Caveat: 나는 전지전능해

My student Anastasia wrote “나는 전지전능해” on her workbook cover.  She translated it as “I’m almighty” but the dictionary suggests  “I’m omnipotent” might be a better translation.  In any event, it shows a lot of self-confidence, huh?
Saying goodbye to all the kids is hard.  Then there are the moments when I just have to laugh, too.  My student Brian (3rd grade) put on a very serious face and said, “teacher, I wrote you a letter.”  He handed me an index card.  I turned it over,  and read a single word: “~bye”
My student Paul (4th grade) came up to me right after the end of class and spontaneously hugged me.  That was great, but it wasn’t so great when he immediately poked me (well, gently) in my gut and said “I will miss your stomach soooo much.”  Maybe that’s a sign I need to lose a bit more weight?
Lastly, I got the following card from Sally.  She did the cover art herself, obviously inspired by my many alligators.   I was touched by what she wrote.
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One comment

  1. christine

    anastasia is saying she’s capable of anything – my guess is, it’s her way of saying fighting! to cheer herself on, rather than to demonstrate an overbearing ego. a lot of students seem to have that written on their books. i remember ellen having written ‘study hard’ on her books last semester.
    [this is jared. Christine, you’re right, of course. I think the pragmatics of the phrase is like the English “I believe in myself.” I remember Ellen’s “study hard” notes vividly, too! I certainly didn’t mean to imply it was an inappropriate type of self-confidence… Anastasia is memorable for her amazing self-confidence, and I thought the phrase suits her personality perfectly, in a good way. Thanks for the comment. (:]

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