Article: Read the text below. (5 minutes)
South Korea is foreseen to join the ranks of US, France, Italy and New Zealand as one of the best sailing nations in the world soon.
The South Korea sailing team, "White Tiger Challenge," was recently accepted to join the 2013 American Cup, which is considered the most prestigious of all sailing tournaments.
The founder of Team Korea, Dong Young Kim, believes that South Korea has a great potential in sailing considering its high-tech industry and its reputation for hosting ‘world-class’ events and that the country is surrounded with more than 2000kilometers seacoast. From only three marinas in 2008, the country now has seven plus about 30 or more being developed.
This development shows how sailing is becoming a popular sport in South Korea. One reason for this sudden interest is related to the government policy made seven years ago which includes ‘water leisure sports,’ like sailing, as one of the ten industries to be developed in the country. Also just recently, Koreans have more leisure time, which gives them more chance to discover new hobbies, as the government reduced the number of working days from six to five.
Kim humbly added that his Team might not have a strong chance in the American Cup due to their limited experience, but he believes that what they have to offer is something their competitors will also learn from. He also hopes that by joining this tournament and by organizing more local sailing events they can catch the interest of more young people in the country.
Words Difficult to Pronounce
prestigious [pre-stij-uh s, -stij-ee-uh s, -stee-juh s, -stee-jee-uh s]
leisure [lee-zher, lezh-er]
humbly [huhm-blee, uhm-]
competitor [kuh m-pet-i-ter]
Vocabulary Review: Read the following words/expressions used in the article and make sample sentences using them. (5 minutes)
1. foresee (v.) – to see or know something ahead of time
Example: I was able to foresee that it was going to rain because of the gloomy sky.
2. reputation (n.) – the opinion of others about someone’s (or something’s) character
Example: People say he has a good reputation because of his happy personality.
3. marina (n.) – a certain part of the shoreline (near the port) where small boats are parked
Example: Marina is also a place to repair boats.
4. leisure (n.) – free time or opportunity for relaxation
Example: Going to the beach is one of my leisure activities.
5. humbly (adv.) – doing or saying something with modesty (not arrogant or boastful)
Example: He humbly admitted his mistake and apologized.
Comprehension Questions: Basing it from the article, answer the following questions. Answer using your own words. (5 minutes)
1. Why does Kim think that South Korea has a great potential in sailing?
2. What are the two reasons related to the growing popularity of sailing in South Korea?
3. According to Kim, what can possibly catch young people’s interest in sailing?
Viewpoint Discussion: Read the following statements and determine whether you AGREE or DISAGREE. Discuss the reasons with your tutor. (5 minutes)
1. Leisure is not important for working people.
2. Countries should not be limited to any international sports events.
