![Seoseok-dae, Mt. Mudeung - Symbol of Gwangju/Jeonnam](https://koreatesol.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/pictures/Seoseok-dae%20Newsletter%20Photo_37.jpg?itok=jD0NB0z-)
Gwangju-Jeonnam October KOTESOL Chapter Meeting -- "Special Edition"
Time: Saturday, October 18, 2014, 1:45 - 5:00 p.m.
Place: Chosun University Main Building (Gwangju), 4th Floor, Room 4211
----- Afternoon Schedule -----
1:45 pm: Sign-in and Meet-and-Greet (Admission is free. Future membership is welcomed.)
2:00 - 2:50 pm: Special Question-and-Answer Session with Special ELT Panel
[Everyone is strongly encouraged to bring their pressing and not-so-pressing questions and curiosities about ELT to pose to the ELT panel and audience.]
Panelists: Lindsay Herron, Billie Kang,
2:50 - 3:10 pm: Refreshment Break
3:10 - 3:30 pm: [Short Presentation]
Why is Korean Like That?
Dr. David Shaffer (Chosun University)
3:40 - 4:30 pm: IC 2014 Swap-Shop
Sharing of ideas, activities, and info gained from the October International Conference. [ [ IC attendees are strongly encouraged to share with the group at least one item acquired from the International Conference (Oct. 3-5) considered to be of particular interest/importance.]
4:30 pm: Announcements / Drawing for Door Prizes / Closing
----- After-Meeting Evening Schedule -----
6:00 pm: After-meeting dinner at a downtown location (The First Alleyway).
----- Short Presentation: Prevue and Biographical Sketch -----
Why is Korean Like That?
By Dr. David Shaffer
This short, pecha kucha-style presentation takes a somewhat light-hearted, but at the same time serious, look at the Korean language, providing plausible solutions to a dozen puzzling aspects of this agglutinative SOV tongue that is so challenging to learn for speakers of European languages. Korean has been referred to as the most scientific language in the world with a simple and elegant writing system and logical parlance. Granting this, why would Korean call things that are blue and things that are green the same color? Why would Korean say the equivalent of “close the door and come in” when one cannot enter through a closed door? Why does Korean answer “yes” to questions that English answers “no”? In telling time, why does Korean use one counting system for hours and another for minutes (10:10)? Why does Korean shy away from using plural forms and the pronouns for “you” when it clearly has these syntactic elements available? Answers to these and more of the mysteries of the Korean language will be unwound in this .
The Presenter
David E. Shaffer (PhD Linguistics) is a long-time educator in Korea and long-time KOTESOL member. He is a professor at Chosun University, teaching English majors in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Dr. Shaffer is the author of several books on learning English as well as on Korean language, customs, and poetry. His present academic interests include professional development, and young learner and extensive reading research, as well as English-based loanwords, Cognitive Linguistics, and effective teaching techniques. Within KOTESOL, in addition to being Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter President, Dr. Shaffer is National Publications Committee Chair, Assistant Treasurer and a member of several committees, including the International and National Conference Committees. He is the recipient of numerous KOTESOL awards and father of two KOTESOL members.
![Chosun University, Main Bldg. -- Enter this North (Left) Wing and take the elevevator to the 4th floor meeting room (4211).](https://koreatesol.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/pictures/2012%20Feb%20Chap%20Meet%20Chosun%20U%20View%204_3.jpg?itok=vJPtFvZh)