My Teaching Debut: Quadratic Equations in the Philippines

Yesterday was my first day teaching Filipino students. I handled two classes: Grade 9 Granite and Grade 9 Quartz. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel nervous at all; instead, I felt incredibly excited. In the Philippines, teachers use English as the medium of instruction. Since English is one of their official languages, textbooks and references are all in English, and most Filipinos speak the language fluently. That day, I taught quadratic equations, giving it my absolute best.

This topic is one of my favorites, and since it is a subject I have mastered in mathematics, I was able to explain it clearly. I felt very fortunate to be assigned a topic I know so well. The students in Grade 9 Granite were very active; most of them were eager to raise their hands and answer my questions. On the other hand, the students in Grade 9 Quartz were quite shy—perhaps because they were still adapting to having an international teacher.

After the session, I received feedback from my supervisor, Sir Justin, who observed my classes. He encouraged me by saying that I have the potential to become a professional teacher. He noted that I am good at teaching and have a strong mastery of the material. However, he also gave me some constructive advice: I need to speak louder so that students in the back rows can hear me, and I should make my handwriting larger so  it is more legible from a distance. In the Philippines, students study mathematics for one hour every day. The school day typically runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Saturdays and Sundays as holidays. Before each class, I had to prepare a lesson plan in English. This was quite exhausting, as it required a lot of time.