Learning English is wonderful for me.

JI YEON HAN (Jean)

Learning English is wonderful for me. Learning English have brought  me to be confident about myself through extending my knowledge and having abilities to be able to help my children and being able to catch the chance to do a job producing self realization.

First, extending my knowledge. Learning english has made me intelligent and knowledgeable more than who I was. When learning English, I can see the world that I've never seen and that I been curious about. Before learning English, I had limited sight. So I was able to see just things around me and knew only things around myself. Actually, I hadn't been interested in others that much except what I needed and what was related to me and what I was curious about like animals and plants. English leads me to various knowledge about natural and social science by reading lots of articles, examples and something like that. I enjoy letting me be filled with knowledge about the principles of science and the phenomenon in human society. There are plenty of things in the world I want to know. Craving knowledge started learning English extended reading a newspaper (in Korean). I read a newspaper day by day that makes me wise and

to have sympathy for human affairs and  be able to make plans for my future. I experienced that having a knowledge about English is very helpful. When  there was a unexpected  incident on the my first trip overseas. The trip was with my children, my mother and my mother in law without my husband. But, there wasn't a guide who was supposed to be there. If I couldn't speak in English, there would have been a lot of big troubles on my trip. I couldn't have asked for even what the party and I needed an inside of a plane. I couldn't have known where to go and what is to be done at an airport. Actually, at that time I wasn't good at English that much to do that easily. but It is true that my English helped me on my troublesome tasks. Therefore, I have studied English more after that incident.

Second, learning English has given me abilities to help my children when they study English. That has develop a good relationship between us. My daughter likes that time with me and she is proud of her mother who is able to offer some information about English. My behavior that studying English at home have my children lead a kind of study mood spontaneously. That's quite a good one I gain through learning English. This links  my son with studying his school subjects. It was a long way for him to join some activities of reading, writing, and arranging school things, because he has a kind of autism. But he enjoys studying English especially. He sometimes asks me about English spelling related to fighter planes and dinosaurs. He likes to draw pictures of fighter planes or dinosaurs and writes the name under them. He is good at drawing. One of my dreams is traveling abroad to various countries with my son. That is one of my motivation to study English. Someday I will do it. I know that I can do it.

Third, Learning English lets me catch the chance to do a job producing self realization. I studied English when waiting for my son at school and at several special education centers. I have never been to English academies and abroad for learning English. I just took part in parents English class at  my son's  elementary school   And I have studied English all by myself from songs I liked and books I chose. And I have studied EBS (education broadcasting system) books with  broadcasting of EBS lately. It seemed to take five years. Against odds, I didn't give it up. And two years ago, I found out some women center that gives women chances to be able to be educated  for having a job. I got a certification for English teacher after school from that center. And then I have taught first and second grade students at Doksan elementary school and a regional children center that is for children who have busy parents so there are no moms and dads during the day.  Every moment from preparing lessons to making materials to thinking about children are so meaningful to me.  Teaching them is very worthwhile for me. Their eyes that want something new and their smiles with satisfactions make me happy and exciting all the time. I came to realize that I'm really good at getting along with children and enjoy teaching them and be good at making materials and be imaginative. I found another person inside who has confidence. I always try and try to have a good time  with children by preparing perfect lessons. I like them and children like me. That's awesome for teaching.

So, I enjoyed learning English, and I'm enjoying learning English, and I will enjoy learning English in many ways. I will have enjoyed the moments that are given to me when I'm living.

Q 1> How does learning English have made me intelligent and knowledgeable more than who I was?

In Korea, lots of English , foreign words and abbreviation are used in our daily life. for examples, there are 후라이드 치킨 (fried chicken), 스탠드(stand), ATM, 린스(rinse), 트리트먼트(treatment), UN, 컷(CUT), 이미테이션(imitation), 하드웨어(hardware), 이메일(e-mail)  and so on.

Before learning English, I used these without knowing the meanings. but after studying, I understand their's meanings  more. That causes me to have common knowledge more. I used to blush at my ignorance. I sometimes do nowadays though. Anyway, increasing knowledge helps me learning English for sure.

Reading newspaper is good way to be intelligent and knowledgeable.

Q 2> Tell me what exactly?

Contents in the a series of books called "Reading Tutor" were really interesting and contributed to expanding knowledge and made me want to learn something more, because I think that knowledge is interesting and power.

Q 3> Such as? (There are plenty of things in the world I want to know.)

How much effects does drinking alcoholic liquids give to people's brain and mind?

How many calories does each food have?

Which food is good for my kids? ( especially, for mind and brain and a pimple)

To what degree do I need to be independent or dependent on my family?

How do cars start and go? (want to know the maintenance of a car)

How do some hormones in my body make me feel depressed  for several days before monthly period?

Which teaching methods are suitable for my son?

I want to know the name of flowers which I see in the neighborhood.

I want to know

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Q 4> How did this experience make you feel?

I was kind of relieved, because I could speak English. So I thought that I wouldn't have big big problem with that situation.