Testimonials

It was maybe the first or second week of a new quarter and he had seen me in the hallway.

"I want my name to be Michael because your name is Michael."

This person's reaction when I told them the news.

"You're FINALLY getting your teaching license and a master's degree? You're finally doing what you were born to do. "

When I told this person I was getting my master's degree for teaching.

"You are a born teacher."

When I resumed being the TOEFL teacher after a short break.

"Teacher! Teacher! I'm so glad you're back! I've had so many different teachers here, but you! You are the best teacher I've ever had! "

This teacher had just had a major issue in her classroom and I walked in (we shared a room). She was trying to calm herself and everyone down.

"Be like Mike."

We were walking home after work and somehow my patience came up.

"Michael's patience is... it's f****** angelic"

"The parents trust you 100%."

"I wish that my kids had a teacher like you."

She was telling the new teachers and the Head Kindergarten Teacher what she thought set me apart and how she also wished she could do that.

" I think you handle it really well because you see it happen, you deal with it, then you let it go. It doesn’t affect you, the boy, or the class ever again."

When I returned from a long vacation, this teacher had been the substitute for me in my TOEFL class.

"I have to say that what you did with the TOEFL curriculum is really impressive. It's fantastic. "

Praising me for my revamp of vocabulary.

"I'm impressed that you saw a problem and took a risk and initiative to fix it."

It was my last day at Avalon English.

"I will miss you, Mr. Monkey. Don't forget me."