Dedicated to My Students, Part One

Hakik Girls High School Life Series

"What are we supposed to do? I don't understand Mr. Soni at all!"

I want to take sometime to recognize some of the students at my school who give me joy and continue to work hard in my class. Just like my school experience last year, I met some incredible students who teach me as much stuff as much I teach them. With no further fluff of an intro, here are some of my ladies who I am proud to say "I teach these ladies:"

Hakik Girls High Uniforms: Spring on the Left, Winter on the Right

1. Kim Kyung-eun, Class 1-5: She's something else. Always positive yet playful, she always a good student to have because she has a drive, but she also has this edge about her. She is obedient to what I say but always likes to tease her teacher, me. A short, pumpkin-head of a Korean girl with a round, cute face and a very monotone, low voice which makes her sound like an android. When she speaks English, she sounds like a hesitant captain of a Federation vessel unable to choose her words, and sometimes it seems she is talking with her nose. Yet she speaks English well; she just needs more confidence. One of my favorite memories during class time was earlier this year. She, having a huge crush on me earlier this semester, turned out also to be a dangerous weapon. One Wednesday, before our class started, I walked out the classroom to get something from my office, at a brisk pace. Oblivious to all students as I rushed by, I returned back to the classroom to start class. After the usual remarks after the bell, I proceeded to pass out the class' materials to every single table.

Su-yeon, Kim Kyung-eun, and Hyo-jin

Kyung-eun ignores me as I urged her to pass out the papers. I kinda shove her a little, as she still played listless. "Kyung-eun, what's wrong!? What are you doing?" I asked her friends Li-ra and Hye-yun what's the deal. They said they didn't know. After a minute of trying to cajole her, Kyung-eun is resolved to ignore me. What did I do? I finished the class, with one of my best students mad at me for something. Typical Korean high school girl.

Spring Time at Hakik Girls High

Fast-forward to the end of the day. Its cleaning time, and girls are busily cleaning my English Zone while I review the day's progress. Enter this goofball. With one smooth stroke, she brings out this English dialog book, and reads, with her monotone voice (think a female robot from the 60's): "Soni, the reason I was upset today was you...ignoreeed...meeeee..." expressing her sentiments with some glum on her frown. Yet you could see the playfulness: "You didn't say hi to me in the hallway! Grrrr!" I apologize and told her I was busily running back to the office. "Hmph!" she replied as she walked away.

To this day, I never ignore her in the hallway, lest I feel the Wrath of Kyung-eun/Angry Korean School Girl, a "hi" must be given. By the way, she's still one of my fave and best students because she actually gives a hoot to what I have to say. Keep it up girl.

Having a laugh at Summer English Camp

2. Jung Byol, Class 1-1: Jung Byol is one of the handful of Korean students who does not have three syllables in her full name. "Jung" is her family name, "Byol" means "Star." She's the class captain of her homeroom. A small, little girl, her English is very advanced for a half-pint. She uses her voice to help me in class when her fellow students are too loud. What makes her unique is that she's a good team player, always willing to help me in class and does a great job of communicating. Its a pleasure to have her in my class, because she's very wise and mature for a girl her age.



Sometimes sporting a white cardigan over her school uniform, she resembles a mini-version of a grad student. Hence her nickname, "The Graduate." In class, when Mr. Kim or I cannot get the class quiet, she'll step in and yell at her friends to "be quiet" and her friends shut their mouths quick. She has been really helpful in my class and is quite intelligent for age. I believe she'll be a super-super star in years to come.

Mr. Soni and His Yeonsu Boys Re-Unite at the Festival!

3. Hwang Yu-na, Class 1-7: Yuna is this chubby, happy-go-lucky girl in class seven. She is also their class captain. Since day one, she has been ever so receptive of me and active during each class we have together. Any activity, no matter how menial or boring, she'll do it with gusto. Slightly taller than me, she has a round face, chubby cheeks, a small nose, and a very short hair-cut, so she resembles a cat. Everytime I see here, she's always greeting me with a smile and asking me, "What've been up to?" a phrase that I've taught since day one. What makes her special is that she is a Christian. She's told and shown me what God is doing in her life, including her recent mission trip to Cambodia, where she had the opportunity to help many people in that country.

Mr. Soni and Yu-na before her big performance.

The biggest gift she ever gave to her teacher, me, was a song. A love song at the school festival, which I will post in the near future. Its something worth seeing.

4. The "Hana" Girls and Da-hae, Class 1-1: These girls are always together. Always together, never apart. They are the "Class One Angels." What is more unique is their personalities, they are perfect complements of one another. First there is Lee Hana, a small but fiesty little girl who has a very narrow face and serious eyes; she is very friendly at the same time a "don't mess with me" kinda look is always on her face. Then there is her partner in crime Cho Hana, who has a more soft face, shiny eyes, a button nose, and is very laid-back. What's unique about the both of them is that they are the same height, so they could be sisters in many ways, as they trade barbs with one another. Finally, to round them out is their friend Da-hae. What makes her unique is that she is taller than the other two, so she would seem to be the ringleader. Yet she is the most shyest of the bunch and most bashful. In fact, she never spoke in my class. Then during our annual Speech Contest, up comes in Da-hae with this eloquent speech about plastic surgery! So I asked her why she never spoke up in class..."the other kids would make fun of me." Basically, her shyness combined with her good English skills made her a silent Sally for the entire first semester.

Yet everytime I see these girls together, they are all holding eachother's hands (perfectly okay in the SK), laughing together, telling each other stories and goofing off. Their friendship and sisterhood just make you smile...again, they are always together. In God's Realm, one of the most beautiful thing about life is our camraderie and friendship...God never wants us to be alone.

My girls do an ad for "DemiSoda," a lemon taste, fresh fo yo'mind!

So that's part one of my fave students. Some students I chose because they make me laugh. Some I chose because they are highly intelligent and insightful. And some I chose because they represent the sheer humanity of life.

Added throughout the blog are some class pictures past and present of students from my school.