One of my students 5 years later...

[jaysoon17]

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to show some emails written to me by one of my students who I started teaching taught back in 2004. I came back to Korea this year after a 5 year absence from teaching and contacted my former students a few weeks ago to see how they were doing. It was pretty nice to see their emails since they were just learning how to construct basic sentences when I first started teaching them.



@hanmail.net
   
Dec 17 (8 days ago)
      
to me
Wow Teacher i miss you so much!! And i can't believe you're back!!
Of course im studying english very hard with tina but i don't know well about goldburg he is at another school and ... Who was JJ? I dont remember i guess i was so young when i studied with you but i remember you clearly! Sooo happy that i can keep in touch!!!!!!!
   
Dec 19 (7 days ago)
      
to 유진
Hi Jenny,
 
It's good to hear that you are doing well. I'm also glad that some of my students are still studying English really hard. I have a lot of good memories during my time at Chihyeon Elementary School. There were so many great students there. JJ was a chubby boy, but maybe he was in a different class. Was Michael in your class?
 
Are you a middle school student or a high school student? I'm currently teaching middle school students in Namyangju City.

@hanmail.net
   
Dec 21 (5 days ago)
      
to me
JJ was in my class but i only remembered his Korean name. Michael was in my class too. And he has been in my school, same class this year. He broke his leg few months ago but he seems happy :)  im middle school 3rd grade and going to high school next year, which is actually two months later. And my
Mom had a rest this year but gonna go back to work from next year.



2011. 12. 19. 오후 2:58  <@gmail.com> 작성:

   
Dec 23 (3 days ago)
      
to 유진
Hi Jenny,

That sucks to hear about Michael's leg. I hope he is okay now.

Is your mom okay? Why did she take a break from work this year? I hope she is fine. Say hello to her for me.

I can't believe that you are already going to high school in a few months. You were all little kids when I left Chihyeon in 2005, but you're young adults now. What high school will you go to?

What do you plan on doing during Christmas?

유진
@hanmail.net
   
Dec 24 (2 days ago)
      
to me
Everything is so expensive and freezing cold out there so my family might stay at home instead of being outside all day long. We're all lazy people :) But we're going to eat something. And im pretty sure our family will go skiing or snowboarding this winter cuz we do every winter. How about you? What are you planning to do ?

My mom was just a little bit tired of working cuz being in airplanes is so exhausting. Now she became energetic enough to go back to work in few months. and she says hello to you :)

Happy christmas eve and Merry christmas!!!! :D

[Yu_Bumsuk]

I really love running into students years on. Some of my former HS students are now teachers themselves. Few are able to write as fluently as yours, though.

[calvin0416]

Yeah, it's so rare these days for friendships/work relationships to have any carry over or follow-up.  It's nice to get back in touch with those you helped along the way. 

I still remember what's it's like being in that position, seeing an old teacher or old mentor many years later (and thinking how old they got so fast) lol....well now it's our turn to be in that position.

[lasoro70]

Good story. I am leaving after two years in Korea and I also hope to hear from some of my students in the future.

[wtoddm]

What a lovely exchange! There goes my inner teacher's warm 'n fuzzy feeling! 
So, if I may ask, did you just exchange e-mail addresses when you were leaving 5 years ago? Did you and the students ever communicate during your hiatus?

[ohherro]

I'm teaching elementary school students right now and I was thinking of giving them my email to keep in touch.  Something inside me says this is a bad idea if I give it to everyone of the 6th graders leaving.  Though, I'm curious as to how much their English will improve in the future.  Plus, I think some of them are quite interesting.

Anyways, your thoughts?

[Yu_Bumsuk]

I'm teaching elementary school students right now and I was thinking of giving them my email to keep in touch.  Something inside me says this is a bad idea if I give it to everyone of the 6th graders leaving.  Though, I'm curious as to how much their English will improve in the future.  Plus, I think some of them are quite interesting.

Anyways, your thoughts?

It will likely be printed in the graduation album anyways.

[jaysoon17]

@wtoddm I didn't give my email to my students, but they asked my co-teacher for it and emailed me a few months after I left. I responded  a couple of times, but the last email I sent to my students before this recent string of emails was back in 2006. I'm glad some of my students still remember me.

@ohherro What I did for students at this school was create a separate email and facebook for them. I now use this email to register with odd websites I don't visit too often.