30 August 2010

Lost in Translation, 1

My two weeks of teaching were for ESL Camp. The camp was dwindling in numbers, so the last week I actually taught by myself, to a group of kids from about 7-16. Their English levels were completely different, so it was a bit of a challenge, and they weren't exactly motivated in any way, but overall it was a good experience.

On the first day of the last week, I had the students write me a letter about themselves. One of the oldest boys (about 16) whose English was also the worst wrote me this:

"You are tall and skin white. You are common."

I actually have no idea whether he meant that as an insult or a compliment. I'm not sure anyone really could know. But I do know, that although I have been called many insulting things, I've never felt quite so insulted as when he called me common. What does that say about me???


I don't know, do you think Koreans consider commonness positive?

No comments: