽을 수 있는 수준까지 만들도록 시간을 배분해야 겠다. 매일 뉴스를 보고 들으며 시사적인 부분을 따라잡고, 책을 들으며 읽고, 그들이 좋아하는 TV시리즈와 영화를 보고 (물론 나도 좋아하는 것으로!), 그들이 보는 스포츠에도 관심을 갖고, 미국의 역사에 대해서 더 알아보자. 역사와 관련해서는 국가에서 지정한 기념일부터 알아보도록 하자. 선생님들이 추천하고 꼭 보라고 하는 것은 꼭 해 보도록 하자. 대학원에 들어가서 교수님과 친해지려면 사회 돌아가는 상황에 대해 잘 알고 있어야 하며, 그들과 가벼운 얘기를 나눌 수 있도록 문화적 교양도 미국적으로 다시 쌓는 게 필요하다.

      나는 진심으로 이곳에서 잘 정착하여 최종적으로 작가로 성공하고 싶기 때문에 오직 이 목표만을 생각하며 순간순간을 충실히 살고, 과정을 즐기도록 하자. 나는 지금 기회의 땅에 와 있으며, 앞으로의 내 인생은 지금부터 내가 어떻게 하느냐에 따라 달라진다. 100% 확신한다. 그들에 대해 관심을 갖고 더 배우려 하자. 내가 중미 국가 엘 살바도르에서 온 케빈과 친해질 수 있었던 이유는 내가 라틴음악에 관심을 갖고, 라틴 댄스를 좋아하고, 약간의 스페인어를 할 줄 알았으며, 그들과 함께 즐기는 시간을 가졌기 때문이다. 기본적으로 이것을 생각하자. "관심을 갖고, 좋아하고, 알아보려 하며, 영어실력을 기르고, 함께 어울리는 시간을 갖자."

      2년 뒤가 기대된다. 지금과 많이 달라져있을 내 모습을 그리며, 내일 있을 시험 준비를 해야지. ^^

Only Those without Sin May Cast the First Stone: Fox News vs CNN

Only Those without Sin May Cast the First Stone: Fox News  vs  CNN

July 14, 2016

By Lian Kim

      Fair and objective media is an illusion. There are a lot of television channels in the United States of America. CNN and Fox News are especially common 24-hour cable news channels. Many people believe that CNN news is reliable, clear, and fair, and that Fox News is edited, biased, and even fake. Traditionally, the obligation of media has regarded fairness. As a result, Fox News can be thought of as wrong and colored media which manifests their political intention. However, some people have a different idea. All private news firms have their own stance. Can broadcasting be fair in the reality? Who writes or transports the news? What is their agenda? Although some experts say Fox News is fake journalism, both Fox News and CNN have crucial and arguable similarities.

First of all, Fox News and CNN have respective political biases. According to the Western: one of the mass media theory, all people and publishers can speak and press willingly about all kind of topics, including politics. Even if they lie about something, it is allowed. As the gravity in this hypothesis, the Freedom of Speech must be guaranteed all the time and fields. Fox News and CNN air to share the political philosophy they believe to be right. Fox news is Republican Party-friendly. On the other hand, CNN seems Democratic Party-friendly. For example, on January 5, 2016, the USA President, Barack Obama, spoke publicly about gun control (Bradner & Krieg, 2016). He teared up while mentioning the first elementary school student victims. CNN provided a long duration video to show enough of his context. In addition, CNN set a soft background music in order to enhance people’s empathy. Contrary to this, Fox News focused on his order about expanding background checks. It made people feel as though their freedom will be interrupted. Fox News and CNN commonly display their political tastes. Due to a lot of liberal bias media, such as CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, New York Times, Newsweek, and The Washington Post, CNN implies trustworthy and impartial news. In a nutshell, they are alike with conservative bias media such as Fox news, NewsMax, and WorldNetDaily. All media programs today speak their own voices, including Fox News and CNN.

      Second, a newscast is not only an industry but also money in capitalist society. Fox News was founded by Australian-American media proprietor Rupert Murdoch and is owned by the Fox Entertainment Group subsidiary of 21st Century Fox. Conversely, CNN was created in 1980 by American media mogul Ted Turner and is owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner. Both are private enterprises. According to Kang (2013), not only could people consume many contents through an online streaming service, but also the prospect of global advertising market is dark, which results in cable television corporations having trouble retaining their customers. Thus, in May 2013, Rupert Murdoch announced Fox Sports channel as a cable sports network like ESPN that would be started. This channel competes in high-profit sports broadcasting market. Sports channels relay major sports events. Both issue analyzation and relative news are also provided with 90 million cable viewers. Meanwhile, CNN eliminated investigative news departments because their program’s viewer rating was low (Dr. Good Heart, 2013). Additionally, CNN established a subsidiary Great Big Story (GBS). Hwang (2015) noted that GBS is a banded content studio and a socially distributed video network. Its target is 25 to 35-year-old people escaped to cable news. GBS products its own video for mobile, and sponsored video for firms. GBS is optimized by creating native advertising and brand contents. According to CyBear Interactive, “Native advertising is a form of paid media where the ad experience follows the natural form and function of the user experience in which it is placed.” On the other hand, brand contents are produced in various video formats such as documentary and music video to expand the company’s brand. There are trends that sponsors are not exposed to the contents. Recent commercial trends are not a traditional format but natural ads to make people accommodative. According to Zucker (2015), CNN President, GBS now gets 40 million video views per month. Thanks to GBS, CNN has achieved outstanding success. Both Fox News and CNN have made plans to meet commercial industry’s needs.

  Lastly, both Fox News and CNN manipulate and edit their sources. Today’s news, accidents, stories, surveys, and even statistics are picked, selected, edited, adjusted, and sometimes created by news creators. It is impossible that the news is totally fair because people choose the topics. The writer’s intention is put stories into their news according to company’s purpose and political philosophy. For instance, Shere and Grouch (2012) state that Fox Chart showed that when Bush tax cuts expired, the rich people should pay a lot of taxes. Fox Chart displayed drastic graphs increasing taxes. In reality, however, the current rate is 35% after expired 39.5% — less than 5%. Broadcastings use tactics like this to emphasize and manipulate information according to their viewpoints. On the contrary, CNN’s clip of coverage of the first Gulf War in the 1990′s presents doubtable points. According to Sigmund  (2014), “CNN has scripted and staged live war coverage to create a sense of drama and danger around people who were not in harm’s way.” Another expert, West (2013) argues “CNN puts out Fake News Broadcasts to condition the public to accept propaganda in place of genuine reporting.” Regarding this video, West (2013) said, “People can see the fake footage matches the windows, colors, and foliage at the front of the hotel. This shot looks like a studio shot because they are using studio lights, outside, at night. They are standing on a raised wooden frame built especially for their reports.” Furthermore, Sigmund (2014) noted, anchorman Charles Jaco made jokes and demonstrated how the news was sensationalized for American audiences, and how hosts pretended to be in danger when they were not.

      Upon close inspection, Fox News and CNN have critical and indisputable similarities. They are politically biased, in the broadcasting industry, and manipulate information. No one keeps from avoiding this trend, in spite of emphasizing the obligation of traditional journalism. CNN is not an exception. Fox News and CNN can speak their opinion. People can choose television channels that suit their taste. Media have been broadcasting with each way. It is not wrong. However, I suggest that people should wake up while watching the news and focus on finding truth by themselves with critical thinking to get their own right opinion.

R E F E R E N E C E S

Bradner, Eric & Krieg, Gregory (2016). Emotional Obama calls for 'sense of urgency' to fight gun violence. CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/politics/obama-executive-action-gun-control/ 

CyBear Interactive. 53% of users say they are more likely to look at a native ad than a banner ad. We can help you ‘go native’ across channels such as video and advertorial.

http://www.cybearinteractive.com/native-advertising/
Friedman, Wayne (2016). Fox Television Network, Fox News Highest In Commercial Clutter. Media Post.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/276342/fox-television-network-fox-news-highest-in-commer.html 

Good Heart (2013). Investigative Journalism Is Obsolete; Being Abolished By CNN And Mass Media. A Green Road Journal.

http://www.agreenroadjournal.com/2013/01/investigative-journalism-is-obsolete.html 

Hickey, Byline Walter (2012). XPOSED: Here Are The Tricks That Fox News Uses To Manipulate Statistics On Its Graphics. Business Insider.

http://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-charts-tricks-data-2012-11

Hwang, Yongsuk (2015) CNN and Native Advertisement. Hangyeorye.

http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/media/714581.html

Kang, Hyeong-gu (2013). In Media Conversions Term, to Survive with Marketing - Marketing Examples of Media Enterprises. Korean Press Foundation.

http://www.kpf.or.kr/board/K/detail.do?bannerYn=Y&num=6199 

Kim, Donjon (2010). American 49% - Fox news is the trust. PD Journal.

http://www.pdjournal.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=26331
Kim, Namdu (2004). The reason - CNN has more commercial income than Fox news. Media today.

http://www.mediatoday.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=27462

MintPress News Desk (2015). ‘Pants On Fire’: Analysis Shows 60% Of Fox News ‘Facts’ Are Really Lies. MINTPRESSNEWS.

http://www.mintpressnews.com/pants-on-fire-analysis-shows-60-of-fox-news-facts-are-really-lies/205563/

Shere, David & Groch-Begley, Hannah (2012). A History Of Dishonest Fox Charts. Media Matters in America.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/10/01/a-history-of-dishonest-fox-charts/190225 

Sigmund, Fraud (2014). Is Everything in the Mainstream Media Fake? – 6 Examples of Media Manipulation. The Mind Unleashed.

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/03/everything-mainstream-media-fake-6-examples-media-manipulation.html 

West, Mick (2013). Debunked: CNNs Fake News Broadcasts - Charles Jaco and the Fake Live Gulf War Reports. Metabunk.org.

https://www.metabunk.org/debunked-cnns-fake-news-broadcasts-charles-jaco-and-the-fake-live-gulf-war-reports.t1140/ 

Zucker, Jeff (2016). Six Months In, CNN’s Great Big Story Is Ready To Jump To TV. Tubefilter.

http://www.tubefilter.com/2016/05/05/cnn-great-big-story-tv/ 

Copyright. 2016. Lian Kim

lyoung.lkim@gmail.com

How does Media Affect Teenage Girls

How does Media Affect Teenage Girls

August 1, 2016

By Lian Kim

Media makes girls swamped. Media provides the same information to all generations of viewers. The programs are both educational and sensational, including sexual images within shows. Among various viewers, teenage girls are easily affected by media. Teens may not be sufficiently and cognitively developed enough to discern and critique messages from media. They react sensitively to external stimulations, especially when they are maturing sexually. Considering these points, concern about the impact that media has on girls is emerging. Generally, people can acquire important news and informative knowledge through the media. However, there are harmful impacts from media on teenage girls.

First of all, there is a negative impact from the media on adolescents’ physical health. A study done by the University of Washington (2009) states that, “The popular media (television, movies, magazines, etc.) have, since World War II, increasingly held up a thinner and thinner body image as the ideal for women.” Thus, when teens watch the television or look at magazines or other media, they inevitably see thin girls. According to Spurr (2013), thin ladies on media make teens feel unhappy about their body. As a result,  young girls attempt to stop eating or eat much less to get the ideal image portrayed by media, although they need the balanced diet for developing their healthy body. Most of the teenagers who try multiple different diets and work out excessively fail to give themselves enough downtime, and they just keep trying to lose weight. Because of unbalanced diet and restlessness, some teens get eating disorders and weakening physical conditions.

Second, the exposure to sexual content in the media affects teens’ sexual behaviors. Gruber and Grube (2000) indicate that teenage viewers see one hundred and forty-five incidents of sexual behavior through the television at prime time every week. Most of the programs show many sexual activities occurring between unmarried partners, enhancing the potential risks of unprotected sexual intercourse and adverse consequences. According to Gruber and Grube (2000), more than 80% of adolescents report that their peers find out some or a lot about sex, drugs, and violence from television shows, movies, and other entertainment media. According to Grant (2003), because their sexual curiosity and impulses get higher, approximately a half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse with or without protection. Young girls who have been affected by the content which depicts women as sexual objects or prizes, tend to have multiple partners and frequently have sex. Gruber and Grube (2000) state that among teenage girls in United States aged between 15 and 16 years, 7.5% of the age group becomes pregnant each year. Most of them do not have the ability to take care of children. Overall, 25% of sexually active teenagers and 13% of all adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 become infected with sexually transmitted diseases each year, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (Gruber & Grube, 2000).

Lastly, large amounts of time watching television leads to low grades in school due to attention difficulties. According to Wile (2015), teens who watched one hour a day of television or greater were less likely to complete homework and more likely to have poor grades, a negative outlook toward school and poor prospects for long-term academic success. Another aspect is multitasking, which is to do homework while using social network services. This makes the efficiency of doing assignments low. According to the article by Wallace (2015), students think that their multi-taking does not affect their homework. However, there are dramatic differences in cognitive control and the ability to process information between media multi-taskers and people who just study. It is obvious that students can not multitask and be as effective and competent.

      Although media provides various programs, media may have vital effects on adolescent girls. There are destructive impacts for teen girls: lack of eating due to dissatisfaction with their body, teen pregnancy, and STDs (Sexually transmitted diseases) by changing sexual behaviors, and academic struggle because of the attention difficulty. Because adolescence is the foundation of one’s life, it is a very important time. Some media programs damage teen girls’ behaviors. In this study, we examined dangerous impacts of media on female adolescents. It is imperative for media producers, teens’ parents, teachers and teenage girls to pay attention to media choices, and help girls consume content safely.

References

Grant, C. (2003). Teens, sex and the media: Is there a connection? Paediatr Child Health.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792686/ 

Gruber, E. & Grube, J. W. (2000). Adolescent sexuality and the media. West J Med.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070813/

Spurr, S. et al. (2013). Exploring Adolescent Views of Body Image: The Influence of Media.

Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23600570

University of Washington. (2009). Body Image & Nutrition. Teen Health and the Media.

http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=bodyimage&page=fastfacts

Wallace, K. (2015). Teens spend a 'mind-boggling' 9 hours a day using media, report says.

CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/health/teens-tweens-media-screen-use-report/

Wile, E. (2015). How TV Can Affect a Teen's Grades. LIVE STRONG.COM

http://www.livestrong.com/article/496144-how-tv-affects-a-teens-grades

Copyright. 2016. Lian Kim

lyoung.lkim@gmail.com

How to be the Queen of a Salsa Party for Beginners

How to be the Queen of a Salsa Party for Beginners

June 24, 2016

By Lian Kim

      Have you ever been sitting in the chair in the corner at the salsa bar? If you were a beginner, that was understandable. Beginners need to be brave because salsa is very physical and you need to maintain close distance with your partner. Do you want to be shiny in the party? Let’s change from an ugly duckling to the beautiful swan in the party. If you remember following tips, you can be the queen of the salsa party whether you are a beginner or not. 

Copyright @ Sexysalsaballroom.com

      First of all, if you want to be a swan of the party, you should be the part of salsa. You need to practice basic steps. It improves your value as a good dance partner. When I visited a salsa bar at first, I was terrible. I didn’t know any salsa steps. Music played randomly with salsa, chachacha and bachata. I was confused about how to place my feet. The partners who I met first taught me basic steps, but I couldn’t do that perfectly. I was very sorry for my partners. I thought that if I had learned and had practiced basic steps, I would have experienced the better salsa party. In addition, it is helpful for beginners to listen to a lot of Latin music and understand about Latin culture or history. It can give someone a good first impression as a smart lady or an ambitious person for salsa. Your partners will know that you understand about Latin culture. It is enough. Don’t show off. My favorite salsero (a man who dances salsa), Mr. Kwon said, “The best salsera (a woman who dances salsa) is one who has enough understanding of salsa and latin music.” Also, you need to consider dressing up, makeup, wearing nice shoes, a clear hair style, light perfume to be appropriate for the salsa party.

      While waiting time for a partner, you should make eye contact with a salsero. Men want to dance with nice girls. You have a song with a partner. You should scan some guys who you want to dance with. If there is no one who you want to dance with, I suggest you should practice basic steps by yourself. This way is helpful to relax and prepare for the next song. When you move on the floor, you need to stand straight, move slowly and elegantly. It is good to make yourself a nice visual image. Finally, when you dance with a nice salsero, you should lean your body into your partner with a smile, eye-contact and should feel your partner’s lead. While dancing, he may push you or pull. Just feel it and react naturally. Be a good follower. Respect your partner and keep an intimate distance. Hall, E.T. (1966) states intimate distance is from direct contact to 60 cm. But if your partner is very good, come to close to him a little bit more. A survey done by Latin Dance Association (2016) states that “Who is the queen of the party?” 90% of the respondents said those who smile, follow him and react well. It’s okay if your dance is not perfect. But remember, salsa dance is social acting. Dance with a smile. After music, don’t forget these: bow, smile, give him thanks, shake hands or give a light hug. Also, ask and remember his name!

      Think about the most valuable manners and etiquette in the salsa bar. When you need to deny dancing, remember how to deny politely. You should say politely that you want to rest during this song by expressing ‘sorry’. The song which you deny will be passed. It is a good attitude to respect the salsero. If you dance with another man to the same song, you will seem a rude lady. During dancing, if you hit the other or step on someone’s foot, immediately stop your dance. Ask he/she is alright and say sorry to him/her. When your partner comes so close to you, don’t hesitate to say no. You can say calmly you want to keep on an appropriate distance with a smile. It keeps his self-esteem and your comfortable zone. According to <Salsa> (2015), a popular salsa magazine, the above three manners are dealt with the most important etiquettes. 

      I suggest that you should remember the above tips in order to become a queen of the salsa party. To summarize, you need to prepare for the dance party by practicing basic steps, studying salsa dance and culture, and suitably dressing up. When you are in the salsa bar, it is good for you to keep elegant movements and respect your partners. In some hard situations, you need to be polite braves. All the time you are on the floor, you should smile and follow these several rules. It makes you be a queen. Don’t be ashamed! Let’s go to the party this Friday!

Copyright. 2016. Lian Kim

lyoung.lkim@gmail.com