My Philosophy

What is the purpose of education from my point of view?

There is not a single way to view education however it can be malleable and adapted to people's needs and context. When it comes to the objective of education, I think about John Dewey. He believed that the goal of education goes beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge and skills. For him, education was a means of preparing individuals for active participation in society in a democratic meaningful way. Also, he emphasized the importance of experiential learning, where students engage in hands-on task and real-world problems to understand and apply knowledge. In that sense, I truly believe that my goal in education must focus on helping my students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and practical skills.

 What is my role as a teacher?

My first role as a teacher focuses on a holistic approach. I am more than a subject delivering content and grading assignments. What I am in charge of is cultivating a positive and transformative learning environment in which students learn for life-living, express their ideas, not on the now-concepts, but on what is happening around them in and outside the classroom, find solutions to global problems by exercising what they learn. As a teacher, I have to encourage my students understand that knowledge is not and end product, it is a continuous process of growth and adaptation that helps individual become active, informed, and responsible members of their communities.

My second role is quite tight to with leadership. My goal is to fight for equity since this is one of the principles of education, though it is not possible without exercising leadership. That's why leadership has become a cornerstone in my professional life. I strongly believe that teachers should be leaders - that person who listens genuinely, empathizes, investigates, shares information and finds solutions, not for merely teaching content but for life matters. In that sense, exercising leadership implies examining educational policies critically, collaborating in the implementation of those policies in a way that sincerely cares for high quality education for everyone.

Am I a good educator? How do I know?

As a teacher, I think it is important to evaluate my practices. Sometimes educators rely of teaching observations from administrative, or satisfaction surveys to evaluate our practices, but I think that's not the best way. First, it is crucial to understand that people learn in different ways, they come to education with different backgrounds and feelings. Additionally, a teaching methodology might work for one person might not work for another. In that sense, I am certain that I can self-evaluate my teaching practices by having conversations with my students. Regardless the educational mode, I believe that If I ask my student about how they feel while in class, what they have learned, what they struggle with, and how I can help overcome difficulties, it will provide important insight to assess my teaching practices. In that way, I can make necessary changes to address students’ needs.

Why am I a teacher?

Being a teacher is one of the greatest ways to contribute to social development by learning and sharing. It is a rewarding and impactful role, I am sure that helping others learn and grow is a noble pursuit. I feel comfortable with the idea of inspiring people do be curious and contributing to their development is quite appealing. In addition, the variety in the tasks—adapting to different learning styles and context, creating engaging activities and fostering positive learning environments results very intellectually enriching not only for students but also for me. Without mentioning how challenging this profession turns sometimes.

Being an English teacher is such a valuable skill, I feel that from this position I give my students access to opportunities to communicate effectively, know other people and their culture, as well as value their mother tongue, and pursuit their dreams. It is incredible fulfilling witness the achievement of their goals and when by the end of a course they say “Thank you teacher for helping me grow”