Sean McCrossin

Talking about a hero of mine, I wouldn’t like to talk about my idol or some other kind of superstar right now. In my opinion, heroism is about someone we respect and someone who, either directly or indirectly, has influenced a part of our lives in the way we behave or think. That’s why I’ve reached the conclusion that one of my heroes is a guy named Sean McCrossin.

Sean McCrossin is an English teacher at the course I’m in, called The British Institute (TBI). He’s my first native English speaking teacher since I’ve only just joined TBI in July 2005, and that was level 5. Sean is an American and he came from Texas. I don’t know much about his personal life, but I'd guess he’s in his early thirties. He’s tall and wears glasses. I also heard that he’s a very neat person. His desk is always clean and all of his things are in orderly piles. He seems very friendly in that he has always smiles a lot to people. And of course he’s an intelligent person.

His hobby is traveling. He has been to many provinces in Indonesia. He has traveled through rivers in Kalimantan Island, traveled around Sulawesi Island and other resorts in Indonesia. Not only Indonesia, I guess. I think he likes to travel anywhere around the world. He seems to enjoy it all.

Why would I choose him as my hero? What is so special about him actually? Here’s the thing. When I arrived in his class for the first time, I was totally being so welcoming to all of my friends. But I thought I wouldn’t be comfortable being taught by this native English speaker. But actually it was so NOT like that. On the first day I studied with him, I finished and went out from the class with a very happy feeling. He totally taught the way I liked to be taught. He taught interestingly so that I could understand what the lesson was about. And that he made me feel not afraid of being taught by native English speakers.

And the most important thing that made me feel honor toward him is that he was the one who has made me braver to speak in English. He made me confident to do it. And that was the moment when I felt so brave to show my English ability than any other time before. He also has made me feel that it’s all about our bravery to speak in English in all of the chances we had, even if it was not completely perfect, that there are still many mistakes about ‘the use of English’, the grammars, or the pronunciations we’ve made; that’s the time when we are going to get practice to speak. At least that’s what I feel every time I speak to him.

I also have asked him to write me a recommendation letter from teachers when I have completed the qualifications for signing in the AFS. I was so sure that he’s the best teacher who could make a good recommendation for me. And he did. He’s such a good teacher. He said he absolutely supported me to get selected for such a student exchange program, or a scholarship program one day.

And that’s Sean. My hero. He has influenced in the way I think about English and that makes me sure to not stop learning English until the end of my life. And that’s also why I’m still comfortable to study at TBI, even if I’m not taught by him anymore.

Thanks Sean.