You cannot teach what you don't have.
I have this fear of "I might run out of things to teach." As funny as it may sound, I have this notion of what if the knowledge I have had will get consumed by my students, as if it might suddenly run dry. What'd be left in me, what would be in store for me that I could use and share with my future students? It still is a whimsical concern of mine even knowing that knowledge is not finite but rather an ever-expanding ocean of discovery.
While it's true that there are books and learning resources always available to be used in teaching, I as a teacher and a learner myself don't want to teach and learn all these things in the same manner, in the same way, and in just the same lessons the book has provided. I don't want it to be a routine or a drill. I always wanted to incorporate something new into my teaching, something that this generation can relate to, and something that this evolving learning style of 21st-century learners needed to be catered to.
The more I learn, the less I know. True.
Thus this fear in me, drives me to be hungry for learning, training, and opportunities that will fill my cup. And while I keep on learning "the more I realize that there is so much more I need to know and that I only have less, and I have so much room for improvement.
And I think I said a lot already. Hehe. So this blog I'm sharing is one of the weekends that alifelong learner in me longs for. So rather than trekking and climbing mountains this weekend, I conquered a mountain of new knowledge and learnings with snippets of takeaway.
A weekend of professional growth!
What's in store for us?
How blessed I was to be selected as one of the very few participants representing the University I now am taking my Graduate Studies to be able to attend this seminar on English Language Teaching spearheaded by the different esteemed international speakers for free.
This once-in-a-lifetime seminar is the product of the collaborative effort of the international organization Teachers Helping Teachers, the University of the Philippines Cebu Master of Education, the UP Cebu Ugnayan ng Pahinungod and PAGE Region VII or the Philippine Association of Graduate Education!
This amazing seminar facilitated by brilliant and competitive speakers dwells on English Language Teaching which focuses on (1.)COILing for Humanity, Intercultural Sensitivity and Communicative Competence, (2.)Understanding and Categorizing Factors Affecting English Proficiency of Senior High School Tendency, (3.)ELT Students and Historical Thinking and lastly the most intriguing and interesting (for me) (4.) Using AI Tools in Teaching Writing (like whoaaatt???)
All the topics were new to me and were comprehensively discussed. I was so engrossed and all ears during the discussions. I found myself hanging onto every topics delivered.
The interactions
What I love about this seminar is the room-to-room discussion of the topics we wanted to learn and discover. From over a hundred participants coming from different universities and agencies, we were divided as to what specialty we wanted to delve into.
I chose, to learn "Language through Historical Context", though I was very curious and eager to learn more about the whys of "using AI in Teaching Writing", I just couldn't accept it yet no matter how I convinced myself how students in my school abusively used AI in their writing.
Involve me and I'll learn.
I was wearing my hat as a student once more and as usual, being interactive and participative fueled me through the whole session. It feels so so good to be a learner once more. I felt empowered and renewed.😍
I met new professionals who have the same passion as I do, individuals who are also hungry for learning and professional growth, and individuals whose eyes reflect the happiness of taking a break from each of our respective work, and yet here we are, learning, indulging and discovering a new knowledge!
UP- the Dream of many
Never was my energy waned. I was enthusiastic and eager the whole time especially since I had finally set foot in my dream school, the University of the Philippines.
This school is one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines which gives privilege to poor students with outstanding performance in school to get a degree and finish college. Moreover, they uphold academic excellence and academic freedom.
And to be given a chance to sit in one of their classrooms and roam around the halls of the newly constructed Graduate School is a dream come true for a young kid who once dreamed of attending this institution. And this made me realize that the place you love or dream of truly makes you feel more alive!
This whole weekend experience I had was filled with discovery and exciting and valuable things I can use in my teachings. This weekend of professional growth was so wonderfully fulfilling and rewarding! Can't wait to go back to the field and apply this to my teaching!
📚She is a public school Teacher on weekdays, a Jill of all trades on weekends, outdoorsy on holidays, a mother, and a blogger in between. 😉
🍃She's in love with nature and the simple life of the countryside. As a lifelong learner, as she is, she is attracted to learning opportunities and growth. ❤️Join her as she shares life's simple joy and its beauty through traveling, exploring nature, the wonders of creating things through some of her DIY, the good things about countryside life, a glimpse of being a Public School Teacher, and more!
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SPREAD KINDNESS AND SMILE MORE OFTEN.🥰"
