My Philosophy in Education

“ The child’s needs as a learner governs his whole being”

When I was teaching English language and literature for college students two years ago, I never delved into any educational philosophies. I just followed what was expected from me. I followed what was handed like the curriculum alignment, made my own syllabus for the subject, give lectures and activities for the class, and give examinations which I thought was very practical for them to answer. And everyday going to school was a routine for me. In short I was behaving normally as I thought I was.

At the end of each semester, there was always an evaluation served and observed by fellow teachers/coordinator and the students. As a newbie in the field, I knew that I have some flaws that need to be enhanced. So with these evaluations there are positive and negative remarks about how I conducted my classes.

Later on in the span of my teaching career, I learned and discovered something enlightening about my life as a teacher. I was endowed to have patience and responsibility for these students to learn. It made me a realist of how teachers should act and take responsibility in their work. I began to enjoy life as a teacher because I wasn’t anymore idealistic and following all rules. It was fun learning new methods as I go and continue to discover new techniques. I can see my students enjoying also. They learn from me and I learn from them new methods in teaching and handling the class. I never could have imagined that I would enjoy teaching for awhile.

If there was a personal philosophy about education that I have followed maybe it was just plain and simple understanding and learning from my students abilities. I catered their hunger for knowledge, honed their skills in writing and link them to the significant human experience that one can have. I even introduced high order thinking skills for them to enhance their speaking abilities.

The need to define my personal philosophy in the last two years were indefinite because I have struggled to learn something from the environment, the school and its governing rules and policies, and getting to know your students who sometimes worships you and comments about ones ways in handling them. But I have been considerate of their needs to excel and to master their skills in the four language areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing. I try to influence them to write their thoughts and speak what they believe is right and to stand to it. And be willing to accept whatever the consequence there is to it.

I would like to think that I am being pragmatic and a realist in the ways of teaching my students. For this I believe that educating people/students has its progress in modernizing ways of teaching whatever the field or type of students you have.

Pragmatic states that knowledge and action are not separate from each other and the value of knowledge lies in its practical consequences. In other words, knowledge is only as true as its practical consequences and their impact. It is considered as a wide range of thoughts which tend to explain the nature of knowledge and truth in the best possible manner.

Most of the time, we cannot control our students through their actions and thoughts. So I figured out that it is best to motivate and encourage them a little to talk and express themselves and by that way one can get to know him/her. It’s the easiest way to probe into the child’s mind if he/she can express through words because the development of the child can be self-motivated whatever the issues they are encountering in life.

I am realist when it comes to what and how students learn from the lessons I teach. Questions such as: “Am I preparing them for their future careers?” or “Does these lesson suits their level? With proper guidance I am giving them an overview of what to expect in their future workplace.

As realists we tend to believe that whatever we believe now is only an approximation of reality and that every new observation brings us closer to understanding reality.

Teaching language and literature for college students is not an easy task. One needs to be adept and knows how to manipulate the class especially in literature where there is a process of continuing guidance and follow-up of ideas.

Whenever I teach literature there is always the valuing of culture and thoughts of the students. By this they could reflect and dig into the deeper insights and allowing them to share their experiences to the class without apprehension and doubts. They began to have self-confidence and self-worth as they speak. They also learn by listening to other’s thoughts. In the process, this prepares students not only for personal development but for leadership in the community and the workplace. Because they learn to appreciate the little things they make in the class and began to flourish their minds to become critical thinkers and associate it to the present time.

And now I began to empower myself not only for the knowledge but for how I could still lend a hand for their hunger to learn. Teaching and learning does not only stop when students graduate but it is a continuing process where you want to reach out to others, too.