There have been days where I’ve wondered if I’m cut out for the job of an ESL instructor. Woven between the great times of joy, inspiration, and feelings of accomplishment are the moments of shadows–my insecurities about my abilities and where this path may lead. During these moments I’ve sometimes felt like throwing in the towel and making an escape to some other place (Japan, India, Australia…).
Despite this, I’ve worked for two great schools these past two years. It’s been a blessing.
In two days I’ll head back to Chicago for two months until the new semester begins. Then Taiwan will have to put up with me for one more year (am I really going to stay one more year?!).
Living in Taiwan has been a challenge but a challenge that has ultimately changed my life in so many positive ways. But the biggest challenges, the ones that really mattered, I encountered in my classroom.
So tonight I want to thank the little ones (and big, whiny ones) for pushing me when I needed it the most. My students.
To My Students:
Thank you for making me get up and jump when I wanted to crawl (and thanks to the shop down the street for providing me with enormous cups of green tea).
Thank you for believing that I (with a plastic fairy wand and a made-up Indian rain dance) can control the weather (and thank you rain clouds for that torrent of rain you unleashed at the most opportune moment).
Thank you for calling me beautiful and old and in the same sentence advising that I need to get married and have a baby soon.
Thank you for those sweet hugs, pictures, and priceless moments when you used perfect English without even knowing.
Thank you older students for having faith in me as your teacher (I’m still learning!).
Thank you for secretly teaching me Chinese.
Thank you for the hours of confusion, fun, joy, laughter, and embarrassment.
Thank you for deeper insight into both your world and mine. Together, we realized they are not so very different.
Most of all, thank you for helping me find the courage to believe in myself.
In Conclusion:
I’m not sure what the coming year will hold but I know, like the rise and fall of ocean tides, life will balance out. It’s been a real adventure and I’m excited to see what happens next.
For more information on teaching English in Taiwan, please visit Tealit.com.