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Being a non-English speaking immigrant in a predominantly English country can be very difficult. You’re unable to communicate with the people around you, unable to express yourself in an appropriate way and in many situations, it makes you feel inept. The following Twitter thread came from someone with the handle “@AskAKorean” who details the story of how his English teacher back in 7th grade completely changed his future with her kindness.
It was such an integral moment in his life that he remembered the entire sitaution very well, down to the question that sparked it all. It was a quiz about photosynthesis, and he was unable to communicate the answers using English words. It wasn’t that he did not know the answers, he just didn’t know the English words for it. So he wrote it in Korean.
Read his story yourself.
Source: Twitter
It’s quite an experience, everything you’ve built towards suddenly falling apart because you do not have the right words to express it. It’s humbling, and it gives you respect for everyone who needed to learn another language to communicate. AskAKorean went through that experience, and not only has endless respect for those who do the same, he also has endless respect for the teachers, the natives who go the extra mile to make it easier for foreigners to assimilate.
What about you? Do you have a story about an immigrant, be it yourself or a friend? Tell us about it!
