I’ve read many teaching philosophies of others that use words like: responsibility, knowledge, competence, dedication, acceptance, trust, discovery, risk, growth, and goals. I couldn’t agree more! However, for me, it’s all about one word that has a dual meaning that encompasses all aspects of real teaching — passion! Passion is a noun defined as ‘a powerful emotion, a boundless enthusiasm, and the object of such enthusiasm’. While these concepts are clear and desireable, my belief comes from what we do with this emotion or enthusiasm. That is, if you parse this word, you not only find what I have, but also what I do in my chosen profession, which is: PASS-I-ON! Everything I learn, everything I love, everything I believe, everything I know, everything I can do…everything I am is the way I ‘PASS-I-ON’ to students! That’s my fashion of passion for teaching :>).

Monday, July 26, 2010
With the close of the first semester of school and a comment from an anonymous reader, I want to reflect on the past 5 months of my “work” here in Korea, and share the experience and it’s impact on me.
About Me
A bit late in life I found my calling in academia. I am never more comfortable than when I am learning and understanding and gaining new knowledge. I take every opportunity to be educated in, or guided toward new and different ways of seeing and accounting for the many truths in life. I am an endlessly inquisitive seeker of information that will better me and my own contributions to the world, and I am never reticent to engage in a mutual exchange. Ever since I first graduated from college, my motto has been “Be grateful; Give back”, and that is exactly what I am doing here and why I am doing it. I am so grateful to have been invited into another culture and given the freedom and encouragement to share my language, my culture, my knowledge, my manner, my enthusiasm… my “self” with so many that I willingly and joyfully give my all to the experience.
About Students
I gladly spend my days offering very bright and energetic teenagers my concept of the English language and understanding of American culture. While I have never taught below the university level, and never in America, these students seem different from the vast majority of North American students in many ways. They are open and accepting toward the diverse lot of foreign teachers, and are eager to cultivate relationships with us. They have an immense amount of responsibility and an equal amount of determination. They have mature minds, but maintain a youthful spirit and refreshing innocence. They can be quite competitive, but also compassionate and courteous of everyone at school. They spend a minimum of 10 hours a day at school, and I don’t know how many more hours per day studying at specialized “academies”. To be sure, they are stressed and sleepy and spread quite thin, but I have yet to encounter one who is surly or cynical or self-absorbed. Quite the contrary, for me and to me, they bolster, they decorate, they give, they refresh, they teach, they delight and they make it so worthwhile.
About Teachers
I am grateful for the professional development this experience has afforded me, and the trust and confidence in me that the government of Korea has demonstrated by giving me additional assignments of training Korean teachers to conduct their classroom activities in the target language of English. I am honored to be asked to regularly participate in such educational endeavors and readily accept the opportunity to contribute any of my own instruction skills and abilities. My teaching philosophy is one of passion. That is, PASS ~ I ~ ON, so it is with great pleasure that I engage in these extra chances to share what “I” am all about. However, these monthly training sessions are far from a one-way data dump. The pleasure and engagement comes from learning from one another how passion is exponential in growth when demonstrated generously and gratefully. Through these ‘passion plays’, I have developed a wider range of skills, a deeper understanding of the profession, a greater sense of accomplishment, and the most wonderful development– a larger circle of friends.
About the Experience
While I am grateful to be gainfully employed, I don’t consider this position a “job”. It is not a task, duty, labor or otherwise work. It is not something that I have to do, but rather something I get to do. It is a grand experience. One that does not define me, but refines me. One that does not restrict me, but releases me. One that does not limit me, but launches me. It is not only my calling, but also my answer.