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The tagline, "A photograph is text to be seen, a news article is a picture to be read," was visible. Isn't a photograph a picture and a news article text? I feel like I understand it, yet it makes me think. I titled the article 'Imitation and Acquisition'. Is imitation (모방, 模倣) a bad thing? It is commendable to follow the good example of an excellent person. However, one must be cautious because imitating knowledge and ideas can become plagiarism (표절, 剽竊).
Not all acquisition is the same. Acquisition (습득, 拾得) means picking up an ownerless object. If you take it without returning it, it becomes a crime of embezzlement of lost property. Acquisition (습득, 習得) means learning and mastering. It is the same seupdeuk in Confucius’s saying, 'Hak-i-si-seup-ji' (학이시습지, 學而時習之), which means it is a pleasure to learn and then practice what has been learned in due time.
A book was published recommending the hand-copying (필사, 筆寫) of newspapers. This is urging imitation and acquisition. I have assigned newspaper hand-copying as homework for a long time. Students who submitted handwritten copies of editorials or columns at the end of the semester received 1 bonus point per copy. This was used to make up for absences, tardiness, or low grades. I upload the syllabus to the student information system so students can review it before registering for the course, and I announce on the first day that although it's not mandatory, doing the hand-copying assignment is advantageous as it offers a bonus that can make up for low grades or missed assignments.
To write 100 copies in a 15-week semester, one must write almost every day. It is not an easy task. I continued this every semester. I told them that a person who writes 500 copies would be transformed. There were students who did just that. After writing hundreds of copies, some students understood why I made them write, expressing gratitude and saying it was the best thing they gained from college. They said they would write at least 1,000 more. Writing 1,000 copies makes a huge difference. Writing skills improve, and general knowledge increases. It is advantageous for employment, but also excellent for seizing opportunities or setting direction. Something changes in the way one sees the world; their comprehension of principles (munri, 文理) opens up. Munri is the power to understand and perceive the rationale of things.
Writing by hand is an analog method. As you write, you read it multiple times. You look up what you don't know. Your knowledge grows, and your writing skills improve. It is an act of receiving an example. As someone who frequently writes for newspapers, I revise my drafts many times. I try to reduce the duplication of words or expressions and write concisely. I use commas appropriately so that the reading comprehension and rhythm are comfortable. I try to write clearly to avoid confusion. After reading it, the reader should not be left ambiguous about the meaning.
I requested the newspaper distribution center to deliver 50 copies of a business newspaper to our department every day. I chose the business newspaper intending for students to better understand the economy. If students read a business newspaper, there is a high possibility they will become subscribers later. Some newspaper companies offer students a 50% discount on subscription fees. I paid for this with practical training funds. Any student in our department could take a copy on a first-come, first-served basis.
Although I majored in business administration, there is much to learn from the business newspaper. I still don't know many things. Reading articles written by experts is like consuming a rich, highly nutritious essence that has been well-brewed. Since there are so many such articles, reading the newspaper is reading a treasure trove of information and knowledge very cheaply. The subscription fee for a newspaper delivered to your home is incomparably cheaper than food delivery fees or the cost of coffee. It might only be the price of the newsprint itself.
A flood of information overflows on social media. Since they are online platforms, accessibility is high. If you register for a mailing list, they deliver the news promptly, like bullets. Consequently, I have piles of unread emails. There are also many articles that are read aloud. As a result, people don't look at paper newspapers much anymore. Now, paid services are increasing even among online media. They are putting a value on intellectual property.
A long time ago, I used to clip useful articles while reading the paper newspaper. I cut them out and stored them in a box. I highlighted them with a marker. I wrote the date, page number, and my feelings in red or blue ink. I copied what students needed and handed it out. I also read and explained them. I kept the clippings on my desk and looked at them repeatedly. After a few months, when they piled up, I would sort through them, keeping only the important ones and discarding the rest. Now, I find that content online, copy it, add my comments, and save it on my computer. In that sense, I am very rich. I have more than a "three-mounds" of pearls. Although I am foolish for not stringing them together beautifully...
I have over 5,000 translations of local English articles posted on UtahKorean (utahkorean.com). A long time ago, translation was not easy. It took time because there were so many things I didn't know. However, it got easier over time. Translation programs have developed astonishingly, and it seems my general knowledge has increased and I've developed a knack for it. Although it is a task I set for myself, I am diligently continuing it. This is because I learn so much from reading various articles. Is it not a pleasure to learn and practice what has been learned?
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