Activity 1

Close Encounter with a Beginning Professional Teacher

(1-3 Years Teaching Experience)

1. Conduct an interview with a Young Professional Teacher.

2. Ask the following questions:

Where did you earn your degree? When?

How did your University prepare you to become a good teacher?

When did you pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)? What was your passing
rating?
Nov. 17, 2014 - 80.20
When did you start teaching as a professional?
August 8, 2017
What makes you happy as a teacher?
The affection showed by my students even they already graduated in school
What disappoints you as a teacher?
Seeing a student having bad behavior and bad study habits, benefits of teachers, and seeing my
students become successful.
What professional development activities/trainings have you participated in?
Child Protection Policy
In-Service Training
Gender and Development
Are you a member of a professional organization? What is the name of the organization?
PRC, CSC
As a professional teacher, what code of conduct do you strictly follow? Can you name the
specific behavior that should be followed to the utmost?
Code of Ethics

What kind of professional teacher would you dream to become before you retire?
I want to become an “affectionate teacher” for I can feel my student’s need, be caring and
affectionate at all times, I can also give my best as a teacher.

3. Record all answers and prepare a written report.

4. Request for a picture taken as part of the report.

Teacher’s Name:

Years in Teaching:

School:

Grade:
 Close Encounter with a Retired Teacher

Mrs. Lolita Mercado Gomez retired from teaching last June 26, 2018.Now
that she is retired, her usual activities include caring of plants and grandchild.
She’s one of the products of the pandemic whoa are called “Plantitas”

She said that her teaching experience is memorable. Back in the 1980’s,
transport was difficult. She remembers walking miles to reach school, they’ll
got lucky if they could get a ride from a farmer’s carabao. It was a difficult
situation yet there was no complaint. They use chalk and board in teaching.
And her first salary was just P700, though back then was valuable.

Mrs. Gomez taught for 38 years and never had a regret in her teaching
profession. Her most significant contribution in the teaching industry was her
student topped the Mathematics competition in school division. For teachers
winning a competition makes our school proud.

Mrs. Gomez didn’t have a chance to earn Master’s degree but was promoted
from teacher I up to teacher III based on her attended seminars. The benefit
that she had from the promotion was increase in salary.

Teaching for her is the greatest profession among all. She said that all other
professions begin at school. The most successful person in the whole world
was nurtured by the hand of a teacher. Teaching profession change lives.
And she’s greatly happy whenever she saw her student return to her thankful,
saying that she’s one of the reasons behind their success.

She wanted to share the quotation “You will reap what you sow”. Whatever
we do, it will turn back to us. As a professional teacher, we must strive hard
to make students learn. Our influenced to them are huge. We can make or
break their future. Let us not become a stumbling block to students. At the end of our teaching time, it will be
better not just to have memories but evidences of our hard work. The evidences will be the students that we
cared for- learned and stand on their feet; that after so many years, they still come to us and appreciate us.
 The teachers that I interviewed reflects a true professional teacher. All of them undergoes the
rigorous process of becoming a professional teacher. They are all graduate of baccalaureate degree, pass
the licensure examination, abide the Teacher’s code of ethics and are continue pursuing professional
development. They are also passionate about their job and are student loving.

Being a professional teacher is a fulfilling job. What’s more fulfilling than molding people’s lives? It is
a fulfilling feeling for teachers to see young children growing the way they should be- educated! -, equipped
with the knowledge, built characters and wisdom that they need in walking through the rough road to
success.

As a future professional teacher I shall maintain the nobility and dignity of the teaching profession and shall
continue professional growth to improve efficiency.
 Adelfa Amancio: Well-respected Filipino teacher in Japan
Published January 18, 2008 6:18pm

Maybe some people are destined to work abroad that even without looking for a job overseas, an
opportunity from other parts of the world just comes unexpectedly and this is something they hate to refuse.
Such is the story of Adelfa Amancio. Fate led her to work overseas. Adelle, as she is fondly called, used to
teach at a language school but was not very happy about it. So, she decided to resign and started to be a
freelancer while pursuing her graduate studies.

As a freelancer, she was more flexible with her students and gave them more freedom to choose
where and when to study. Because of this, many students liked her and the number of her clients grew
bigger. As a result, she set up her own language school to accommodate all students. Not only did the
language school kept her busy but also made her more motivated to work. Moreover, she could apply what
she learned in her Master's studies in Educational Management in her language school’s day-to-day
operation. Adelle loved what she was doing in Cebu and had hopes to expand its operation in the future. Part
of her business marketing strategy was online advertising. What she did one day was send e-mail to at least
10 different language schools in Japan to promote her language school in Cebu. Since most of her clients
were Japanese, her goal was to make her school established not only in the Japanese community in the
Philippines but also in Japan.

Her e-mail campaign worked and she received quite a number of replies. While others were grateful
for the information/advertisement she provided, some schools definitely wanted to keep in touch and others
didn’t reply at all. Yet, one reply caught her attention. The school was not interested in her language school
services. Instead, it offered her a teaching job in Japan! Surprised, flabbergasted and overwhelmed, Adelle
grabbed the opportunity in just a click away and left the Philippines on December 26, 2003.

According to her, it is very difficult for Filipinos to teach English in Japan because of the
misconceptions and negative notion the Japanese have about the Filipinos living in Japan. As a Filipina, she
has experienced a lot of racial profiling, a devilish look and outrageous judgment. Some English teachers
questioned her ability to teach the language and most Japanese believe that only white people can teach
them English. As a result, most schools in Japan always emphasize the countries (of origin) of the teachers
they want to hire. Their advertisements would always say, “Only teachers from the USA, UK, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are allowed to apply. Applicants from countries not mentioned here
need not apply, PLEASE!" For this reason, she strived to maintain professionalism and self-discipline at all
times. She also has to work very hard and aim for excellent result term after term because being the only
Filipino English teacher in the organization she opines that she is subject to criticism if not a blast. She wants
to prove to the Japanese people that Filipinos can speak English well and can teach the language much more
effectively.

Furthermore, she wants to prove to the whole world that their impressions towards Filipinos are
completely wrong and biased. She wants the world to know that the Filipinos are the most committed,
efficient and hardworking people anyone could expect. Despite the harsh realities, Adelle stays strong and
determined. She is happy to say that in her workplace, she is loved, recognized, and respected for being
hardworking, committed and for having such professional work ethics.

Her message to all OFWs around the world? "I hope that all OFWs will come back to the Philippines
one day and use what they have learned and experienced from their overseas jobs. Let us not forget the land
where we came from. I love the Philippines and I believe that all Filipinos in and outside the country are all
heroes. Let’s help the Philippines get back to her feet again. Long live, Filipinos. Long live, our Motherland." -
Carmela Bignotia, OFW Guide