Melanie's Mostly Writing

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Melanie Lewicka

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I teach English at a private academy in South Korea. Like many ESL teachers, I really enjoy my job. Working with children is usually great fun. The younger kids, kindergarten and elementary school age, are keen to speak English with me. They have not yet become self conscious. The middle school students are different, especially the girls. They hide behind their hair and mumble in monosyllables.

Gradually I began to understand their embarrassment, as I experienced it myself. I tried to learn Korean, although my fiance speaks English at home. I found I could use a few basic phrases confidently, but when I tried to create my own sentences I became shy and unable to speak. I understand their reticence now. It is the fear of not being good enough. It can be the same with writing too, but we have to practice to overcome it.

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