My job and Christmas, Filipino Style

I work at Palawan State University in the College of Teacher Education. My job, in a nutshell, is to show future teachers how to incorporate ESL techniques into their classrooms. The kids here have only a 10 year basic education system and I am working with mostly first and second year which is roughly between the ages of 16-18. Imagine being 15 years old, finishing high school, then be told “now you have to figure out what you want to do with your life” that question is nearly impossible at 18, never mind 15. Teaching future teachers has a lot of potential. I co-teach a developmental reading, interactive English, and biology class. My co-teacher and I want to start a reading club to help improve the reading level of the students. We have developed some goals and an action plan, but as far as what books to use, we aren’t sure yet. We also aren’t sure where the books are going to come from but I have some foundations I may look into once I find out how established this reading club is going to be. I am surprised at how hard it is to get a hold of books here. It almost makes me feel bad for purchasing those international editions of my college textbooks at such a cheap price during college because I see they are REALLY needed in the countries that they are made for.  I also have a bunch on books in PDF files but from what I hear most of them may be way beyond the English reading comprehension level of the students. We have some assessments to do before we can implement anything. Of course we have to make the reading club fun. We entice the students with a reading circle complete with snacks and an end of the year “cast” party where they dress as their favorite character. They were pretty excited when we told them this. It seems like the interest and need are there, we just have to work out the logistics. We will see!

Professionally, learning and incorporating ESL techniques is exciting because I think it is extremely important for teachers in the states, especially now, to consider some sort of ESL training. In fact, Portland was putting though a new requirement that all teachers had to undergo ESL training because of the huge refugee population. (so I heard through the grape vine)  I think in the long run, it will make me a better teacher. Plus I’m gaining large classroom experience. However, the students are very different here. They all wear uniforms- which, might I add, I am completely for. You cannot tell the poor from the rich students, between the families that shop at the Ukay-Ukay (local second hand store) or the ones that buy brand names. Kids have to make friends based on personality, not status.  Also, when students in the Philippines see a teacher in the halls, its always “hi ma’am”. And when they participate in class, they stand up and say “yes ma’am……” and then continue with their answer.  It is very formal. At first and second year level, which, like I said, is roughly sophomore to junior maturity, classroom management is not so much of an issue even with 50 kids. I have yet to see a student argue or pull and attitude with a teacher.  However, a big challenge here is making authentic assessments that you can grade in a reasonable amount of time. I’ll let you know when I figure that out.

Its December 23^rd and I’ve been on break for about two weeks now.  Christmas festivities have kept me busy. We have had approximately 8 Christmas celebrations to attend between the two of us. I helped with Matthew’s Children at Risk Christmas party. I saw some of the boys from the temporary shelter that I met when we were doing our site visit! Let me tell you, orphans in the Philippines have it rough when compared to the US. There are two boys that stick out to me. They look like brothers, but I’m not certain. One boy ALWAYS has a smile on his face. He had some kind of infection in his hands during the xmas party but he didn’t let that slow him down. The younger one stands out to me because he is so young, but he has such an old face- like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is young enough where his family would still be helping him eat and drink from his sippy cup, dress, and go to the bathroom. However here, most of those things he is able to accomplish by himself. He’s so independent for such a little guy it really amazes me. Another reason they stand out to me is they both recognized me from my site visit almost two months ago. And they both gave me multiple hugs throughout the party.  

   I also went with the Life Church to do a Christmas party for one of the last barangays in Puerto Princesa called Laogang. It’s a fishing village. We went to buy fish in the market and they were out, but they told us to come back later. A few hours later they had tuna, lapu lapu, sharks, etc! Talk about fresh. Tuna was 70 pesos a kilo (less than a dollar per pound!). We did a costal clean up while there. This beach was something out of a post card. The people in the community collect the white stones that were all over the beach and sell them to tourists in town. For the xmas party we had games, food, and presents. Its still really hard for me to understand the language, especially when spoken at a normal speed lol, so I wasn’t much help but it was fun nonetheless.

                I am definitely missing home at this time of year. Though, it’s a lot easier with Matt here. The language barrier is still really tough so having him to talk to regularly really helps. People here have been more than gracious in sharing holiday traditions, gifts, etc with us. However, I still miss the snow, it really doesn’t feel like Christmas without it. We are not short of any Christmas food, songs, etc so that’s pretty typical- if not more excessive than usual.  I do find myself dreaming of hiking, snowboarding, and the morning after a big snow storm. I lived in New England all my life and the morning after a big snow storm never ceased to amaze me. You can take the girl out of New England but you can’t take New England out of the girl. J

Anyways, Maligayang Pasko sa lahat tao, at ingat! (merry christmas everyone and take care!)