A SENSE OF ENGLISH

Hee Seung's Story

Last month I finished by promising to tell you about my Korean friend Hee-Seung. He was my private student of English for about 6 months here in Eastbourne in the year 2000.

Eastbourne, for those who don’t know, is my hometown. It’s here on the south coast of England, about 22 miles from Brighton.

Naturally, Hee-Seung’s character was fairly shy and reserved. He was unassuming - the sort of person who would wait to be asked rather than dive in with an opinion or comment.

Hee-Seung didn’t come to Eastbourne initially. He moved here after a bad experience in another town where he was studying. One night he was attacked by some passer-by and ended up in hospital with a broken nose.

At the time it was, of course, a very unpleasant experience. But in some ways, it served a very positive purpose for his future in England.

After moving to Eastbourne, Hee-Seung changed his mind about the way to study English and life in England.

People are more vulnerable when they are living somewhere and cannot communicate with those around them in their mother tongue.

One way, therefore, of reducing vulnerability, is to learn English as well as possible. This gives you the chance to appear more confident as well.

Hee-Seung realized that his natural character was not the best personality type for learning English.

Outgoing people in general should learn much quicker, because they will make more effort to meet people and will be less shy about trying to communicate.

In order to make the most of his time in England, Hee-Seung decided he would have to change his mindset and assume a different character from the one that was natural to him.

This is not easy, but he made a big effort. He went to many social events with his host family. He went out to the pub with other students, singing Karaoke and trying to engage in conversation with English people.

He took time to explain his problems and feelings to me and the other English people he knew.

This was something that was new for him, as he normally wouldn’t do that even in his own country. But it was all part of his effort to get close to people and build an English social life.

His effort was commendable, and his way was the right way. And it worked. He now works in Seoul at an English language school.

If you are living in England at the moment as a student, think about this:

How much time are you spending doing things that you could do in your own country?

I know many students who spend lots of time studying in a local library or alone in their room. Do you need to be in England to do that?

The last time I was in Japan I visited some great libraries. No need to travel across the world to visit an English one!

The point is this: if you are here as a student, then use your time here by doing things that you CANNOT do in your country.

Maximize your precious time! Don’t spend it pouring over books! If you could learn English through studying books, then why come here? It’s cheaper to stay at home!

The fact is you have a unique opportunity while you are here. It is not the time to make friends with people from your country, as so many people do.

What goes on in your mind is so important as to the way you will approach your time in England.

My challenge to you this month is this:

Find the thing that you couldn’t do if you were in your own country. Got it? Now, go out and do it.