New ESL Definition

“To many people, ESL is learning English as a second language; to me, ESL is learning English as in my second life. “

When I was an elementary student in Hong Kong, I didn't like to study. There were three possible reasons.

1) Compared with studying, I preferred playing and chatting with friends.

2) I had some ADHD symptoms but people around me were not educated on the ADHD topic. Some of my English teachers thought that I was a troublemaker.

3) Education system in Hong Kong tied the grade of students with the level of subjects together. I was pretty good at Chinese language but English language wasn't my thing. But as the grade went up each year, I had a harder and harder time to keep up. (With the American education system, I had a proper challenge when I excelled in math and it was easier to catch up if I fell behind in English. )

My family immigrated from Hong Kong to the US when I was in high school. I got a new chance to start over a Christ centered life with new friends, and a new environment. I started to rebuild my English foundation with a positive mindset – ”I’m able to learn English '' instead of the self limited belief “I can’t learn English ”.

I want to encourage people to try things that they might not be good at in the past or other people say so. You might find a new life experience there. Or you will surely know you are not good at that.

At the end, I want to share a quote that I really like:

Serenity Prayer

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.”