Jeon Chan Hyeok, or Hyeok, was my 10th ESL student at Liloan, and one of my two favorite students (the other being Kim Min-ji, or Julian). I preferred "Hyeok" because I teased him, saying his name sounded like "yolk"! 😄 He was the second student I became close to after Julian. He also loves it when I call him (agihyeok) 아기혁, which means "baby Hyeok" in Korean! It's so cute.
I remember being frustrated with another student who'd shows a teacher a thumbs-down gesture 👎, implying I wasn't doing a good job. It was disheartening; I'd tried my best to help him, but he'd said, No, teacher, I don't need help. That gesture, right in front of me, was devastating. 😭 I had to compose myself ( not because i was paid because.. maybe that's one reason but i don't want to go to prison for slapping a child ). I was already tired from a long day of trying to understand each student's English level.
Then Hyeok walked into my last class. It was my first day experiencing all of this, and I'd been looking forward to going home. His presence was so welcoming and positive; it completely erased the negativity. ✨ I was surprised by the good vibes he brought.
Throughout our time together, we formed a special bond. 🥰 I was happy; I hadn't felt like a favorite teacher or being favorite before.
Hyeok, however, always made me feel like his favorite. He clarified this in a letter he gave me on my last day, explaining he didn't want to hurt the other teachers' feelings. It was supposed to be a secret, but now it's not! Haha! 😂
He also asked me what kind of gift I wanted, and I told him that gifts were unnecessary because I'm not materialistic. However, he insisted, so I challenged him to give me something that wouldn't cost him anything. I truly dislike people spending money on me; it's just not my thing. Surprisingly, he gave me a small metal object—a heart he'd fashioned from something he found in his room. I truly appreciate this sentimental gift; even though it's rusty now, I keep it inside my school ID because I can't bear to wear it and risk damaging it.
I still remember everything we did together. He'd always talk about his day, and I tried to understand him, as his English wasn't perfect. He often praised me—I don't know why!—and we'd work through workbooks. When he struggled, he'd say, Teacher Mel, help me! Very hard! After our workbooks and reading (I was also a reading teacher), we'd talk about things we liked. We both loved the girl group NewJeans, spending time discussing their music videos and songs. "Super Shy," "Hype Boy," and "ETA" were particular favorites we'd often sing along to and analyze together. 🎶 It was a fun way to practice English and connect on a personal level. We also talked about his crushes back in Korea—so adorable! 🥰 We created a lovely bond. He also calls me "sheep," which I find endearing, even though I'm not quite sure why! He says every time he hugs me, he feels something soft inside. I don't really understand, but I just go with it so we can continue with our class! 🐑
I also remember him hugging me whenever he saw me in the hall. 🤗 I loved the hugs, but I remembered our head teacher's rule: the only appropriate physical contact with students is a handshake. So, each time he hugged me, I'd gently try to pull away, not too obviously, because I also enjoyed the hugs! I didn't want to give the wrong impression to other teachers ( you can say that i was trying to play safe since im a new teacher). I'd never seen a student hug their teacher like that except for Luna and Teacher Ellen—they were very cute together. 🥰 I was sad when my time as an ESL teacher ended; I should have embraced those moments and not overthought things.
I think my closer relationship with Hyeok compared to Julian stems from our different styles of connection. While my closeness with Julian was more about shared humor and fun, Hyeok was always open to deeper, more heartfelt conversations. He was more clingy and outwardly expressive than Julian. My affection for Julian is no less significant; he simply falls into a different category of favorites. To be clear, I cherish all my students—we are a family.
Now I miss his hugs! 😭 After my ESL teaching position ended, we made sure to stay in touch. He gave me his KakaoTalk ID—KakaoTalk is a popular South Korean messaging app similar to WhatsApp or Messenger—so we could communicate even though we're in different countries. We finished our ESL jobs around August, and by September, Hyeok and I were regularly chatting for an hour, talking about how much we missed each other and looking forward to seeing each other at the next summer camp.
Then I got some bad news: As an upcoming third-year college IT student, I have an 11-month internship (OJT) starting in May or June and ending in April of the following year. This is much longer than the 6-7 month internships of other courses. Oh shoot! 😱 That means I won't be able to return for the summer camp in 2025 because of my internship. This is something I really look forward to telling him and all my students.
After that September catch-up, we weren't able to talk much for the following months due to our busy schedules—college for me, and I'm sure he was busy too. But just today, December 24th, 2024, we caught up! We exchanged early Merry Christmas greetings 🎄 and talked about lots of things: the current trends in Korea, the Philippines, how much we miss each other, and reminisced about August. I teased him about his dramatic hair, jokingly saying he looked like an egg. It was a perfect fit because his name, Hyeok, sounds like "egg yolk."🍳
I also told him the bad news about not being able to return for summer camp, which was sad, 😔 but I assured him I'd always remember him, just as he'd always remember me. We'll always keep in touch, and I might even visit him at CIJ School Academy in Liloan, Mabini Street, if possible, perhaps for a future summer camp. This boy made me feel so special, and I want to make him feel special too.
❤️ I'll never stop loving and supporting him in his future endeavors, and I'll always be rooting for him. I love him, just as he always reminds me that he loves me. ❤️
Reflection on Teaching Experience
My experience with Hyeok or ally students reaffirmed the importance of building genuine connections with students. It wasn't just about teaching English; it was about understanding him as a person, celebrating his individuality, and creating a safe space for him to learn and grow. His enthusiasm and positive energy were contagious, reminding me why I love teaching. Even though our time together was short, the bond we formed has left a lasting impact on me, shaping my approach to teaching and reminding me of the profound influence a teacher can have on a student's life.