ESL Blogs

Well, I believe that it’s already been a long time since I posted a non-poem blog.  This time, I’d like to tell you a story, a story about two angels who inspire me so much.

And…the story begins…
A few months ago, I joined a programme called Kuliah Kerja Profesi Guru or The Practice of Teacher Profession (the main reason why I left My EC for a few months was this programme). It is a compulsory subject to take, because without joining the program, the undergraduates will never be the graduates. This programme required all educational undergraduates to teach at some schools which had been decided already. Thus, we had to learn how to be a good and lovable teacher.

After several English teaching practices at campus (I am an English Department student, that’s why I taught English at the time, though my English proficiency was quite poor), we were finally sent to the decided schools. I was assigned to High School Kartika VII-2, Kendari, the number one private school in Kendari. When hearing that I would teach at the school, I was extremely excited and couldn’t wait to start. I said to myself,”Oh my god, the days of being teacher are about to come”. Coincidentally, one friend of mine told me that she had sixteen aged identical twin daughters studying at High School Kartika. She said,”Achan, their names are Septiyanty and Septiyanni. Just call them Anty and Anni. Please take care and help them in learning English because they are very poor at English, okay.” I responded by saying,”As you wish, my lovely sister”.    

Eventually, the “it’s show time” day came and all of the Kartikans (that’s my own term to call all of the undergraduates who were assigned to teach at this school), particularly six English Department students, officially started their new life as teachers, though not the real teachers. The superior English teachers divided several classes to us. I got three classes of second year students. I had no idea, though, perhaps this had been destined, but apparently, I got both of Anty and Anni’s classes. “Lucky me, “ I thought. I helped them learning English at any way I could do.

One of conventions I created as a teacher was my own catchphrase. When teaching and learning process was about to begin, I shout loudly,”Are you ready to learn?”. My students then responded by saying,”Yeah”. Though I am no longer teaching there because the programme was finally done, but my students and I still keep in touch. Every time I visit High School Kartika, my former students always tease me by saying, “Sir Achan, are you ready to learn??”. Hahaha….those kids seem still remembering the catchphrase of mine.

My superior once told me that I had a very loud voice. She said,”your voice is able to pass through three classes at once..Is it kinda gift or perhaps a curse for you?”. I simply answered,”maybe both, mam.” Hahahaha    

Let’s be back to the twins, okay..
The twins and I quickly became fast friends and grew close each other. Maybe it was because I am very close to their mother as well, since I regard her as my sister and they knew it. Time after time, we were getting closer and finally I should admit that I loved them as my little sister, especially to Anni (probably, it was because I talked to her more often than Anty). Whenever they got any problems and difficulties with English or another subjects, they must ask me to help. I used to say to them,”when you get some problems with English, do not hesitate to ask me, okay”. Then, whenever I met with their mother, we only talked about them.

After three months of teaching, I finally had to say goodbye to the school, because the programme had ended. I was kinda sad, because I had been used to living as a teacher. A few weeks later, the twins’ mother told me that the twins got sick, which made them could not go to the school for taking their student report books. I offered myself to take the books, because I still had some certain business at the school. When I gave the report books to their mother, she said that the twins were getting better. I was so happy and relieved to hear it.

Two days later (June 22, 2011), I got the news that Anty finally passed away because of leukaemia, whereas Anni’s condition was getting worse. Three days later (June 25, 2011), Anni followed her sister, went to another realm, to be with his sister because she also got the same disease. I was devastated and could not believe what had happened. I had ever heard that the identical twins are inseparable, which means when one is dead; the other will be dead as well.

Goodbye my lovely little sisters, I love you both so much, no one can replace you in my heart.
Now, you know, my friend, every time I wrote a new poem, their faces are always on my mind…
 
Even though I can’t see you, I can feel you after all this time
Westlife (I Will Reach You)

Special thanks for my lovely sister Anele, who inspires me to write this post :)

A-CHAN