Middle School (Silent) Essay Partner

          On April Fools' Day, I received an essay sent by an agent from the Taiwan English textbook publisher I do assignments for. An EFL teacher in a middle school in Changhua was asking if I could look over and edit an essay for a student who wished to compete in an recitation contest. This was not the first time I had edited and re-written an essay for students in Taiwan, but this time was different; I was asked to record myself reading the revised essay. I was going to be some student's silent partner; not taking part in her management but providing the goods.

          I spent a good two hours reading, deciphering, dissecting, and rearranging the gist of the ambitious essay on the topic "A Special Person from Changhua", trying to keep the tone and most of the content but arrange the essay in an organized format. I then got on the cellphone Messenger and recorded four one-minute voice clips in my best intoned Brooklyn accent. When I played it back, I realized I sounded like Dr. Fauci, the US infectious disease expert who was also raised in Brooklyn. At that time I had no idea if I would ever hear about the essay again. Like the others I'd done, I figured I wouldn't. I took my fee for my work and thanked the agent and school for requesting my assistance. 

Fellow Brooklynite, Dr. Fauci

          On May 4, I was picked up by the agent and driven south from Taichung to Xi-Yang middle school in rural Changhua off the highway and down winding single-width two-way roads through rice paddies, corrugated buildings, and weather-worn brick structures. After an hour, we arrived at the school in a sweltering heat.  I was hoping there would be an air-conditioned room in my future. When I saw the condition of the quaint little school, with  bronze statue of pygmy-sized Sun Yat-Sen out front, I would be happy if they had a fan. But I was pleasantly surprised. They brought me to their comfortable, cool school library. 

          I was there to hear and coach two young ladies that would compete in Taiwan public school English contests; one reading a prepared text on COVID-19 and the other an original essay she had memorized. On the way to the school, I had asked the agent if he knew the content of the essay I was to listen to; he didn't know. He didn't even know if it was the essay I had rewritten.  

          When I arrived, I was greeted by a well-spoken EFL teacher and her male colleague. When she handed me the printout of the essay that her protege was to recite, my eyes almost popped out of my head; it was the essay I had worked on a month ago! It was about a famous Changhua artist, Mr. Hsu Tsung-Huan, handicapped in an accident, but who became a successful pottery artist and teacher for special education children, giving his all for the local community; quite a worthy hero.

      After the class bell, a shy young lady entered the room and was met by her teacher who introduced her to me. We could only see each other's be-speckled eyes. I couldn't see her face nor she mine for the masks we wore in accordance with Education Department guidelines to prevent the spread of corona-virus. I thought I would have to hear her recitation without seeing her mouth move, but when the teacher took of her mask, we all followed suit. We smiled at each other, I gave her the thumbs up, and she began reciting rigidly at the head of 'u' shaped desks. I read the composition without looking up; I wanted to first hear her read. 
          I admired what perfect intonation she had, such fine pronunciation and a flowing style linking words almost like a native speaker. Then I realized it: This was the essay I had recorded and sent to the agent!!! This young lady sounded like me, Brooklyn accent and all! I was flabbergasted! When she reached the last sentence, I couldn't believe what I had just heard. We applauded her and I joked that she sounded like my daughter. 
         In our consultation afterwards, I complimented her on writing the essay. "Actually," her teacher said, "she wrote the essay in Chinese and I translated it." Ah! Another silent partner. We went over very few points; she listened carefully with her teacher nearby and looked at the notes I had made. "When you are ready," I said, "I'd like you to go back and read it again. Next time, I will watch your gestures and body language." 
          In the meantime, the second young lady who'd been seated, stood, and with paper in both hands, read the essay on the virus that had delayed the opening of school and had turned Taiwan and the world upside-down. She was very good reading, too, louder than her classmate, but I suggested she not hold the paper in both hands and shake it rhythmically as she read; hold it in one hand and gesture with the other glancing at the audience after each paragraph. 
          When Mini-Me was ready, she returned to the podium and read again. I suggested she not stare at me but share glances with the judges; to not use trite gestures to define words everyone understood but to highlight her resolve that Mr. Hsu was the greatest Changhua person she knew. She tried a few times, following my suggestions, and then I stood to show her how I would do it. Meanwhile, her teacher, cellphone in hand took a video of my performance to, no doubt, show her in the weeks leading up to the contest.  
           Doubtless, every student in  contest in Taiwan has some teacher that translated or re-wrote the student's essay, even asking a foreigner to polish it up. Will she win the contest? Who knows!  I take pride in writing with beauty in proportion to age and English fluency. The only danger is that the judges will base their scores on  faulty English and interject prejudice. As we have seen, those making decisions at the top don't always listen to the experts.

          Here is the original essay I edited on April Fools' Day: 

          Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am . I’m happy to be here and share this article with you! The topic of my article is “Introduce A Well-known Person Who Affects My Life Attitudes.”

          It’s common for everyone to encounter problems in his or her life. Some choose to escape from them, while some keep fighting against them. As for me, I used to surrender to the difficulties I met, but since I heard the story of Mr. Hsu, Tsung-Huan, I’ve learned how to deal with the frustrations in my daily life little by little.
          Mr. Hsu, Tsung-Huan was a mechanic before the accident at the age of 20. After he was told by the doctor that he couldn’t stand up on his feet and had to sit on the wheelchair for the rest of his life, the strong sorrow filled all his heart. However, with the care of his mother and the chance to learn pottery, it seems like he’s getting the second life and it's not that hard to start it all over again. Being a potter brings him not only the passion of life but also the confidence of himself. He is thankful for everything around and begins to devote himself to the children both in his hometown and in the nursery. When teaching those innocent angels, smiles are always on his face and sometimes he gets inspirations as well.
          How does he affect my life attitudes? First, he manages to lead a normal life in spite of his physical disability. Although life was not easy for him in the beginning, he never lost hope and has overcome all the difficulties. Second, the failure is not stopping him from doing what he really wants to do. His talent and efforts even help win his wife's heart. Last but not least, he's a person with a big and kind heart. Because he grew up in a small village, he's insisted on teaching at the elementary school where he graduated. Besides, he spends time teaching children with learning disabilities.
          Life is like clay which takes time to be better and perfect. For Mr. Hsu, Tsung-Huan, perhaps the accident is the gift that Heaven makes up for what he had lost. Give everything a shot because we never know what is going to change your life. Don’t give up when you are able to fly, to dream and to love.
          It has been a pleasure to share my story with you today. Thank you for your attention.

Here is my re-write:

A Well-Known Person Who Has Affected My Life

          Life is like shaping a clay vessel; it takes time to mold to perfection before firing it into a useful pot. But like life, problems can occur. The pot can break if dropped. Some potters choose to give up while others start again from scratch and make a new pot. Hsu Tsung-Huan is the well-known person who has affected my life attitude because he never gave up hope; he picked up the pieces of his broken like and did it over.

          As a mechanic, an accident at the age of twenty threatened to destroy Hsu Tsung-Huan. He was told by a doctor that he would never be able to stand on his feet again; that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. With his heart broken, his mother stepped in with care to pull him through his tragedy. She introduced pottery to him as therapy, a hobby he could do while seated. Becoming a potter not only sharpened his motor skills; it brought back his passion and gave him the confidence to move on and become a model for others.

          Mr. Hsu devoted his life to inspiring children in a nursery in his home town, showing the children how to do pottery. Not only that, but he touched the heart of a young lady who became his loving wife and partner in his journey. His devotion led him to a career as an elementary school teacher in the small village where he had graduated teaching children with learning disabilities what it means to have courage and never give up hope. It is the story of Hsu Tsung-Huan that reminds me what life is all about.

          Today, Hsu Tsung-Huan is a family man that leads a productive life in spite of his physical disability. It was not easy for him but he overcame all his difficulties. It is a lesson we all must learn, that heaven leaves no person bereft. As for me, hurdles I may encounter can be overcome if I don’t give up. We never know what is going to change our lives, but there are many ways to go on with love, hope, and a dream. Thanks to Hsu Tsung-Huan, I know I must go on changing, making life better, whatever may come my way.

Here is the recitation I sent by Messenger voice clip: 

Recitation 1

Recitation 2

Recitation 3

Recitation 4

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