Apple, Boy, Cat: My first teaching experience

I miss you all

When I was four, I was addicted to chalks and blackboards. I guess every kid does want to expreience being look upon and respected. As if you possess all the wisdom in the world.

I always wanted to teach the ABC or draw objects. I remember making use of our walls at home and some old illustration boards.

As I grew older, I realized that my only strength is English aside from computer and Filipino. After graduating form college, my dad wanted me to become a grown-up. He said, I will never learn how to be matured if I’ll stay at home and read manga all day. So byu June, he lent me a sufficient amount and told me to gind a job.

What I want to do? I got no idea that time.
But these were the things that I love to do since I like to talk and pretend to be a smart-ass:

First, I want a stress-free job with my own my cubicle, computer and headset. This set-up may sound like a call center agent but I threw that dream long long time ago. I learned that being an agent is stressful.

Second, I wanted to interact with people coming from different race. It’s been facinating to talk with people you hardly know. Especialluy if they are foreigners. I love talking about theories, principles and social issues.

In short, I just want a job where I can talk, use computer and pretend to be an expert.

Interview

It was my first job interview. Actually it was my first time to hand in my resume. As in personllay right to the HR mangaer.
I was anxious. I didn’t know how to react when they told me that I’ll be back for interview two hours. It was all my first time. Actually, my friend and I decided to be back but she suddunely chickened out. I was left on my own.

During the interview, I was more troubled. I didn’t know anyone. All of them have their friends and schoolmates. I was alone. Yes I was. My only friend left me inside the interview room with some predators. I don’t want to be their prey so I tried my best to feel less intimidated. At the back of my head, I’d rather intimidate people than to be intimidated by them. Nonetheless, it was survival of the fittest. An all out amazon war. How lucky can I get? My resume was missing, only to find out it was stapled next to my friend’s resume. The interviewer who later turned out to be the supervisor, mocked my resume for being “too economical”. What can I do, I don’t have anything to write. Safe to say I don’t have the bragging rights. All I have was my name, my course, summer internship and school affiliation. I think it was kinda normal for a fresh grad right? I mean a fresh graduate who was mediocre at school and didn’t have anything in mind but to graduate on time. Who get to have a well furnished resume after graduating? Maybe the ones with good creditials and BS Org, Extra Curricualr/Summa/Magna/Cum students. But me? I was nobody. Just an average university student.
As I quote from a book, “I was too average I could be in the Guinness Book of World Records if they have a category for that.”

Going back before I get too emotional, I read the words as clearly as possible, I let my voice be heard by everyone and I was nervous…very nervous. After an hour or two, we were asked to wait outside for the result.

Just like all my first, I was also the first one to be called. A smile painted on my face. I did it. My first attempt was epic. I wasn’t rejected. We had another activity were only five of us were left. By six, we ended and were told to wait for a text message from the company. The schedule for the training.

That was fast I must say. I earned new acquaintances, after two weeks of training with them, I can already call them friends. Lein was special since she’s my Kuy-kuy’s bestfriend/girlfriend/ex-girlfriend. Nang Camille was so motherly yet she was cool. Nang Kim and Nang Dex were like my older sisters. They were fashionable and easy to get along with. Love, Jenny and Annie were the mood setters. They surely know how to make us laugh.

After passing the assessment with our Korean manager, my life as a teacher started.

Teaching? Who says it was easy?

I have to deal with every student. I can’t complain if they don’t want to talk, However, they can complain about us all the time. From our looks, accent, and treatment. See? How unfair? But they have the right since they were paying for our salary. I was just lucky that my students didn’t have anything against me.

Teaching ABC

Having kids as my students was fun. I can doodle on our whiteboard, ell corny jokes and they’ll laugh. We can high-five and play catch using our webcams, play maze and puzzles. We can also make fun of each other.

I can smile and laugh all throughout the night without realizing our 20 minute class time was over. The best part of all, is to be called TEACHER. My students would say, Hi teacher. Teacher, I want to drink water. Teacher, what’s snail mail? Teacher do you like hamsters? Teacher have you seen the Ring? Too many questions yet I enjoyed answering all of them.

Meet my students

Emma: Sweet-Cello-girl

One of my favorites, Emma. Since I’m her first tutor, we treated each other like friends. I’m seven years older than her. She often times call me Ruby and would make a drawing.
She told me everything. She showed me her pets. I was so happy. The next thing that I can think of was, please don’t teacher change.

Bryan: Mr. Smart guy

On the contrary, dealing with female seniors was different. Some of them can be know-it-all and would really try to push you at your limit. One time I had to deal with a mother. An English and College teacher. She was surprised that I only been teaching for three months. Good thing she went to Iloilo and knew about my university’s reputation. I was saved. She did not observe my class with her son. Bryan is my longest student ever. We’ve seen each other for more than 30 times. He stayed, since he doesn’t really care but he’s nice. He can speak very well and can comprehend questions. I think he got used to seeing me every night. I would often cracked a joke and he’ll laugh. I always encouraged him to speak or to share about anything. After few meetings, he was at ease and comfortable with me I guess. We even had a phone class during his birthday. He was the type who wants to learn and share what he knew.

Edward: Cutest Crazy Camera addict:

I also like Edward. He is 12 years old and he loves hamsters very much. Often times, he would ask me randomly. He would play with his camera until his computer would malfunctioned. He likes Math and he’s really smart. He never missed a class. I was once late, and he told me that I am one minute late. I laugh of course. He was eager to learn and I made sure he won’t be bored. Later on, he also became my favorite. He was really nice and honest. His favorite line was TGIF. I really love him because you can feel that he was willing to cooperate. You can also see that he showed his genuine feelings.

Lily: The sophisticated one.
She has long hair, wear glasses and seldom smiles.
She’s an elite I supposed. During our first meeting, I often feel intimidated because she seldom talk,
But as we go along, I learned to like her as well. She asks things about our lesson and she can also answer our activities. She’s now not shy.

Jin Hyeong: superstar.

He got the looks and the personality. He’s a stubborn kid but he respected me. He doesn’t shout, he just keep his mouth shut. He has this gloomy personality but his smile is really cute.

Emily: Athletically beautiful.

I think Emily can be one of the future model or actress of Korea. She’s really pretty. She also has this charisma. She attends class even though she’s very sleepy. She wakes up to answer my call and attends class. She panics whenever she’s late. She’s simple yet smart. She’s also easy to please.

Ellen: The busy one

She’s just in elementary but she’s always busy. She’s the class president, she’s an achiever and all the extra curricular activities that you can think of belong to her. She always absent because she has a contest, she needs to study, and she has to prepare for Chuseok.

Casey: The smart one

She can speak very well. She’s smart for her age and she tried scaring me off using Sadako’s picture. At first I thought I really want to get rid of her but then, she was somehow trying to adjust and finally, we were in good terms.

Percy and Soyeon: The know-it-all from US

I think the two of them were always bored. However, Soyeon was more open that Percy. She can relate to whatever topic but she sometimes tend to space out. Percy on the other hand, loved reading the lesson but he doesn’t speak much. And he looked like Vandolph, seriously.

June: The cute little boy

I’ve been his first teacher and I think he was shy but funny. HE was always nervous but he was very polite and gentle. He tried so hard to pronounce the word “calculator”. He was attentive and got a cute voice.

Jenny: Fun-studious-teenager

She doesn’t want to do the lesson. She rather talked about her experiences since she doesn’t have someone to talk to other than her friends. So whenever we had a class, she showed me pictures, angry birds toys and she even sang You belong with Me by Taylor Swift.

Since most of my Senior students don’t stay for long. Because I am younger and I don’t know how to handle them. However, I was lucky enough to have Mr. Jinho and Mr. Kevin. They were both in their 30′s and were professionals. I always enjoy talking to them since we can talk about business, their trips abroad and about their family. They’ve been to my country so they were familiar of some places. Mr. Jinho even let me talked to his “potential wife”as the term he preferred to use than fiancée. Mr. Kevin on the other hand, talked like a typical businessman but with great humor. He knew what to ask during our lessons. I was happy because they don’t intimidate me at all. They were nice and friendly.

Kevin: Ajhusi, Mr. TV Shopping Network
We just met once and he’s friendly.
He went to boracay and Philippines thrice already.

Jinho: Mr. Ghost

He’s always absent and busy. We always have phone class. He apologized most of the time.

I also had other students but they didn’t stay long.removed from my schedule, teacher changed or contract didn’t start yet.

Gaeun has computer problems, we only met once.
Taelim, computer problems, we talked over the phone twice.
Lucy, met once, know it all senior but she’s just 20. She teacher changed.
Min Jeong, we had four sessions, she teacher changed.
Yarn, never met him. Always absent.
Jeff, never met her, always absent.
Eagle, he’s supposed to be my student this November.

For two months, due to some unavoidable circumstances I was forced to quit my beloved job.
But these were the things that I need to got through during that period.

I am enjoyed it despite the sacrifices.
I gave up reading Manga, watching anime and facebooking/stalking.
I gave up living with my family and eating for free.
I was on my own; independent from other people. I can’t complain.
Because if I do, I will never become a grown up.
I washed my clothes, dishes and fixed my things.
I somehow learned to be more confident and friendly…or at least polite with other people. I enjoyed living on my own despite the circumstances. I wish I can work again.