Weekend Madness

Wow, I managed to ask my friend to help me get the journals of my students and I brought them home. I will start browsing them this weekend, not to mention finish checking all the papers of my students as the deadline for submission of grades is Tuesday, October 17! Yikes! These are the moments that I really don’t like being a teacher at all. But then, this is all part of the equation. Anyway, I wonder how many of my students would actually bother to check on my blog regularly over the sembreak? Well, it is a great opportunity for me to just continue writing more entries, that’s all.

At any rate, I am determined to finish checking the papers of my students by sunday night, so that I could submit the grades on monday morning, on my way to work in Manila. Oh yes, one of my new projects has led me to travel to the heart of Manila fives times a week. Good grief! Talk about pollution, traffic and the relentless humidity that Metro Manila is notoriously known for!

Whew! I am also thankful that I managed to send and finish my work for my boss who is based in the United States. How I wish that I could have more work like this, telecommuting. Something that doesn’t involve face-to-face interaction. Well, I do see my boss during online conferences and video conferences but it’s still different from the real macoy. Right now, I am here in Makati, accessing the free wifi internet at the one of the hotel lobbies here. The wifi cards are ridiculously expensive and are only good for 50 minutes for 100 pesos. And normally, I spend about two hours using the internet when I moved around. That’s why early on when I had my first laptop, I decided I would get to know the places with free internet access.

And so, for now I will be signing off as I am going to watch a movie with my friend here in Greenbelt 3. It’s the 5th Spanish Film Festival and movie tickets are only 50pesos! And some movies are even free! Isn’t that wonderful? I get to watch art films that are critically acclaimed, with great storylines, cinematography and interesting characters.

Sembreak and other stuff

Well, there’s really no such thing as sembreak for those who are working. Although in my case, since I am only working part-time in the university; that means that I have nothing to do during sembreak. Alas, that is not true. Because for part-time teachers like me; no work means no pay. And the rent and other payments never let up! Once you guys graduate from the university, you will begin to understand what I am saying here. Anyway, I am quite happy being kept busy with my work right now, editing, writing and teaching English to three foreigners at the moment.

Like I mentioned in my previous blog, I am now starting my tutorial services. Hopefully by next week, my friend would have finished with the flyer that I asked him to design. I am really serious about expanding this work of mine into a tutorial center eventually. When you have reached my age; most people either aspire to take more responsibility which means moving a notch higher in the corporate ladder; or considering going solo and becoming a freelance worker. In my case, I have had the encouragement of friends to go freelance. In truth, I have never been confident about going solo. And before I continue, let me explain what freelance work entails.

For one thing, becoming a freelance worker means that one is able to take in the projects that he likes, and at the same time, also work with more flexible work hours. One can even schedule meetings and work in such a way that if one wakes up late, one could work late in the afternoon or early evening. But there is a downside to becoming a freelance worker.

First on the list is that the income is not stable. Why? You basically work for yourself. Which means, if there isn’t anybody willing to take you in and hire you for a project, then that means that you don’t have work. Second, although there is more freedom, it actually means that one has to be more responsible in managing all aspects of one’s life like logistics and time. If you ask me, I still struggle to manage my finances and logistics. Also, like any freelancer out there, the first two to five years is actually more like breakeven. Even big business don’t make a lot of money during the first few years of operation.  The goal is actually to get used to the cycle of business, and at the same time taking more risk in the process.

But of all aspects of business, no matter how good one is in his craft, public relations is still the most important aspect. For if people don’t trust a person and don’t like a person; it is hardly unlikely that the person would be able to take in more clients. And no more is this true than in the realm of teaching; specifically in the tutorial industry of those with only a handful of contacts. Unlike the established tutorial centers like MSA and AHEAD that have massive marketing and advertising budgets; personal tutors are known for how they are able to motivate their students to study more, and at the same time being able to connect with their students.

Now that’s tough, because for all accounts of my recent experience this semester; I remember that I don’t come accross as an easy teacher to deal with. In fact, I just got my performance evaluation and the student evaluation and according to it; the students are afraid of me! Good grief! Oh well, I guess this means that I have to work on it.

Anyway, I am grateful to God for being busy right now. I am even able to help my family because of the tutorial work that I have right now. Although I don’t have my own car and house yet, I am happy with what I have. Hopefull in time, I would be able to save up for my own house. But for now, my goal is to the best writer, researcher and teacher in my field and become more approachable as well. I can’t afford to mess up my life anymore as I am already pushing 30. Well, I guess that’s all for now.

Restless

It’s one in the morning and all I could think about right now is that the semester is about to end. I have only two days of teaching class left and I feel downcast. The reason is that I feel I wasn’t able to give it the best shot this semester in teaching the English language. I say this because I think that most of you reading this feel that all the requirements were made to just keep you writing and keep you busy. In reality, I never like it when my students fail in class. I know that most of the time, I am a difficult teacher to deal with, but I never like it when students fail at all.

Whenever a student fails in a quiz, essay or an exam the first thing that really comes to my mind is that — do they really understand the questions well? Or are they not motivated to study?

Motivation is important in anything. But right now, my thoughts betray me. And I feel down and out. I guess what I like to say here is, I am sorry that I didn’t make you feel that you guys were important. But know this, that I always had faith in you and in what you could deliver.

Deadline Updates

The deadline for the Binondo paper is tomorrow [Friday, October 6], but the deadline for the journals and blogs is on Monday, October 9. I will be texting your class presidents and different contacts when the final exam papers are done to be returned. The journals will be returned on the early part of the second semester. All students who submit a journal automatically get bonus points — as long as you complete the necessary 15 entries and the required number of paragraphs and sentences in each paragraph. For incomplete entries, partial points would be given. That’s all for now.

Tutorial Services

The semester is about to end, and I would like to announce that I am going to formally start my tutorial services in English. I am targeting foreigners. So if you happen to know anybody who needs help and training in the language, please refer them to me. My contact details are 0922-8190777 and 0915-9983880. Till then, hope you are all enjoying reading the book IN HIS IMAGE.

Extensions

All other requirements, like blog entrys and Binondo papers are due via email this Friday, October 6. This is due to the recent typhoon that came our way. Also, all other food preparation is just bonus and not required anymore for the speech presentation. Anyway, I will keep you posted over other things. Please keep checking this site for other updates. By the way, the final exam is definitely on Monday, October 9 at 1-2pm.  The exam is only one hour.