TESOL Summer Batch 2006

Back from left: Hari Prasad Nyaupane, Sherwin Porto, Evelyn Palaña, Rodora Dumaran, Blesilda Aller, Christine Faye Batalla, & Daisy Cerdenia.
Front from left: Rev. Mikel Del Rosario, Ptr. Manric Pascual, Dr. Marlyn Del Rosario, Prof. Bob Del Rosario (President), Prof. Janet Medina & Prof. Phoebe M.V. Parreñas.

Overview

Before TESOL, some of the graduates were on the crossroads of their lives. After months of waiting for God’s direction and His leading, some of their missionary friends, family members and other friends encouraged them to take TESOL. The choice of a training school required a critical decision. Some opted to taking the training with other institutions, but God had a different plan. Their search for a good school to be trained as a cross-cultural teacher brought them to Messiah.

Attending classes from Monday to Friday at 8 A.M- 5 P.M. would entail a lot of motivation. For one, “Dada”, Faye and Ptr. Hari have no education units and they do not have any formal teaching experiences. Aside from that, each of them had to be at school before 8 o’clock. Coming from Antipolo, Pasig and Fairview is more than an hour trip to school. With these considerations and adjustments, being in class a little before 8 a.m was a miracle. Nonetheless, their passion to be equipped as godly teachers caused them not to be absent in all classes, except when they get sick.

Each of the graduates took the course for specific reasons:

Dada, our first fully-paid applicant (mom’s scholar), took the course because she had no work, but was willing to serve God in any ministry. Teaching was not an option because she cannot imagine herself being a teacher. Despite that, she was so encouraged by her missionary friend to take TESOL, since she likes to do cross-cultural missions. TESOL was a very good entry point for her to do missions even in closed countries. During the course, she had manifested an enormous change in her mindset about teaching, especially during practicum time. Her exemplary performance brought about promising teaching career. Invitation to teach is knocking right at her doorstep. She was invited to teach at a Kindergarten school in Antipolo, but she’s still praying for God’s leading. By God’s grace, she’ll be a tutor to a Chinese lady, which she met during the practicum at Christian Bible Church of the Philippines last May 15-19, 2006 any time soon.

Faye, an ISOT student, took the course because her heart is really into missions. What better training could fill her time, but TESOL. After a car accident, she left ISOT for a good bed rest. While waiting for God’s leading and before going back to ISOT, being trained as an English teacher during summer time brought her to Messiah. As a parents’ scholar, she did good justice with their assistance. She had learned and unlearned godly ways in teaching. From a typical teacher-fronted style of teaching, she became so creative and dynamic when she handled a group of young teens during the practicum. Despite emotional strain in adjusting to the students’ level, she had learned to love even those who were a nuisance in class. On their last day at Christian Bible Church of the Philippines, the most unruly kid came and hug her so tightly and thanked her for teaching him. Presently, Faye continued her Master in Divinity course (major in Biblical Studies) at ISOT-ASIA.

Daisy took TESOL because her son, who was given a scholarship in Japan, invited her to join him to be an English teacher there. Since she had been an English tutor for a long time, the thought teaching in Japan was a good opening. The Lord is already expanding her territory of winning souls for His glory! Her desire to reach out and touch lives through the teaching of English was even intensified when she took TESOL. She had learned the biblical way of teaching for life-change, especially biblical integration in all her lessons. As a seasoned teacher, she had to unlearn a lot of teaching styles and approaches as she had been exposed to traditional ways of teaching a language. By God’s grace, because she was so willing to be equipped as a great teacher just like our Master Teacher – Jesus, she is now a great teacher for God! During the TESOL course, her son built her a language center, an extension of their house; and soon she would open her ESL center. The name of the school is still a prayer item. Glory to God!

Rodora, a pastor’s wife, decided to take TESOL as a teacher development tract, since she’s teaching Korean students. In addition to that, she also wanted to establish her own school. Right now, it’s a prayer in progress. Her training at Messiah gave her back her passion to teach like Christ. For three years now, she had never cared to teach for life-change. It was only during the training that she discovered the many big responsibilities God had given her as a teacher who would make a difference for His glory. By God’s grace, she had made a commitment to love all her students and equip them for His service.

Evelyn, who by faith has left Grace Christian High School to do full-time missions instead of being enclosed in a classroom setting, was more excited about the biblical integration than the language subjects when she took TESOL, since she had a good language teaching training at the University of the Philippines. However, after having taken all the subjects, she testified that she had learned more than what she had expected. Teaching the TESOL way was different from what she had experienced. She also turned out to be a very creative and dynamic teacher. In fact, her co-teacher “Dada” learned so much from her during practicum. Their team-up was a great blessing. Right now, Evelyn is so excited about an invitation to be a part-time language teacher for the Muslims in Cotabato, through Campus Crusade for Christ. This is an answered prayer in progress!

Ptr. Hari took TESOL because he wanted his summer filled with worthwhile activities for God. Being trained at Messiah was just what he needed for a great ministry at Nepal when he graduates at ISOT. He has not only been a committed student but a great teacher/trainer in some of the TESOL subjects.

Sherwin, who opted to be trained by native speakers of the language, had to take TESOL at Messiah. Her decision in coming to Messiah was a great blessing, for the training had not only equipped her as a great language teacher for God, but also it had given her a clearer mindset as to what the Lord wants her to do. She has been considering teaching in China. Being an asset at Faith Fundamental Baptist Church and in its school, her pastor encouraged her to stay for another year. Her love and passion to teach is still there, but her desire to leave school is escalating each day as she prayerfully seek God for His favor and His blessings.

Our fellowship time during lunch break brought about an exciting plan to reach to non-Christian High-School teachers in the municipality where Ptr. Hari is leading. His influence, as a political leader, is a good avenue for people to hear about the great news of salvation. Witnessing in closed areas is catered through language teaching. Each teacher must raise PHP. 75,000 to be able to join in the two-week missions trip. This is still a prayer item.

Highlights of the TESOL Training

When asked to evaluate about the entire TESOL program, everyone said the training had changed most of their perspective in teaching for life-change and it had equipped them as godly teachers for God’s glory!

The Work & Life Witness subject, in particular, had a great impact in their calling in life, not only as a teacher, but also as a believer in Christ. The value of witnessing and discipling students became so evident; in fact they all made a commitment to purposefully teach according to God’s standard.

The panel discussion on the topic Intercultural Relationship and Adjustment added life to their training. Some commented that it was very informative for it gave them an overview of what to expect in the field. It not only opened their eyes to the realities of teaching in a cross-cultural setting, but also revealed a lot of principles which were often taken for granted in missions.

Overall, everything they’ve learned gave them more meaning in life. The practicum held at Christian Bible Church of the Philippines last May 15-19, 2006 was said to be an excellent avenue for them to apply everything that was taught to them. One teacher added that having seen lives changed during the practicum really encouraged her to teach for life-change, all for the Father’s glory and honor.