Those were the days

I went to a kindergarten which make every children speak only English when I was three. You can only ask for toilet in English. During either play time or in class we could speak only English. That was a really smart way to let children learn and use English in usual life. We read English picture books, fought each other in English, had fun with foreign teachers. I knew my Chinese name until I almost graduated from kindergarten. In my family, we are used to call others in English names. Practicing writing Chinese seem hard for me at that time. But I was happy learning those days.

I was not really getting used to the new learning environment in elementary school. My classmates were really good at shouting at each other in Chinese words that I had never heard of. It may be the reason why I was so quiet and nervous talking to others in class. There was still cram school after school, teachers I had known since long time ago. English lessons, homework, tests every week, speech contests, spelling bee award, ghost story writing, summer and winter camp....Although some were a bit boring, it really helped me improve my English ability.

I had a New Zealand pen pal then. Whole class would each write a letter to them. Saying something interesting in Taiwan, our school life, family members....I still remember that they can go to school at nine o' clock and go home at two. Whole class would like to move to there then. Students in other countries are free and happy either during weekends or school life.