Hello. Today I met my literature class teacher (she was leaving back to America after spending 2 semesters teaching at college) and I was trying to find words to thank her for her lectures she was giving through the year. I said that her lectures were interesting. And then I found myself tongue-tied because that's the only compliment I was able to come up with. Can you suggest any other phrases or sentences I can use next time when I am in such a situation? I don't know why I become kind of dumb when I meet foreign teachers in the hallway of my university. What topics or subjects I could bring up in a talk with a foreign teacher. All opinions and comments will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Hello, Dready:
(1) First, I thought that you would like to know that it is better to
say "going back/ returning to America." I mention this only because I am
confident that you do not want to make this mistake again.
(2) It's wonderful that you want to express your gratitude to
your teachers. If you find it difficult, why not put it in writing? So
when you personally say goodbye, you could hand him/her a small
gift with a card. I am sure that there are some things that are unique
to your country. They would make a gift that the teacher would never
forget. For example, I understand that in Russia there is a doll inside a
doll inside a doll. Then you can attach your note to the gift. In your
note, you can use some sayings that I have collected:
"When the student is ready, the master will appear." You can tell
the teacher that s/he was that master.
"One day with an excellent teacher is better than 1,000 days of
concentrated study." You can tell him/her that this is a Japanese
proverb and that you learned more with her/him than you did with
anyone else.
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence
stops." This is a well-known quotation from an American named
Henry Brooks Adams (1838 - 1918). Of course, for a woman you
could change the pronoun. You can assure her that her influence
will be expressed through your future actions and attitudes.
(3) And please don't forget: most good speakers rehearse. Write out
the words that you want to say, and then in the privacy of your
bedroom practice saying them aloud -- as if she were listening to you.
"Practice makes perfect," you know.
(4) Many students do not express their gratitude to a good teacher.
It's wonderful that you want to. And she will always remember sincere
words that come from your heart. In fact, one sweet sentence can
touch her heart better than all the words in the world. For example,
here in the States, when a teacher is sick, a substitute teacher takes
his/her place for the day. One day a substitute teacher did such a
great job that some students said (as they were leaving the classroom):
"I learned more today than I have learned all this term." That substitute
teacher would never forget that single sentence.
Sincerely,
James
