I am writing this blog again to tell myself not to forget one special woman who influenced my thoughts and decisions.
Her English name is Suzan. Perhaps she was already in early fifty's when I met her.
Note: Age is a very sensitive topic in ESL world, so we do not normally ask students age specially when they are quite old).
Suzan is a Korean but she migrated in Japan when she was a University student and stayed there for many years. She even had her own restaurant and building in Japan. However, she decided to go back home after staying there for a long time. (As far as I remember, she also lived in other European country, though I don't remember its name). After that, she decided to go to the Philippines to learn how to play Golf. Yes. You would not believe it, right? TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY GOLF. And since our school also offers that course where students have a 4 hour- Golf class and a 4 hour- English class, she chose our institution.
My first impression to her: Scary, dominating and very straightforward.
Scary because she doesn't look approachable.
Dominating: I can see the way she looks at me (specially that I was 26 at that time). I am used to teaching old people, but I thought she was possessing a different vibe.
Straightforward- she would say whatever she wanted to say.
After meeting her, I realized that I was wrong and I was right. She wasn't scary, but she was approachable. She would always put a smile on her face whenever she entered the classroom.
I thought she would be my problem because she looks like a person who doesn't accept mistakes, but nope. She was not dominating at all, and she always listened in the class (BTW: our class is Grammar Intermediate, and her level before was Intermediate 3. (Usually, Inter 3 to Advance students are "OMG".)
Note again: They are called "OMG" because they make us say, "Oh my gosh" by the questions they ask..haha
Straightforward: Yes, she is. She would really say what she wanted to say, but honestly, I prefer those kind of people to the people who are kind in front of you but say something behind your back.
She was my student for half a year, and I would say that I am one of the luckiest people to have met her. Inside the four corners of my classroom, she treated me as a respected teacher, but outside of it, she treated me as her own child. Moreover, she was very generous. Many times, we would hang out and try good restaurants around town, and she would pay for everything, including our tricycle fees. I always insisted to pay, but she would say, "Just keep your money. I know you don't have enough." In the end, the only thing I could do to repay her kindness was to give her an interesting class where she could learn a lot.
Aside from being so generous, she used to pamper me with advise about life, goals and future. It was always nice to hear her own Ups and Downs that made her a successful businesswoman.
3 things that I will never forget from her:
1. Beauty tip: Use sunscreen everyday even if you don't go directly to the sunlight. It will make your skin smooth and it can stop you from aging. (maybe that's why most Koreans look young.)
2. Relationship: As much as possible, don't marry a Korean guy, because they easily change their mind.
3. Life: If you are to decide whether to do or not to do something big, just do it. If you fail, then you fail. At least you tried and you knew the result. It is better than not trying at all.
It was also her last month at school when I told her that I was planning to try my fate teaching in other country, and I remember her said, "Oh dear. Try it while you are still young." She was so supportive to me during those times and kept my secret to the people in the campus. She even gave me money before I left the Philippines, and prepared the things I needed because I went abroad with only a backpack.
In our everyday lives as ESL Teachers, we are bound to encounter students who will touch our lives and leave us good memories that we can surely tell others. That is why I am writing this. Wherever she is, I hope she's fine, and I hope we can meet again someday. If that happens, I will give her a big hug and I will say, "I did it. Thanks to you,my Korean mom."
How about you? Have you ever met a one of a kind student? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
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