Lingo in Transit

Thank you for listening to my assorted stories and telling me your stories whenever I asked if you anyone had any stories to share. Remember, you cannot share stories and secrets of other people!

I don’t want you to be afraid of speaking in English and wanted you to be comfortable with trying to tell me a story even if you didn’t know all the words or the correct words to use. I hope by telling you my stories, you got to see the experiences of a foreigner living in the country and also to flood your brain with English for 1 hour.

I admire all your perseverance. You don’t lead an easy life with school, academies and then studying and doing homework. But you turn up, you keep trying and keep going. There is so much competition and pressure on you and I know some of you are already stressed about it. Keep going and make sure you sleep enough.

At a time where you don’t think you are pretty or handsome enough. Or smart enough. I hope you will one day come to realise that you are enough the way you are and are beautiful just the way you are. At a time when you would tell me you don’t have a girlfriend yet, I hope you will one day find the girl of your dreams. You are still so young, don’t worry.

I loved coming to class and asking you what lunch you ate at school that day. Your groans and head hitting as you try to determine how best to explain what the meal was in English was really funny to me. I loved that you described the appearance of the food (or drew it in some classes) as you didn’t know what the English word for that vegetable was. Even though it was hard, we always managed as a class. Through this, I hope that you know that you can push through and make yourself understood and also share your culture with others.

Thank you for randomly asking me if I knew Korean dishes, Korea idol groups, Korean songs or a random Korean words. I have a Korean name now! It is 김소민.

It was a great year being your teacher. I will miss you all and wish you all the best for years to come and the Suneung exam. I want you to reach your dreams no matter how big or small. I believe in you even if you don’t believe in yourself.

You can scream ‘teacheeeeerrrr’ if you ever see me on the street.

Do not use chatgpt to write your homework. We can tell straight away!

I’m always believing in you! 안녕!

Sophie 쌤