The teaching experience

Coldman is not just an ambassador of travel and fun. I have also my staid and serious side, so let me just open up a bit. (I still wanted to be mysterious) This is a boring post so don't be suprised just bear with me.

For once in my life, I happened to experience things that I never expected. Some people are just born teachers. These are the people who teach without any formal background, but instinctively know how to pass on knowledge. And there are those who just suck at it. I missed those teaching days . Informally though. Informal because I'm not officially employed as a teacher. I've been invited as lecturer, resource person, speaker and such. I have given seminars and talks and facilitated in other educational endeavors. It's fun. It's doesn't hurt to get paid for it either.

I started giving seminars and lectures from the city to the provinces as early after I finished my degree from the University. Soon, I was called to teach in a Review Center. At first, I was hesitant to accept the job but soon I agree to take the part-time job without conflicting my schedule with my full time work . Honestly, I was nervous during my first day of teaching. Perhaps it is quite intimidating that some of my students are older than me and some of them are my former classmates. But I think I survived smoothly in my first class . As much as possible, I don't want them to feel the boredom of studying. Who wants a boring professor anyway?! So I cracked corny jokes (like what I'm doing in this blog) and the big bonus is that they have a handsome teacher. Yeah, that's me. ( just kidding! ) Sorry, pero mabenta pa rin sila! It was fun though , those simple interactions made them awake and more attentive.

But then, the business of teaching isn't all work. "Teaching is twice learning" is an adage that holds true for me. It seems that I get more out of what I’m teaching than what I’m giving. For me it is very stressful- physically and mentally. Well, how can you teach a certain subject in 8 hours when you know the fact that you have studied it for 6 months or so. Masakit nga sa ulo! But if you can do it efficiently, it's very worthy.

The teaching experience can be profound. It is an opportunity to mold minds and challenge preconceptions and misconceptions. It's also a test of patience and character. Teaching teaches you to teach.

Communication and feedback are also essential indicators that the flow of information is stable, that the correct information is being given and received. One of the feedbacks that I heard that made me smile - "si Sir ang pangit ng sulat, ang hirap basahin"! Pero totoo naman yun!Hahaha! If you don’t get the reaction you want, chances are you probably didn't communicate your instructions and expectations properly ... Sounds like Effective Corporate Leadership and Management to me.

As I always say to my students- Failure will not overcome me to succeed, if my determination is strong enough. Woah! I missed those teaching days, tiring but self-fulfilling.