The First Milestone in Writing and Teaching (Part 5)

I would like to dedicate this part of the series of The First Milestone in Writing and Teaching to ALL PARTICIPANTS who joined my class session on November 30th. This is my special tribute to all of you great teachers all around the nation.

First of all, I could never say enough thank you that all of you decided to join the class. I am sure that every single one of you had your own business. Maybe in that day you were super busy, maybe you were having a big problem, maybe you were just not in the best mood and spirit. And despite everything that was going on in your life, you still CHOSE to join the class. You were willing to spare your time, your energy, and your brain in order to learn something that YOU WANT, to listen to someone YOU NEVER KNEW BEFORE.

Remember the first day when our WAG was created? It was blown up. More than 200 participants filled the group in span of hours. One group chat was full in less than 48 hours so the team decided to create 2^nd group chat. There were constant posts everyday all day long. Everyone was so pumped up and happy that it existed! Question on where the class would start kept appearing.

Please do remember that before November 30^th, I never once got the opportunity to be your acquaintance anywhere at all, be it online classes, WAG classes or anything, WE NEVER MET ANYWHERE and WE DID NOT KNOW EACH OTHER. I’m not a teacher therefore I had never had any business with PGRI community. Some of you I am sure already had relationship with one another for weeks, months, or even years prior to EFT program; for example like in the same group of writing class or speaking class or any other program under PGRI.

As a nobody, an outsider, with only Diploma title and short amount of experiences, I honestly felt NERVOUS. Prior to the 1^st meeting I paid extra detail to EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID on group chats. I gathered that many of the participants are English teachers; just great, smart, successful, and accomplished teachers. Even the non-English teachers were just as great, smart, successful, and accomplished. Most of you had so many achievements and way way more experiences than I ever had. There are writers, bloggers, motivators, poets, content creators; the list goes on, while I am just a regular office worker with an unimpressive life.

Every time anyone posted a link of their YouTube channel or blog, I opened it and I just thought “wow”. In my mind it was like, “Who are these amazing people? Who am I compared to them? How could I dare enough to teach them anything?” There were moments when I doubted myself. I thought there was not much that I could ever share to you. I would never want to come across as disrespecting you.

But then I tried to push myself and did not back down. I didn’t want to run away. I always believe that when fate gives me something to do, it means I CAN DO IT. Even though it was I who decided to do it, if I didn’t have even the smallest confidence in my ability, I would never say YES in the first place. So I just stayed focus. I used all the times I had to prepare the best I could.

Second of all, I will attempt to try to see things from your point of view. Here’s what I got. Each of you had your own unique characteristics and background. You all came from different places and cultures. You were also from different era with different upbringing. There was a wide range of ages.

As far as your intentions in joining EFT, I could categorize it into 3 main groups. But before I go further, let us all established that every single participant was not 100% completely new to English language. You know the language, you see it anywhere, you did ever get English lesson no matter when it happened, you listened at least to one English song and watched at least one movie in English language. So please never think that YOU DON’T KNOW because YOU DO KNOW.

Based on the intentions of why you decided to participate in EFT, I’m going to say there are 3 main groups of people.

1. Participants with beginner level of ability

2. Participants with intermediate level of ability

3. Participants with advance level of ability

Please take a note that by ability I mean about basic language ability which are reading, writing, and speaking. Speaking means all type of speaking such conversation, speech, story-telling, poetry-reading, public speaking, and so on.

I’m not going to put each of you into a certain category because you’re the only one to know and understand your self-capability.  PEOPLE MAY HAVE OPINION BUT THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS YOU BEST ARE YOURSELVES.

One similar thing that every participant had was A PURPOSE. You have one same purpose to join EFT which is TO LEARN and IMPROVE. Those are THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

It doesn’t matter where you are right now in terms of your English ability, if you feel like you’re a beginner or not, all doesn’t matter. You have the same purpose.

Having said all of that, I know that everybody’s expectations were bound to be varied. One would expect the speaker to be very good and fluent in English; maybe speak with the correct pronunciation all the time, use impressive vocabs and correct grammars, and many more. The other one would perhaps expect the speaker to just be friendly, patience, teach slowly, and engaging. Then the other other one might expected the teacher to be just straightforward teaching the topic. Imagine 250 participants with 250 different expectations, then who did you think get to decide what kind of teacher you were going to get? Was it you? No, it was not. At this point no one could ever choose what kind of teacher you were going to get. On the other hand, it was the same; no teacher could ever choose what kind of students he/she was going to teach.

That is why all honorable great teachers out there who are participating in EFT class, we all need TO BE READY since the beginning. Let’s start fresh! Just like the beginning of school year. Or perhaps you could imagine yourself as a new student in a new university and just about to meet your first lecturer.

No matter where you are right now and which level that you think you are, the main goal was the same right? That is TO IMPROVE a.k.a BE BETTER. Remember where did I mention a whole case about being better? On my 3^rd section on my presentation material which was ALL ABOUT MINDSET.

Now, the formula to get your goal is the same. So after putting your mindset properly, the next step will be JUST DOING IT. That was it! JUST DO IT! By doing it, I mean using everything you have, practicing what you can, and utilizing all that you can use; just all around LEARNING.

Let’s take a few tangible examples.

1. Whatsapp group chats

It is never quite over there, isn’t it? But guess what? That is exactly how it should be. It’s a facility to accommodate your learning process. You get something every day all day long just by joining and checking the group. You can practice your reading from chats and posts, your listening as well; but don’t just stop there. Take it even further. Go practice your writing. After that, do some more, practice your speaking skill.  Let the other knows what you think, hear your voice, share what you have, be more engaging.

Please let me know, is there anything that you can’t do at all in group chat for the sake of your English improvement? I am sure the answer to that would be NOTHING. There is nothing that you can’t do in group chat for the sake of your English improvement. Pick what you want to do over there and then JUST DO IT.

2. Zoom meeting sessions

Zoom session is a place where participants can interact directly though virtually with other participants, speakers, and teams. You get valuable lesson from everyone, not just from speaker. When someone asks something, everyone would listened so you practice your listening at the same time someone who ask a question practice her/his speaking. When the speaker gives her/his presentation you get to practice your reading and listening. Even in the chat room, you also practice your reading and writing if you decide to send a chat. Not to mention on Q&A session, you can ask anything you want then discuss some more. The amount of lesson you get is infinite.

3. Expand your network

A lot of times you might find other person that you think can help with your personal affair. For example, if you’re an English teacher who has been having trouble in your class, you can ask other English teacher for suggestions. Another example, if you’re a teacher who maybe currently working some writings and in need of reader’s feedback or others point of views, you can share your work and have everybody else read it. There are no limits I think. But, we still must uphold good ethics and social values while doing those.

Based from those examples, is there anything more you need?

I might came across as someone who tends to give TOUGH LOVE; a hard headed no nonsense girl from out of nowhere. I admit that sometimes I do that. What driven me more is my rationality. However, in my defense, I also understand very well that I can't always be rational. There are moments where I need to put aside my thoughts and concern more what the heart says. I mean like be more empathetic, loving, things like that, I guess. 😍 Or maybe, there are also moments when I can be both rational and empathetic at the same time. Do you know what is the key answer to all of that? BALANCE. Balance is one thing I've been working on so far until now. I'm learning how to do that and most likely will still learning about it for as long as I live.

I’m going to add or update more later on when I think of anything else to say on this matter. In the meantime, how about letting us know what do you think?

PS: Please don't be a silent reader. Any of your comments will be highly appreciated. Thank you. 

💖Vina