Before my partner Teacher Stacy visited us for a few days in school, whenever it's English time during class, my second grade students would stare blankly or fidget with their pencils. Teaching English as a second language is hard. Most conversations they have are in Tagalog. Thus, for my students, the need to learn a language they barely use seems absurd.
But when Teacher Stacy came to our classroom, the kids were excited to talk in English. They slowly learned to express themselves in a language they admit to fearing. We had a two-way learning sphere. Teacher Stacy taught them how to ask for basic information in English. They taught her Tagalog terms for different body parts. Ulo (head). Mata (eyes). Ilong (nose). Tenga (ears).
It was also a big learning experience for me. I got to exchange stories with Teacher Stacy and to see how the public school systems in the Philippines and US are similar and different in various ways. It's refreshing to meet other people with the same passion and mission.
It was also a big learning experience for me. I got to exchange stories with Teacher Stacy and to see how the public school systems in the Philippines and US are similar and different in various ways. It's refreshing to meet other people with the same passion and mission.
Now that Teacher Stacy has gone back home to the United States, the kids thank her for their newfound confidence in English. They try to converse with me and I tell them I am proud of them and they immediately say, "Natuto ako kay Teacher Stacy eh. I learned from Teacher Stacy."