What Surprised a Filipino Teacher About Rural America?

TL;DR

A Filipino teacher was surprised to find rural America vastly different from her expectations of urban living, as she had only imagined big cities like New York. After moving to Colorado, she faced challenges with classroom management but improved her teaching effectiveness over her second year and plans to stay in her position.

Transcript

anyways so we're gonna check this video you guys want you guys but apparently this teacher who was born from the Philippines lands in North America and she's surprised at what's going on all right so let's get into that video man that one is my back right across the street there's the grocery store this is the theater where we watch the movies and ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌎 The teacher from the Philippines was surprised to discover that rural areas exist in America, as she had previously associated the country with big cities like New York.
• 🏫 The teacher, Charmaine deodoro, teaches math in the Julesburg School District in Colorado. She has been with the district for two years.
• 📚 The district faced challenges in hiring a math teacher, leading them to explore other options such as recruiting from the Philippines using J-1 visas.
• 🚌 Charmaine initially couldn't believe she was being hired and thought it might be a scam until she arrived in the US and was picked up by Mrs. Enos, the dean of students.
• 📏 The height and behavior of the students in the US surprised Charmaine. In the Philippines, students respect teachers simply because they are in uniform, whereas in the US, teachers have to prove themselves.
• 🏆 Charmaine received the BMW EA High Growth Award in mathematics and science for her teaching efforts.
• 🌟 The second year for Charmaine went smoother than the first, with improved classroom management and better connections with students.
• 👋 Hiring and recruiting teachers for smaller schools and communities in Colorado and neighboring states is a challenging and difficult task.

Questions & Answers

Q: What challenges did the Filipino teacher face during her first year?

During her first year, the Filipino teacher faced behavioral challenges with some students who tested her authority and behavior expectations.

Q: How did the principal find and hire the Filipino teacher?

The principal was unable to find a suitable teacher locally, so he contacted a recruiting company that connects schools with teachers from other countries, leading to the hiring of the Filipino teacher.

Q: Did the Filipino teacher face any difficulties with cultural differences?

Yes, the Filipino teacher found differences in behavior expectations between Filipino and American students, requiring her to prove herself before gaining respect from the students.

Q: How did the Filipino teacher connect with her students?

The Filipino teacher successfully connected with her students through her teaching style and received recognition for her ability to engage and educate the students effectively.

Q: What challenges did the Filipino teacher face outside of the classroom?

The Filipino teacher found it difficult to find friends her age with similar interests, but she was grateful for her host family's support and company.

Q: Will the Filipino teacher continue to work in the same school district?

The Filipino teacher expressed her desire to stay for as long as possible, but she will need to research the process of extending her visa to continue working in the school district.

Q: How did the principal and the school community support the Filipino teacher?

The principal and the school community treated the Filipino teacher like family, helping her with meals and making her feel welcomed and supported in her new environment.

Q: What cuisine does the Filipino teacher miss from her home country?

The Filipino teacher mentioned missing Filipino dishes like adobo and emphasized that eating such food reminds her of home and helps combat feelings of loneliness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A teacher from the Philippines is hired by a rural school district in Colorado, surprising her with the lack of urban amenities.

• The principal of the district discusses the difficulties of hiring teachers in small communities.

• The Filipino teacher faces challenges with classroom management but ultimately finds success and plans to stay longer.