Teaching English to US kids: a Pinay's success story

By Julita L. Lizardo (Philstar.com) - November 8, 2011 - 2:46pm

It was in November 2004 when the agency contacted me and said that I was one of the teacher
applicants who was scheduled to be interviewed by the human resources representatives from the
Baltimore City Public Schools. They told me the time of the interview and that it was going to be held at
the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. I had mixed emotions when I learned about this great news. I
was ecstatic because I knew that I was getting close to achieving my “American Dream.” At the same
time, I was also nervous because I knew that it was going to be a tough competition among the teacher
applicants.

Preparing for Charm City

So, I started planning and preparing for that interview. I began thinking about the professional attire that
I was going to wear. I also started reviewing my notes and books on special education and did my
research about the Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore City in general. After my research, I
learned about the special education programs they had that time, curriculum, population, products,
famous places and its wonderful people. As a matter of fact, the city earned its name as the “Charm
City” in the United States because of its beautiful people. In addition, I have also learned that one of my
favorite authors, Edgar Allan Poe was from Baltimore City. You can just imagine how excited I was after
learning all of these facts even before my interview.

When the day of my interview came, I went to the hotel equipped and ready to be grilled with questions.
There, I saw a lot of teachers waiting outside the room. Just like me, I can see in their faces excitement
and nervousness. I was able to witness different behaviors while waiting for my turn. Some were reading
and reviewing some notes and books. Others were just chilling and waiting for their turn to be over,
while the rest were having conversations with each other. Based on the conversations, I learned that
everyone had only one goal! That was to pass the interview because that was our ticket to have the taste
of the “American Dream.”
Advertising

Scroll to continue

The interview that would spell the future

During my interview, I was surprised that the interviewer was kind and was making me feel comfortable.
During the interview, I have learned that they were hiring Filipino teachers because there were not
enough highly qualified teachers in Baltimore City Schools to teach math, science, and special education
during that time. The No Child Left Behind Policy has been requiring school systems to hire highly
qualified teachers, which means teachers who are certified or have the potentials to be certified in the
said areas. As a result, they ended up hiring teachers overseas which included the Philippines. They
included the Philippines because of our educational system being patterned from theirs and with English
being our medium of instruction. In addition, speaking and hearing someone speaking the English
language is an everyday occurrence in the Philippines when doing business transactions and in academic
institutions. Even the street vendors who some of them may not be able to express themselves in English
fluently are also able to understand the language. Isn’t it amazing? This is an asset that I think our
country has.

I was interviewed for at least 30 minutes and I was able to pass the interview with flying colors. The
district’s representative told me that I was already hired even if she was not supposed to disclose the
result yet until all of the more than 200 applicants have already been interviewed. It was such an
unforgettable day! When I got out of the room, it felt like I was in heaven! I kept jumping up and down
while the rest of the applicants were looking at me crazily and maybe enviously. Others also asked me
about the questions that were asked and a lot more things.

After this memorable day, most of my days were spent submitting and processing all my documents. I
thought passing the interview was the ticket to the US, but no! It was just the beginning of a very tedious
and agonizing process. It was in May 2005 when I was scheduled for an interview before the US embassy.
I would not forget that day, when my visa was granted. It was a dream-come-true. All of my sleepless
nights, effort, perseverance and patience were paid off. I immediately thought about the financial gains
that it was going to bring me and my family. My family and I started building castles in the air, like with
my whole family migrating to the US, experiencing the snow, etc. I was also after the wonderful
experience of being able to teach English to a country whose mother tongue is English.

Goodbye Philippines

The remainder of my days after getting the visa was dreadful. I needed to resign from my school where I
was an English teacher for eight years. I needed to face my students, colleagues and administrators
confidently to let them know that I was fine but in reality, I was not! Besides saying goodbye to my
institution, I also came to the realization that I was leaving my two children and husband in less than a
month. My daughter was just in third grade during that time while my son was just in first grade. That
thought started to pierce my heart. I would cry every night just thinking about it! It was too painful to
think about that I felt like I was going to die. But then again, the dream of me giving my children a
brighter future defeated my loneliness. That time, as a parent, it was more important than for me to
cater the loneliness that was ahead of me.

When the day of my departure came, reality started to sink in! This was the reality of being away from
my children and my husband. At the airport, I could see on the faces of my innocent children how lonely
they were that their beloved “Mama” was going to leave them. I could see how they wished they could
stop me from leaving! It was the loneliest moment in my life. Even lonelier and more painful than the
feeling that I had when my father died. It was like a nightmare. I wish it was! That way, I could have just
waken up and found out that it was nothing but a dream… but it was reality! My family was sitting in the
bench outside the airport as they bade goodbye. I needed to show them that I was brave but the truth
was, my heart was bleeding inside.

Adjusting to the American culture

I, together with 50 other teachers, came to Baltimore City, Maryland in June 2005. We shared the same
experiences and heartaches. We had difficulty adjusting to a new country, city, and most of all, living
with three other Filipino teachers in a two-bedroom apartment. But we started to like it. We realized
that besides God, we only had each other because we did not have any family members who would be
able to assist us in times of need. We would take the bus, metro and the subway whenever we needed
to go to shopping centers. We would also gather in each other’s apartment every Friday night for Bible
studies.

My first year was a challenging one. I realized that teaching the native speakers of the English language is
still different from teaching English to second language speakers of the language. They used a lot of
idioms which some of them, I was not even familiar with despite me being an English teacher. My accent
and pronunciation of some words were also different despite me teaching speech and oral
communication to college students. My students would correct me and ask me to repeat what I was
saying. I did not get slighted by it, but rather, took it as a challenge.

I had students who had behavioral problems but my being strict with my students in the Philippines and
my knowledge about special education helped me a lot during my first year. They came very handy. I did
not have serious problems with classroom management compared to my other colleagues. Some of
them were disrespectful but it was not because of my accent and being a Filipino. One thing that these
children are very much oriented with is that they could not discriminate people because of their speech,
nationality and especially, the color of one’s skin. They know that it is racism.

It was an adjustment to the culture as well. There were some things that I would miss that our students
do in the Philippines that our students here do not do. Back home, our students and parents regard us as
their second parents. They put such high regard to teachers. Filipino students stand to greet their
teachers and whenever they respond to our questions. It took me about a month to adjust in this regard.
Then, I realized that both I and my students were actually adjusting to each others’ ways and cultures. I
also realized that children are children wherever you go all over the world. They will always need
affection, love, care, and most of all, will always be hungry for knowledge.

“Bayanihan spirit” lives on

I started to build and develop a rapport with my students, parents and colleagues. Then, my students
started inquiring about the Philippines and its people. They wanted to know all the things about my
country. They were so curious about our country because they were not even familiar that our country
exists until I came to the school. One thing that amazed them was when I told them that when the
American children are in school, the Filipino children are sleeping. They did not have any idea that it was
happening on the other side of the world! My administrators and parents liked me as well. Parents were
happy that their children were being taught by a highly qualified teacher. They also liked me because
they saw my passion and dedication to the teaching profession.

I had colleagues who were already deciding to go back home during our first year. However, with
continued support and faith in God, we were able to survive our first tough year. One thing that I can say
about us Filipino teachers is that, we’re resilient and as pliant as the bamboos. Trials seemed to make us
fall down but we just dusted ourselves off instead and continued to stand from where we left off.

In retrospect, it was a very challenging yet rewarding first year. Besides our administrators, parents, and
students, we are also thankful of the Filipino communities who supported us all the way. We truly have
witnessed the authentic “bayanihan” spirit from our friends in the River of Life International Christian
Fellowship. They were the ones who were there to provide not only our tangible needs but most of all,
our spiritual needs. They demonstrated the real essence of a Christian spirit- that is helping brothers and
sisters without any expectations of being paid back. Our first year was successful because of their
support.

Looking back

This is now my sixth year in my school and in my district. I have now been a part of our leadership team
and executive board. I, together with my principal and other selected colleagues, meet weekly to discuss
school policies and programs that will make my school a well run school. My principal has given me
multiple awards because of my contributions in my school’s achievement of the Adequate Yearly
Progress for three consecutive years. I also have dismissed a lot of special education students because
they have already been performing on grade level after giving then intensive reading instruction. I am
glad and blessed that they recognize my contribution to my school.
I have a lot of things to thank God for. My family has been here with me for three years now. My
daughter is now in ninth grade and my son is now in seventh grade. Both of them are consistent honor
students. Besides enjoying some financial gains that coming to America had brought me and my family, I
am so thankful that I was able to know the real God. My God who continues to love me unconditionally
despite of my inequities. My God who promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that, “For I know the plans that I have
for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future!”

If you ask me if I feel bad about leaving the Filipino students behind despite them being in need of good
teachers like us, my answer is sometimes. On the other hand, I also believe that we do not have to be in
our country to make our country proud. Every day, I always instill in my mind that I am not just carrying
myself but I’m also a “flag carrier” of my beloved country. Every day, I make my country proud by making
sure that I am giving my best to my American students. That way, they will remember my country
because of this Filipino teacher who touched their lives and whose name has been engraved in their
hearts. I serve my students because I do believe that God brought me to this country for a reason, and
that is to be like a parent to these children who are hungry and longing for a parent’s love that some
parents could not provide.

“Mabuhay tayong mga Pinoy!”

It has been a very successful six years because of my faith in God. Without Him, I am nothing. I would
have gone home and accepted my defeat. I offer all of my success to Him. I hope that my story will
inspire other Filipino teachers overseas. I know that it is tough to be away from our families but there is
always light at the end of the tunnel. That light is God! The more we experience struggles or challenges
the more that we should cling to God because He is our rock and provider. May God continue to bless us
and our families with good health, perseverance, wisdom and determination. May He also continue to
bless our country and our adoptive countries as well. When you feel lonely being away from your family,
just read Romans 5:5, Matthew 6:25-34, and Jeremiah 29:11. I hope that this article inspires all of the
Filipinos worldwide! Mabuhay tayong mga Pinoy!!!

SPONSORED ARTICLES
Toyota's biggest clearance sale for 2019 is happening this weekend

MOTORING October 8, 2019 - 9:49pm

'Tawa-tawa': Herbal supplement that can help fight dengue

HEALTH AND FAMILY October 8, 2019 - 2:00pm

SM Supermalls holds grandest, happiest Kids’ Day nationwide

ON THE RADAR October 8, 2019 - 10:30am

This 2019 seminar teaches strategies to improve customer service retention

LIFESTYLE BUSINESS October 8, 2019 - 10:00am

WATCH: How to avail of Smart’s Free YouTube For All promo

TELECOMS October 7, 2019 - 12:45pm

Italian Massimiliano Pauletto is Novotel Manila's new executive chef

FOOD AND LEISURE October 7, 2019 - 12:18pm

How Millennials and Gen Z can pursue their passions with latest HP laptop

GADGETS October 4, 2019 - 5:30pm

Nas Daily returns to Philippines, discusses environmental protection

ON THE RADAR October 4, 2019 - 5:00pm

Kathryn, Nadine, Heart and fellow Pond’s girls open up about hesitations
ENTERTAINMENT October 3, 2019 - 12:00pm

Ad