As my readers can imagine, saying goodbye to my students was tremendously sad and I regretted that I would no longer see their cheerful faces or be subjected to their weird teasing. Although I found the idea somewhat self-absorbed, my team-teachers convinced me that the best idea for the last class would be to have the students make goodbye cards with a personal message for me. Somehow, they managed to get every student to finish his or her card before the school year ended and deliver it to my desk. The students, to my surprise, went all-out with the cards and decorated them with drawings, pictures, magazine clippings, gel pens, and even 3-D pop-ups.
Naturally, many contained sweet messages that made me tear up to think of leaving the students behind, but many others left me either perplexed or unable to contain my laughter. They contained terrible English, ridiculous phrases copied straight out of the textbook, well-intentioned but misguided messages, and of course a great deal of teasing and some jokes. Please take the time to read a few of the best cards and - LET'S ENJOY!
(Perhaps it goes without saying, but please note that I have omitted any identifying information throughout. My name is not actually Mali, and my school's name is not "S.")
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Although it was rare to have a class together with you, the team teaching preformed occasionally was presure above all. How was the life in Japan? Since culture and the custom different from the United States, it might be puzzled. Please don't forget forever having come to Japan and having got to know, having felt, and people's thing that met.
I'm 16 years old. You seem very happy. Because you smile every day. I think it will make everyone happy. It's very well. Thank you very much.
Thank you for one year. The lesson of a teacher was very pleasant. Even if you return to the USA, please do not forget the thing of the S. high school.
Where there is a will, there is a way!
TIME IS MONEY!! TIME IS MONEY!!
Thank you for everything, Mali. It was indebted until now. Thank you. Mali's lesson was very pleasant. Everybody's thing of the S. high school he forgets there is nothing. Please come out the United States various doing one's best!! Boyfriend and lovelove. I also do my best. Again Japan play coming. Mali it is favorite. I LOVE YOU. [this card also contained an enormous Thomas the Train Engine sticker]
Mali's smill is very cute. 前, station で会った時 Mali と talk できて very happy でした. America にかえっても FIGHT. Mali の授業は very 楽しかったよ. [I love that this kid was basically substituting random English words into a Japanese sentence...]
I'm glad to meet you!! I'm going to fishing in the Lake Ontaria. <-- about!! If I can get many fish, I give you!! You may become stomachache!! VERY VERY VERY THANK YOU!!!
Thank you verry much four a years teem teaching. Please health after go to America.
I wish you good luck. Please careful of about your GOOD LUCK!
You are class is very interesting and your smile is very cute. So I'm fun every day.
Hello!! My write English is not well. But I write one's best. I took your class for twice. I had a nice that time!
Hello!! My name is R M. Do you have a dream? I have a big dream. I want to be a musician. I like music!! I wanna be a man give dreams, but I can't do it yet. I want dreams come true. Music is wonderful and beautiful. [He also drew a picture of a skeleton with a guitar yelling "LET'S ROCK"]
My name is Y. I'm good at playing baseball. I'm like Mali. I want Mali. I love you I need you... Please call me fool every day ok!! [lots of hearts drawn. also he stuck a used piece of gum in the card.]
Thank you very much. Your lessoons were very interesting. I'm going to go to your house. Good bye.
Please cheer me.
I cheer you all the time!
Hello! I saw you at Diamond City one month ago. Do you remember? see you again.
Hello! How are you? I'm fine. I think you are cute! So you have boyfriend doesn't you? I haven't boyfriend ... but ... well ... ok! ok! [ha ha ha~] I have never been to America. I want to go America but I have problem. It's nothing rise~~~ I like Mali's class. See you again. Bay...
Your class was very interested! I regret your class receive yet. I will study English head.
I NEED YOU.
I love straight hair.
Everyday fine!!
It's Birthday Card... not! (Write by ENTER SANDMAN... joking) You never give up! You will become something <-- why do you mean? If you like Rock & Roll show, you play a Mosh! Do you know mosh? ROCK & ROLL! YEAH!
You had been seen when leave school for home. I was taken pleasure your class. We may be changed when you come back the US.
If I had time and money, I could fly to you.
The moment I saw your eyes, I was so inspired. Oh. It's a joke. American joke.
You becoming glass!!!!!!
Mali is go back the American from Japan to. sorry is! But I'm don't forget you. Over there go to work hard!
Were you happy or unhappy? I'm happy.
I'm a person hard to deal with English sentence.
We are Fighting Girl.
You are supreme teacher! I'll never forget seeing you. It's a pity that you come back America. But. I aid for you!
Thank you for enjoying. I love you. I need you. Say hello to your country.
I like a your smiling. A your smiling gives me many courage.
America come back fighting!! America in boyfriend good. Something come Japan!
You'll be back in Japan again, I believe.
Please hang in there after you go back to America!
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Thank you for a long time.
I'm judo player. I am chanpion.
Hello. How are you? How was your Japanese life? I hope it is very good. Bring career at Japan to home from now on. And, keep smiling!
Mali is more cute than beautiful. Mali is interesting. Thank you. Have a nice day.
Hello! Thank you although it was a short period of time. Please do your best from now on. It mails. Please take care about the body.
Mali is very good style. Mali's foot is long longer longest! ENVIOUS!!!! [Here I feel I must point out that in Japanese, the same word is used for both foot and leg. I can only hope she meant the latter.]
Even if Ms. Mali's lesson took me, I liked it. Then, please be fine and do your best.
If I hadn't met Mali then, I couldn't have realized his dream.
I funed with Mali!!!
Fight! Fight!! Fight!!!
Doraemon is the machine.
Thank you for Mali.
Good luck on your everything! I'll try to do my best, too. [this card had a picture of Paris Hilton on the back. Why?....]
Have a nice life!
Go to America of exerting oneself.
On one's way home in USA vigor!
I forget to you.
My yearning you!!
I hope you have your own dream and go forward to it. Thank you for giving classes to us!
I am very sad now... Because, you will back to America. But, I say "good bye!" with a smiling face.
In future, please cheer up.
Good Lack!!
Thank you very much for teaching English me. That's very kind of you. Don't me. See you again.
Please forget S. junior high school students. [I think this kid is confused about which school she's in... I taught in a high school.]
I sad because I can't meet you all the time. You have to go to USA, aren't you? I'll go to USA, when I become woman.
Thank you very much till now.
Sorry... I don't write English. But I like English.
Please come to Japan ago. I wait to fun.
Thank you for your kind and warm harted teaching for us. I enjoyed talking with you! Mali swils very cute. I want to go in America! FIGHT
I like English very much. Because English is interesting. But very diffecult. I like tennis.
Come to again.
I'll never forget having enjoy time. Thank you. I am dislike English! but Mali is very like!! Come again Japan.
Mali's class is delight for me.
I sentence English.
My dream is interpreter. So if I meet you become I will be happy!
How did you enjoy our class room?