pedagogy
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
This quote from William Arthur Ward encapsulates my teaching philosophy. Teaching English, or any other subject, transcends mere instruction—it's a calling. It demands excellent communication skills and expert knowledge of the subject. But more importantly, it requires a lot of patience and empathy to motivate students to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Having taught students across basic and higher education levels, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of inspiration in the learning process. When I taught English at the University of Mindanao Tagum College (Philippines), I organized theater workshops that elicited creativity among my students and motivated them to write, act, direct, and stage their original plays at the university. Similarly, at Pannawit School (Thailand), where I taught English as a foreign language, I cultivated a supportive and inclusive learning environment that accommodated the diverse needs and learnings styles of my students, including neurodiverse learners, those with hearing disabilities, and young Queer students.
Providing the students with the freedom to express themselves and the space to learn according to their learning preferences is central to my teaching approach. This not only fosters a love for learning but also empowers them to achieve their full potential.
My great English teachers in high school instilled these principles in me, and I'm committed to paying it forward by inspiring and empowering the next generation of learners—to create, to speak for themselves, to stand for what they believe in, and to extend the same support to others.
Teacher, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) 2018–2022
Pannawit School, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand
From late 2018 to early 2022, I taught primary and upper-secondary Thai students English through a story- and adventure-based curriculum. I also trained selected students for storytelling and public speaking competitions. In 2019, I received a gold medal recognition from the provincial education department as a coach for storytelling.
In addition, I worked closely with fellow EFL teachers to organize the annual English camp. I also participated in teaching mentorships and cultural activities at school.
College Instructor, Liberal Arts 2016–2017
University of Mindanao Tagum College (UMTC), Philippines
When I graduated from the university, I took a teaching job at a local college in my hometown for one academic year. The courses I taught include English Grammar, Interactive Reading, Expository Writing, Technical Writing, Communicative English, Speech and Stage Arts, Introduction to Humanities, World Literature, and Afro-African Literature.
As a junior faculty member, I organized writing, public speaking, and theater workshops for students in the Bachelor of Secondary Education (major in English) and Bachelor of Arts in English programs. I was also invited as a resource person for The Joy of Teaching Literature in the 21st Century workshop at Compostela Valley State College-Maragusan.
Apart from my classroom English language teaching experience, I also worked as an online English tutor for Chinese and Japanese students.
English Tutor 2020–2022
Bunny English (Teaching EFL to Chinese students)
English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutor 2014–2015
RareJob, Inc. (Teaching ESL to Japanese students)
SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS
English Teachers Workshop: Activating Primary Students with Fun and Practical Games and Activities, Institute of Academic Development, Ayutthaya, Thailand, September 2019
Brush-Up Training: My First English Adventure and Workshop on Songs and Language Teaching, Pannawit School, Ayutthaya, Thailand, May 2019
Seminar-Workshop on Pedagogy of Love, University of Mindanao, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines, Dec 2016
Teaching English in Multilingual Classrooms, Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT), Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines, October 2016
ACHIEVEMENTS
Gold Medal (Storytelling Coach) — Awarded by the Secondary Educational Service Area in Ayutthaya Province, Kingdom of Thailand
Outstanding Teacher Performance — Evaluation for Teachers by Students (ETS), A.Y. 2016–2017, UM Tagum College, Philippines
AFFILIATION
Teachers' Club (British Council), 2016–2017