Teacher therapy

Finally, I am done with writing my integrative paper!  Yes.  I wrote the last sentence last night, and I am now in the process of collating all the references I read.  It’s like a hundred of them. 

 Now that I’m done with it, I am now on the polishing stage of a 30+-page review of related literature.  I need to weed out what’s not necessary.  After which, I’ll go and see my adviser.  Dr. Dayag, here I come!

Writing an IP is quite challenging.  And the most challenging part is the reading stage.  Imagine me reading like a hundred technical articles in apllied linguistics of almost the same topic everynight.  What a boring thing to do, indeed!  Mind you, this reading I did for 3 monhts!  See?  Well, reading and writing are relatives, so I need to read a lot in order to write something.

Another challenging part is the requirement posed on us, would-be-doctors-of-philosophy-in-applied-linguistics.  The expected output is the comprehensive critical review of literature in our field of interest in applied linguistics.  Indicentally, mine is English in the workplace. 

After the so many readings I did, I am now quite settled with the dissertation topic that I’ll delve into.  I am now settled to work on language pedagogy in the workplace, especially in the call center industry.  As an educator, I want to see if there is a big gap between academic instruction and industry practice, and bridge the gap if there is by way curricular reengineering and instructional reforms.  Hey!  the concept is becoming clearer, huh!

Wish me luck!

The school where I would like to earn my PhD in Applied Linguistics.  De La Salle University-Manila.  August 2008.

I’ve just arrived from a speaking engagement, happy and satisfied. 

Two weeks ago I received an invitation to be the guest speaker in one of the public high schools in Manila.  I should say I am quite used to this kind of invitation after having been invited here and there to speak. 

 But today’s experience offered me something new; something that I haven’t had yet.  When I arrived at the venue I was met by two of the teachers, and they pinned a corsage on my left chest and handed me program, as if I were the secretary of education who visited the school (that was what I thought).  I never had such kind of experience in the many places I’ve been to as a speaker. 

What makes the experience more meaningful was the positive feedback I received right after my talk.  It’s exhilirating to be told that my fellow educators learned something from me.  It gives me immeasurable joy and my satisfaction. 

My speech and oral communication students during their final exam.  April 2006.

Just recently I received a gift from a colleague who went abroad to teach.  The box contained several books, but the best of all is the one which I have been wanting to have:  How to be an effective teacher:  The first days of school by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong.

I’d like to share with you the snippets and nuggets on how to be an effective teacher from this book:

1.  The successful teacher must know and practice the three characteristics of an effective teacher: 

• positive expectations - the effective teacher has positive expectations for student success
• classroom management - the effective teacher is an extremely good classroom manager
• lesson mastery - the effective teacher knows how to design lessons to help students reach mastery.

2.  The teacher who constantly learns and grows becomes a professional educator.

These are the major points that Harry and Rosemary Wong emphasized. 

My desire to have this book was born when I attended the seminar on teaching effectiveness, which was based on the educational philosophy found in the book.  The educational philosophies are modern and real.  I have been practicing some of its philosophies, and I found them to be effective.   For instance, Harry and Rosemary Wong say:

What you do on the first days of school will determine your success or failure for the rest of the school year.  You will either win or lose your class on the first days of school.

Teachers are not in private practice.  We are in the helping and caring profession, a service profession to help people enhance the quality of their lives.

Students learn as little or as much as their teachers expect.  Teachers who communicate and set high expectations to all their students obtain greater academic performance from these students than do teachers who set low expectations. 

There are so many nuggets of wisdom that any teacher can learn from the book.  If teaching is your passion, you better grab a copy now. 

The cover page of the book which I received.  Thank you, Ms. Jamison.  July 2008.