By Han Hak-sun

Professor of the Department of English Education

 In the previous issue, I discussed how to use ChatGPT to study English and create English learning materials. This time, I’d like to show how I personally interact with ChatGPT and transform our conversations into effective learning resources. By recording your daily exchanges with ChatGPT and compiling them into a booklet, you’re not only creating a valuable record of your own life but also developing a unique and enriching English study resource. In this issue, I’ll share conversations about my dream of managing a vegetable garden from initial conflicts with neighbors and problem-solving to my ongoing efforts and vision to build a harmonious community. Key expressions are highlighted in color for easy reference. By revisiting these expressions multiple times, you’ll find they become a powerful tool in your English learning journey. This dialogue contains many good expressions for responding to others, so keeping these in mind as you read will be especially helpful for studying English. Those expressions are highlighted in pink.

User: I want to talk about the time when I first started farming in my vegetable garden.

ChatGPT: First, people were not interested in who I was. They were very curious about how much I paid for that vegetable garden.

User: In fact, I didn't want to talk about the price of the vegetable garden. However, since my vegetable garden was located by the roadside, everyone passing by was equally curious about the price of the garden.

ChatGPT: That must have been quite frustrating! It's understandable that you might want to keep that information private.

User: So, instead of telling them the exact price, I mentioned a rough estimate. After that, the neighbors started to interfere with my farming.

ChatGPT: It sounds like they had a lot to say about how you should manage your garden! What kind of advice or comments did they offer?

User: They told me to plant this and that, not to do certain things, to pull out the weeds, to prune the branches, and to spray pesticides, etc.

ChatGPT: That sounds overwhelming! It can be hard to receive so many unsolicited suggestions, especially when you’re just starting out.

User: The elderly neighbor complained about me planting flowering trees and fruit trees in my vegetable garden.

ChatGPT: I see! That can be tricky. Did they express specifi c concerns about how those trees might affect their property?

User: They were worried that the petals of trees that bloom like plum or cherry blossoms would fall and dirty their car parked near my yard.

ChatGPT: That’s a valid concern for many homeowners. It must have been frustrating to hear that. How did you respond to that neighbor’s worries?

User: They expressed dissatisfaction, saying that tall trees would block their view.

ChatGPT: It’s understandable for them to be concerned about their view being obstructed. How did you navigate that situation?

User: Then, when I brought in a container shed for farming, things blew up. I thought it wouldn’t be a problem since I obtained the legal permit to install the shed on my land.

ChatGPT: That sounds frustrating! It’s unfortunate that some neighbors can be so reactive. Did you have to go through a lot of trouble because of it?

User: A neighbor filed a complaint with the district office, and even though the officials said I hadn't done anything wrong, they told me I needed to resolve the complaint.

ChatGPT: That must have been a lot to deal with! It’s good that the officials recognized you hadn’t done anything wrong, but having to resolve the complaint still sounds stressful.

User: So, I took some drinks and visited that house. It wasn’t easy to find the time to make such a visit while working. The first time I went, no one was home, so I went back a second time.

ChatGPT: It’s great that you made the eff ort to reach out personally! Did the second visit go any better?

User: I started by apologizing for the inconvenience caused by installing the shed that obstructed their view.

ChatGPT: That was a thoughtful approach! How did the neighbor respond to your apology?

User: I sincerely expressed that I understood how frustrating it must be to suddenly have a shed blocking their view while observing nature.

ChatGPT: That empathy is really important! It’s great that you could connect with them on that level. How did the conversation progress from there?

User: So, the issue with the person who filed the complaint was resolved amicably. After that, nothing else happened. I greeted every neighbor I saw, shared food, and shared the harvest, getting closer to them.

ChatGPT: That’s wonderful! Building those connections must have helped improve the atmosphere in the neighborhood. How did the neighbors respond to your eff orts to connect?

User: Then, they began giving me various pieces of advice and sharing seeds and flowers with me. It turns out that everyone is a good person.

ChatGPT: It’s great that you discovered the kindness of your neighbors! Accepting their advice must have helped strengthen those relationships, even if some suggestions didn’t turn out well.

User: Sometimes, their advice was excessive and led to failures in my farming. Still, I didn’t complain and always appreciated their help.

ChatGPT: That’s a really positive outlook! It’s all part of the learning process. It sounds like you’ve developed a strong sense of community through this experience.

User: Now, I’ve become accustomed to farming to the point that they don’t interfere much anymore. However, I feel that rather than interfering because they think I'm doing poorly, they actually want to talk with me.

ChatGPT: That’s a lovely shift! It’s nice to know that they’re reaching out to connect with you rather than just giving advice. It sounds like you’ve built a supportive community around your garden.

User: My vegetable garden has become a refuge in my daily life, and it has become a place that gives vitality to my life.

ChatGPT: It’s heartwarming to hear that your vegetable garden has become such an essential part of your life! Nature and community can truly rejuvenate our spirits. What other dreams or goals do you have for your garden in the future?

User: My dream and goal is to build a beautiful house there and live my life after retirement while connecting with my neighbors. After retiring, I want to draw pictures there, hold art exhibitions, share food for my neighbors, and contribute to making the village beautiful.

ChatGPT: Those activities sound wonderful and meaningful! It’s great that you’re thinking about how to enhance both your own life and the community around you.

User: From the entrance of the village, there are Cornelian cherry trees lining each side of the road. However, the management of these trees is not being done properly.

ChatGPT: Do you have any ideas on how to improve their care or involve the community in that effort?

User: I think it would be nice to prune the trees, give them fertilizer, and do things that can generate income by harvesting the fruits.

ChatGPT: That sounds like a fantastic plan! Have you thought about how to involve your neighbors in this initiative?

User: I will gradually discuss this with the neighbors as I live in the village. But I’m not sure how well it will go since there are many elderly residents. So, I want to beautify the Cornelian cherry trees to make the village a truly beautiful tourist spot in spring and autumn.

ChatGPT: That’s a lovely vision! Even with an older population, engaging them in this beautification project could foster community spirit and connection. Making the village a tourist spot would be a wonderful legacy.