Teaching Without Borders: An international journey from classroom teaching to online tutoring
June 3, 2022, was my last day as a classroom teacher.
As I packed up my belongings I was overcome with a wave of emotion. It had been an unpredictable three years, and it was bittersweet to be saying goodbye to this space and the people that had pushed me to grow so much. I was faced with a difficult transition at the end of my three-year teaching experience at Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. As I had been on a J1 visa from the Philippines, it only allowed me to work in the States for three years before I had to return to the Philippines.
Facing the challenge of uprooting my life back to the Philippines, and uncertain about job prospects, I found myself at a crossroads, forced to make a decision about my teaching career.
What initially seemed like a temporary solution in the face of uncertainty, evolved into something far more meaningful. It became a transformative journey that reshaped my approach to education, molding me into a different kind of teacher.
What is a J1 Visa?
A J1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States for individuals approved to participate in work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs. It allows participants to gain practical training, experience, or engage in academic programs, typically for a period up to three years, with the intent of returning to their home country to share their experiences and knowledge.
I received a degree in Child Development and Education, with a major in Special Education, and gained valuable experience working in prestigious elementary schools and special education schools in the Philippines. I was always motivated to seek work experience and education in a first-world setting. Obtaining a J1 visa in the US was how I wanted to accomplish that.
I was approved for my J1 visa in 2019.
When I received the news, a sense of joy washed over me. It was a dream come true. I had devoted hours to excel in my classes, absorbing knowledge from every teacher and work experience. I had the privilege of selecting between two school districts: Clark County School District (Las Vegas, NV) and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (Monterey, CA). Opting for Monterey was an easy decision, as I could be closer to my relatives in California.
Teaching in the US
I was born and raised in the bustling streets and concrete walls of Manila, Philippines, surrounded by millions of people. So when I moved to Monterey, California, I was amazed by the beauty and tranquility of the natural surroundings. I loved being able to witness whales glide through the ocean, kayak surrounded by otters, and watch hundreds of beautiful sunsets.
I was assigned as a resource specialist teacher in Monterey, where I provided reading and math intervention for students with learning challenges. This assignment inspired me to further my education, as I have a passion for reading education. I was accepted in CSU Fresno, where I earned a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on reading and language arts.
Teaching American children was culturally different from teaching Filipino children, but I soon realized that all students are the same in that they respond and learn from teachers who genuinely care about their learning and well-being. Collaborating with colleagues from a different culture was also a great learning experience for me, as it helped me step outside of my comfort zone and learn about myself and develop my skills.
Living in California allowed me to pursue my passion and find the love of my life. I crossed paths with my husband through a mutual connection with one of my dearest friends, and we quickly formed a strong connection. Our relationship flourished, and we got married in October 2021. As I reflect on this chapter in my life, I am filled with immense gratitude for the professional growth it brought and the incredible man I now call my husband.
Transition to Online Tutoring
My flight was booked for July 18, 2022.
I had some time to think about what my next moves for my career were. There was no job waiting for me in the Philippines and my husband and I were already in the process of getting my green card and planned to return to the States in 2024.
Despite marrying a U.S. citizen, as of this writing, a J1 visa holder from the Philippines cannot change their status due to the visa's requirement of a two-year home residency, which mandates the visa holder to spend at least two years in their home country before being eligible for status change or re-entry into the U.S. Hence the "exchange" in "work-and-study-based exchange visitor program."
I needed a way to keep my skills up-to-date for two years. So I decided to transition into becoming a full-time online reading tutor for elementary students in the US. I had seen firsthand the resilience and adaptability of students as we navigated remote learning during the pandemic. Online tutoring seemed like the perfect way to continue my journey, reaching beyond geographical boundaries.
Becoming an online tutor required a lot of effort.
First, I needed to create a virtual classroom that would provide an enjoyable learning experience. This entailed familiarizing myself with various online teaching tools and selecting an appropriate curriculum.
Building trust with parents was the next step. By regularly communicating, addressing concerns, and reporting progress, my goal was to build strong partnerships with parents.
Lastly, I dedicated myself to effective lesson planning. I tailored each lesson to cater to the unique needs of individual students and integrated interactive activities to foster engagement.
To Teach is to Learn
I think the lesson here is that "teaching" is learning in and of itself. For me, it started with relocating to a new country in pursuit of career and personal development. Then, it continued to transitioning from the physical classroom to online tutoring which compelled me to acquire new knowledge in technology, business, and interpersonal connections. All the while, I was able to leverage my persistence and expertise as a classroom teacher, fostering a holistic growth journey. I do think that I am a more well-rounded person and educator as I can use technology to overcome time zones and geographical limitations that open new doors for me and future students.
We are all students at heart, continuously learning, evolving, and adapting.
As I navigate the unpredictable waters of transitioning between the Philippines and the US while leaving the classroom and establishing my online tutoring business, I am reminded that every student I encounter is embarking on a transformative journey of their own.
And that's the beauty of education—it never stops evolving, and neither do we as educators in this global and digital age.
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