Bard, A Place to Think - Master of Arts in Teaching

Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Previous Education: University of Asia & The Pacific, Manila, Philippines, B.A. Humanities
Work Experience Prior to Bard:
Undergraduate English Teacher, University of Asia & The Pacific
Kindergarten Teacher, Eleanor Esteban Learning Center
High School English Literature Teacher, International School Manila
Currently Teaching:
IB English A1 (11th and 12th grades) and ESL (k-12), The Dwight School in NYC

Why did you want to become a teacher?
I wanted to give children the opportunity to think about their lives and make informed choices. I wanted to open doors for them, and for them to realize who they are and who they can become. I wanted them to be initiators and problem solvers. I wanted to instill in them a good work ethic and the simple ability to enjoy all life has to offer. I knew they could be inspired, led, and guided by literature.

What are your career goals?
My career goal is to teach the international baccalaureate curriculum in at least one school in every continent. I want to be a role model – I am a third culture kid (having grown up in the country I am not a citizen of ) who loves living in and learning from different countries and cultures, and the IB curriculum allows me to not only teach world literature , but be a live example of it.

Why did you choose Bard?
I wanted a small school with small class sizes so I could not only enjoy the full attention of my professors, but [also have] close working relationships with my peers.

Tell us about your student teaching experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed being exposed to the extremes – the East Bronx Academy for the future allowed me to work with academically challenged children, while Bard High School Early College allowed me to work with academically gifted children.

Was there a particular professor or course that you especially enjoyed? Why?
Julia Emig – her openness to new ideas and enthusiasm for teaching are inspiring.
Stephen Mucher – His ability to see individual strengths and weaknesses and work with you on them is teacher role model worthy.
BC Craig – her simplicity in thought, word, and deed is life skill worthy.
Michale Sadowski – the thought he puts into his work and the care with which he executes it is model behavior worthy.

In what way did Bard’s MAT make you into the teacher you are today?
I became more open-minded to trying new teaching practices even if I didn’t think I would learn from them. I realized that, just because I wouldn’t learn from a particular experience. It didn’t mean my students wouldn’t as well. Now, I regularly step out of my comfort zone to accommodate all learning styles.