Email Service Notes (Jesse)

Your Original Email

I am sorting out my photos on my computer, enjoying May Day’s live -streaming concert. Now this is “Noah’s Ark” . The lyric is very fitting: “Have to say goodbye. Brave to say goodbye.”

Most of the photos on my computer remind me of the happiest memories with my students. Now they’ve grown up; some of them are even taller than me now. How fast time flies! Seeing these photos, I can’t help recalling those past moments with both laughter and sorrow. There were happy faces when my students were doing class activities. There were fulfilled faces when we were taking a graduation photo. There were nervous faces when my students were asked to do a presentation in front of the class. However, there were times when I was worried about and didn’t know what to do about my students’ noise and their disobedience of class rules. There were times when I was spending so much time preparing the lessons till midnight. There were times when I was so sad about being told that a mother was not satisfied with my teaching performance. There were grievances. Anyway I was strong-willed and decided to prove myself, just as the song I am now listening to — “Persistence”.

Your Edited Email

I am sorting out my photos on my computer, enjoying May Day’s live -streaming concert. Now playing is “Noah’s Ark” – the lyrics are very fitting: “Have to say goodbye. Brave to say goodbye.”

Most of the photos on my computer remind me of some of my happiest memories with my students. Now they’ve grown up; some of them are now even taller than me. How fast time flies! Seeing these photos, I can’t help recalling those past moments with both laughter and sorrow. There were so many happy faces when my students were doing class activities. There were fulfilled faces when we were taking the graduation photo. There were nervous faces when my students were asked to do a presentation in front of the class. However, there were times when I was worried about and didn’t know / had no idea what to do about my students’ noise (levels) and their disobedience of class rules / their inability to follow class rules. There were times when I was spending so much time preparing the lessons till midnight. There were times when I was so sad about being told that a mother was not satisfied with my teaching performance. There were grievances. Anyway I was strong-willed and decided / was determined to prove myself, just as the song I am now listening to — “Persistence”.

Unedited due to 200 word limit reached. Send again next time or review in class. 

I began to study even harder. I was determined to show my abilities. In the meantime, my hard work paid off. I acquired more solid knowledge about English and teaching strategies. I began to have better communication with my students’ parents.

There are other memories. Memories of my family, my loved ones. Some of them will never come back, but we have to live on. There are memories of my colleagues. Some have left, but some are still here with me. We’ve witnessed each others’ growth into relatively mature teachers.

Photos bring me memories. Photos stop the past. Photos cannot tell the future. Photos cannot be changed. Some past I don’t want. Some past I want to remember for all my life. So I delete some, keep some. What about you?