The following is my poem I wrote in August, 2002.
It represents my basic idea about the importance of
autonomy in learning or teaching English,
which should be a lot of fun as well.
YOUR FLOWER
Don't just wait for someone
to bring you a flower
Grow your own flower instead
Choose the best shape, size and colors you like
Bloom your own flower
Feel good about your flower
Work hard to make it more beautiful
Take a risk to protect it
because it is your flower
Don't let it lose its beauty
Keep working all the time
Be proud and love it
but be humble, too
Someday your flower will be
the best flower you could possibly grow
Then some of your students will notice and admire
"How beautiful your flower is!"
And the beauty in your flower
will continue to live and bloom
in the hearts of your students
Don't wait for someone
to bring you a flower
Grow and bloom your own flower
Takeshi Suzuki, August, 2002
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