Name: Joanne Marie Grace P.

Pabalan Date: July 30, 2019

Professor: Dr. Josephine P. Dasig

Principles of Teaching

Learning Task 1

"I want to look back on my career and be proud of the work, and be proud that I tried

everything." (Jon Stewart)

These words spoken by Jon Stewart reflect why I am here right now in this field.

I graduated with a degree in Business Management and worked for more than two

years in an international bank. Having a business background, I never thought I will

work in a school or go into the field of education. This all started when I finished my

Masters in Applied Theology wherein my brother’s friend invited me to teach Theology

at San Beda College Alabang for students of the Grade 12, Senior High School.

I was really hesitant to accept the invitation to teach because of three reasons.

Firstly, I only studied Masters in Applied Theology because of my hunger for learning,

my curiosity and my love for God. I simply wanted to have a deeper understanding of

my faith. Secondly, I do not have experience in teaching. I felt that I am not qualified

to teach since my course is not related to education. Thirdly, I wanted to work in a

nonprofit organization such as World Vision and the like.

The teaching experience changed my perspective. When I got a chance to

teach for a year and a half at San Beda, I learned to love teaching, my students and

the faculty I work with. I realized teaching is no easy task. It is a vocation, a calling to

teach the young. Now that I am a campus minister at De La Salle Santiago Zobel, I

realized maybe this is where I should be ~ to be with the young people. Educated in a

Lasalle school, I feel it’s time to give back to the school where I gained knowledge

throughout the years.

 That is why, I am here enrolled in the Teaching certificate program of University

of Perpetual Help System Dalta. I want to be equipped and qualified in teaching. I want

to know classroom management and teaching techniques to become an effective

teacher to the students. Another factor is the location of UPHSD. It is near my home

and just one jeep away. I also learned that the program here is good because of the

professors and the subjects offered.

Upon immersing myself into the Lasallian academic community, I’ve gradually

imbibed the real meaning of the Lasallian mission of “teaching minds, touching hearts,

and transforming lives.” I kept on hearing this statement since I was in college but I

only fully understood this when I became a teacher. I think this is my principle of

teaching. Teaching the students and imparting them knowledge is important for their

minds to develop and mature. But it is not only the facts or the numbers that the

students need to learn. As a teacher, I think it is also vital to relate and understand the

young people by listening to their stories, knowing their interests, showing care and

connecting our hearts to them. These young people want to feel loved and to have the

sense of belongingness. If I can be seen as a compassionate and kind teacher, I can

become an embodiment of goodness and love to them. I can become a role model. I

do not want to just discuss and talk but I want to live out what I teach. By being an

example, I become an inspiration in transforming the lives of the students. Thus, by

teaching minds, touching hearts and transforming lives, I can have a holistic approach

in educating the young people of today. With this, I can become an effective teacher

if more than being a genius or a master of a subject, the students can be values-

oriented and well-rounded people.