2 Letters
The following is a reference letter that the Head of English in one of my Primary Schools wrote for me on the last day of the school semester. Written with far better handwriting than my own (which isn’t particularly difficult really), I genuinely treasure this thin leaf of lined paper torn from a student’s exercise book. If I was being sappy, or reeling in slurry drunkeness, I’d suggest that it validates my time here.
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Jon had been an English oral teacher in Yucai Primary Foreign Language School Attached to Chengdu no. 7 Middle School for half a year.
Jon was activity in his class. With many good ideas for teaching, he can control the class both in higher and lower levil very well. He was a teacher of good credit and repute during his working time. The children love him.
We had a pleasant cooperation.
Jenny
6.15.2005
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The next is a letter that a middle school student gave me as I was leaving a classroom after acting as a substitute teacher for a single lesson.
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Dear Jon,
I’m so pleased to meet you.
I believe you are a good foreign teacher. But I have only one class to get together with you. I hope I have some more classes, because I want to make friends with you. May I ask some questions about you?
1. Why did you come to teach in China?
2. Which grade will you teach?
3. What’s your favourite sports, food, and what other do you like?
Now, I’ll introduce myself to you:
[page 2]
My name is Tony. My Chinese name is [various unintelligible symbols]. I like running, walking and swimming. I’m often happy, but it’s rather easy to make me cry. I like working for my class. Ands I’m a good helper at my teacher. I like watching TV. I like many kinds of food except Japanese food, I hate the Japanese.
From Junior Class4 Grade 8
Write to me soon.
Tony
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My gut instinct was PISS - TAKE, either of me, or an effeminate boy in the class. But the earnest smile of the boy who ran out to give it to me, the reaction of the Chinese teachers I showed it to and the fact that it is common for middle school kids to try to correspond with the roundeye teacher has since convinced me otherwise. I sent a letter back trying to reassure and compliment this apparently fragile boy, and included the line I like many kinds of food except French food, I hate the French, so that through our rampant xenephobia we could be kindred.