Growing up in a multilingual nation with more than 170 languages and where English is the second language of more than 76% of the population, I learned that it is education that can help the cultural and communication barriers that exist between people. Having the ability to communicate effectively is one of the most essential life skills to learn. Communication skills are vital in all aspects of life from personal to professional facet. This belief became a roadmap to the profession that became dearest to my heart and later on took me to the Heart of Asia, Taiwan.

From Ma’am Gladys Mabute in the Philippines, Nanhsing Elementary School through Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) helped me find a better version of myself in Teacher Glad. My 13-year of teaching career in my home country shaped me as a learning facilitator that educate young minds and help them blossom into well-rounded, innovative and successful individuals. However, teaching as a Foreign English Teacher in Taiwan is a different story. I have to unlearn different teaching methods and discover new teaching approaches that would suit my new students. I learn to embrace the beauty of teaching the basic English language and love to witness how my students grow each day with the simple words, phrases and sentences they learned in each class.

It’s a great opportunity to teach at Nanhsing Elementary School where almost every teaching material is readily available. Therefore, I make sure to maximize their use to develop my students English macro skills. In my English club classes, students read different English books to develop their reading comprehension. I included speaking activities like role-playing and reader’s theater to boost the student’s confidence in speaking and performing. I also introduced an enhancement activity, Drills on BELLS (Basic English Language and Literacy Skills) among my Grade 4-6 students which aims to improve their English communication skills through different drills like daily conversation bingo and snake and ladder games. 

My role as a Foreign English Teacher however, does not end on strengthening my students’ English communication skills, but I’m also committed to help bolster their global competitiveness by promoting cultural diversity. In my International Education class, I make sure to integrate culturally diverse lessons and activities like world’s festivals, food, art and literature. It’s amazing to witness my students’ engagement in foreign festivals and how they had fun with them like in the Easter Egg Hunt. I also included a passport mockup activity where students can take note of all the countries we’ve visited in the class and write a journal about something interesting they have learned in a particular country. And of course, what would be more interesting culture to share, but my own? I also spice up my lessons with Filipino culture if possible. 

Teaching in Taiwan is truly a rewarding experience and an opportunity to empower children’s lives while enjoying work-life balance and living in a nation with unique fusion of cultures, picturesque scenery, and friendly people. I look forward to more exciting stories to unfold and to impact more students’ lives in this country.