Farewell Ms. Johnson : Apart in Distance, but not in the Heart
By Janice Roh and Hailey Kim
Edited by William Seo
Design by Nicole Yang
Edited by William Seo
Design by Nicole Yang
Reflecting back on the past two years she has been teaching the second grade at Seoul International School, Ms. Tabitha Johnson has most often been described by her students as “heartwarming” and “caring”. Known for her strong affection towards children and her firm determination, the second graders in her class this year and former students who are currently in third grade will truly miss her as she moves to teach at the Chinese International School in Hong Kong next year.
When asked about what is unique about her in terms of education, Ms. Johnson replies that she and her teaching partner Mr. Akio Iida, currently teaching the third grade, “have brought several new activities, [such as] ‘Poem in your Pocket Day,’” which is a special day when students bring their favorite poems in their pockets and read them to others they meet. This activity helps students with their reading and speaking skills, some of the key skills Ms. Johnson focuses on most when she teaches. In addition, she is planning on opening a conference for international teachers in Seoul, mentioning that it will be “the first to be opened in Korea.” Ms. Johnson is glad to have organized a “professional development and learning for other teachers,” showing her deep interest in education. To the students, Ms. Johnson was “kind,” allowing them to find her very approachable, but also “strict enough” to have her students know right from wrong. Because of her approachability, students were free to ask many questions and seek advice, leading them to having a good start on their elementary school careers. “[The] students at SIS have been really amazing, challenging in good ways, asking great questions, energetic, and a lot of fun. I’ll really miss that, and I hope they can email me as they get older,” Ms. Johnson concluded with a last comment to her students. As she leaves for Hong Kong this year, the students, especially the ones in 2A, will definitely miss her presence. Although she is leaving, her students, fellow teachers, and fellow workers will not forget her dedication to SIS. As she stands as a root for her students’ education, they will surely thrive in their following years at SIS. Farewell, Ms. Johnson. |
|