“We should be knowledgeable to everything, because we are living in a competitive world.”

Off-campus teaching is the most awaited time of every education students. The time we’re they are able to apply and practice the learnings that they gathered for 4 years in college. This is also the time we’re the education students would experience the actual teaching we’re the professional teachers does and have the chance to practice our chosen profession. I was assigned in Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial National High School in Buluang, Baao, Camarines Sur. In my almost 3 months of stayed in this school I’ve learned a lot from my students, teachers and other individual in the school community.  The off-campus teaching started November 24, 2014 then ended last February 18, 2015. When this time comes, I believe that I almost closer in achieving my mother’s biggest dream. At first, I honestly say that I don’t like to be a teacher but I believe that God has a purpose of letting me continued in striving to be a good teacher someday. Another chapter of my life started last November 24, 2015, especially when I finally welcomed by the Eusebian’s. I can say that this year was my most challenging and exciting year, because I finally experienced the life of being a teacher. Teaching is not really an easy profession it has a varied roles in this community. As a pre-service teacher my duties does not end at the 4 corners of my classroom rather extended to the community where I belong, as a teacher I should set a good example to my students and to the community.

First day of school as a pre-service teacher was amazing, I felt that time of being nervous and excited for what will be the result of my off-campus teaching. Every student in that school was addressing me as “Ma’am”, it was really nice to be called as ma’am it’s really fulfilling that someone’s calling you that way and respecting you.  I am very excited to meet my students at the same time nervous for what kind of treatment would my student’s give me, thinking if they will accept me as their temporary teacher. Fortunately, they accepted me as their new teacher in English 8. I handled the grade 8 (Opal & Sapphire) 2 sections, 1 for the morning and the afternoon it would be from Monday to Friday. Everyday I always remind myself to be worthy to my students. I want to touch the lives of my students even in a simple way at least they can still remember me when the time comes that we say goodbye to each other. Mrs. Ana B. Bricenio was my cooperating teacher one of a kind, supportive and beautiful teacher in EPAMHNS. She helps me on how to handle the student’s behavior and give some suggestions regarding to my performance so that I can improve and apply the other strategies and techniques in teaching.

“Experience is the best teacher”. It is simply because we learned from our mistakes and change for the better. As a pre-service teacher we need to possess the qualities of a professional teacher as practicing our chosen profession. Teaching is not an easy task because as a teacher we serve as the role model to our students, I replaced the role of being a parent to them when they are already in the school. Sometimes as a councilor and a friend to them whenever they need someone’s to talk to, it is also important that we need to be aware of our students dilemma in life, either in their studies or in their family problem. I learned that in their young age some of my students already suffered from broken family, I am fortunate enough to be given a chance to be part of their lives. It was really unexplainable feelings if some of your students saying thank you Ma’am for being a good listener and a friend who patiently understand my dilemma in life. I now experienced and understand the different kind of behavior of a high school student. On my past 3 and ½ year I have been a student and almost 3 months this year I’ve experienced the life of a real teacher. Even though it was a short period of time I can say that it was really amazing because of the new experiences as well as lifelong learning’s that I definitely treasure for the rest of my life.

                                                                                                                          

Practice teaching has also ups and downs that made us weak and hopeless. Sometimes, it made everyone strong and brave in order to achieve their dreams. During off-campus I would gladly say that I already developed my skills in speaking and also build confidence. The students accepted me as their new teacher and they are participating in class discussion. Everything was great because I can sense that my student’s are happy of the different kind of strategies that I’ve used for them so that we always have an active discussion. Some of the students are requesting for another activity which help them to have a better understanding and enjoyable learning.

The downs/wrongs happened during the off-campus teaching was the time were some of the students of Sapphire does not attending my class because of some reasons. So as part of the task as a teacher I need to know the reasons of those who are always absent. The Sapphire was really a challenging section because some of the student’s are not participating even in just reading simple paragraphs because they are shy, so that was a challenge for me that drive me to change the approaches/strategies that I used.

 

There are also some activities that we participated during the off-campus teaching. Last november 28, 2015 at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon was the celebration of the “Book week and Career Guidance week” with the theme “ Nasa pagbasa ang pag-asa” which we are one of the facilitator of that event. The next activity was the” 4th Regional Patiribayan Festival” last December 15-17, 2014. The school of EPAMNHS served as the reception/ in charge of the accommodations for the entire participant with the different schools here in Baao. The Principal also ask us to assist the visitors, I also helped at the Canteen for the experience of how to manage the school canteen. Before the vacation the DLC decided to have caroling for the replacement of their instruments, we are also invited to join so that we grab the opportunities to be with them. Next was the celebration of “ Secondary Schools Festival of Culture and arts” with the theme Kultura at sining ng pagkakaisa, held last January 9, 2015. This February was the celebration of Arts months, we participated for the activity. “Love Run 2015” at the day of Valentines. Then the last was the celebration of Mapeh day last February 27, 2015.

Being a teacher is a hard profession, you need to be a well rounded teacher, because in the road of teaching there are many ways that are not clear and you need to adjust in order for you to reach your goal to become a global teacher. You also need to be patient in teaching because as you walk to the path of teaching there are many challenges that you need to surpassed, and the only thing that can help you is yourself, so be ready yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                      JEANETTE G. ELLIOT