Magic

One of the most poignant moments in class was when one of my students insisted her name was "Jamie".

Pronounced as "Jay-Mee".

She spelt it as "Jammie".

In the UK, it is slang for either something with lots of "Jam" (as in the fruity sticky stuff), or someone who is really lucky (Jammy).

Pronounced "Jam-ee"

My sense of humor took over, and I referred to her in class as "Jam-ee" thereafter.

A few days later, I noticed that she had become sullen and unresponsive in the classes.

She would not speak to me, nor even look at me.

I asked her in Korean was she ok.

Emma, a younger (and sassy) student then spoke up. She explained that Jamie was hurt about my making fun of her name. Jamie still looked at the floor.

So, I did the necessary.

I got down on both knees in front of her desk and bowed my head and asked her forgiveness. The entire class (15 kids, boys and girls) were in silence.

I cried tears and I wrung my hands. I begged her to forgive me by banging my forehead on her desk.

Jamie still refused to look at me.

I then handed her my marker pen with a tearful eye. I urged Emma to tell her to write on the board her feelings.

Jamie just about managed to suppress her smile as she stood up. She stalked past me to the front of the class and scrawled, on the board, in big letters, this:

"I love you , Teacher".