I was a teacher for seven years in a Catholic college (which became a coed university in 2005). My years of teaching were very fruitful because I vowed not to imitate the style of the worst teachers I've ever had. My motto was "End stupidity. Be a teacher."
Anyway, when the job to teach was offered to me by my former chairperson, I didn't grab it right there and then. I told her that although I came from the Advertising industry and would use my experience in the major subjects in Mass Communication that I would be teaching, I would like to take some Education units first because I had no idea how to teach.
I guess that's mostly the weakness of college instructors these days. Most of them get offered the job to teach a major subject but they lack the knowledge on how to teach.
Based on my experience with some co-teachers, they lack the following:
1) Teaching Strategies - Being in your field of expertise is not enough to qualify you to teach. If you take Education units (especially a Certificate in Teaching Program which is offered to degree holders), you would know which teaching strategy to use with the freshmen and the seniors. You would know how to be understood by the stupidest in class and still catch the interest of the smartest.
College instructors who are well known for their works in film and literature are sometimes the worst teachers. They are better read than seen and heard.
2) Measurement, Evaluation and Research - This is often the waterloo of those who don't have Education units. Some instructors make up a test the way they want to. Some even give a bonus question like: "What brand of cigarette do I smoke?" Yeah right. Like that would make your students less stupid.
3) Mastery of Filipino and English - Most young teachers I know these days don't have any mastery of either Filipino or English. When they teach, they use Taglish. They also incorporate showbiz words in the classroom in their day-to-day lessons. I'm all for communication being dynamic, but please know which has class and which is crass.
4 comments:
eto ang dahilan kung bakit bantulot akong magturo kahit pa pinapasubok ako. totoo ang hirap magturo kahit pa sabihing swak ang technical skills mo para sa subject, akma ang puntos madam arni...salamat
Thanks for reading. Man this post is soooo old. Hahaha!
I agree. I didn't realize my mistakes in teaching until I finished my 21 units (Certificate in Teaching Program). I guess I'm a little bit better now. LOL!
But miss, I there are Education grads who do not deserve to be in that profession. They give teaching a bad name.
My dear Anonymous,
I have this strong feeling that you're one of my ex-Foolinian students. I can smell you gals. Ahihihi.
Yes, there are Education majors who don't deserve to be teachers. Some of their parents made them take Education because "Mahina ulo mo. Di ka pwede maging doktor o inhinyero. Mag-titser ka na lang." That's one of the saddest truths. :(
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