In their words

Once in a while I give my students the opportunity for a "free write." For about 15 minutes I'll let them write about whatever is on their minds. They always make me smile. They usually talk about how tired they are, how terrible H1N1 is, or driving school. Students at our university must learn to drive a stick-shift car. Most of them will never have a car, so they often think it is a waste of time and money. They also must practice at ridiculous times of the day like at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m. for two months. Sometimes you can see dozens of them practicing their driving around the school. They are all lurching forward and going as slowly as a snail in the school's old cars. It's pretty entertaining.

Anyways, here are some excerpts. Some are amusing, while others are extremely serious and sweet:

"Hi, Miss Luara. Do you have a cold? I guess, "Yes." Recently, the weather likes baby's face, you should keeping warm, eating more hot water..."

"Laura is a fantastic oral English teacher. She has cute blue eyes and she is very tall. She is a kind person and always want to improve our oral English..."

"In the past few days, I attend driving course. At first, I am excited and nervous. I can't hold the wheel well, I always go the wrong way. The coach criticize me resolutely, he said in a serious tone: "You are the worst." I am so sad, but I never give up. I'm not the worst!"

"These days I'm learning driving course in Blue Sky Automobile Driving School. I think it is very easy for me at first, but now it's more difficult than my imagination..."

"My driving coach is a serious man. He is strict to us and can't stand any faults. Once you make a mistake he will critisize at you in a very loud voice. Among all the coaches he is outstanding for his voice. And during the training time I made a name for myself by being critisized by my coach. I think everyone knows me now..."

"I have a best friend, and we got on well with each other very well, and we never brawling. But in several days ago, she suddenly told me she was ill, and it was a terrible disease. And if she didn't have a operation in time she will lose her life. My tears was seized with a sudden impulse when I heared her words. I'm so afraid and anxious about it. I'm afraid that my best friend will disappeared. And she will perform an operation in tomorrow. If the operation can't succeed, her face won't be complete. A complete and perfect face is very important for a girl. If she lose her perfect face, I don't know how she can face with it. She is still my best friend and I won't dislike and avoid her even though she is fragmentary. As a friend I hope I can give her strength."

And lastly, I received a little note from the student whose mother died recently. I had written him a note letting him know that we had all been thinking of him. Today I got this in reply:

"Hi, Miss Laura, First thanks for writing me a letter. I was so surprised when I getting it from your hand, it would be the most important present for me, don't worry I was okay, it just I couldn't adapt to the condition of the school. Second, let me say 'sorry' to you, because I had have being absent many of your class, but I wanna made you know I respected you. You are my teacher and friend. Please help me say 'thank you' to Miss Jodi, told her I thought she is kind person. To be your student and friend is my glory."

So that was a little glimpse of my student's lives and thoughts. Thanks for always thinking of them! They are some of the most precious people in the world.