Mentee: METCHIE MAE R.

CORPUZ-ABENOJA
Mentor: BERNANDINA L. BAYBAY

III. SESSION 3 TEACHING AS A PROFESSION AND AS A VOCATION

Pre-Test

Read the paragraph below then choose three phrases that best describe your own
philosophy in the teaching profession. Justify your answer.

1. Teaching is a noble profession as well as a vocation that calls to the heart of an

individual. The teacher plays a vital role in the lives of the learners, hence they
are called heroes of the new generations. They touch lives and influence others
—making a big difference to the lives of the learners. Teachers should take pride
in upholding the qualities of being a professional and to live according to the
expectations of teaching as a profession and as a vocation.

a. Phrase 1: A vocation that calls to the heart of an individual

b. Justification: Paulo Freire on pedagogy of the oppressed defines
education as a key to empowerment. Conscientization is the key in
education. It means that the learner was able to absorb, reflect and apply
lessons. Therefore, as educator it is important to teach theories and how
the theories be applied in day to day life.

c. Phrase 2: Touch lives and influence others

d. Justification: One of my favorite lines in the move “Karate Kids”, when
the leading character Jackie Chan told to his apprentice that “there is no
bad student only bad teacher” best describes the phrase above. The
actions and decisions of students or learners are effects on how they are
being taught in the classrooms and home. Therefore, as a teacher I should
be careful on the things that I taught in the classroom. Being careful
means taking full responsibility and understands the possible effect
towards the learners the things that I taught.

e. Phrase 3: Upholding the qualities of being a professional

f. Justification: As a teacher I believe that we have higher responsibilities
and accountabilities. Teachers create and mold people in order to be
effective in chosen fields. Therefore, as a teacher it is important to be
professional in my relationships towards students, to my colleagues and
to other stakeholders of education. Being professional means keeping
abreast on my knowledge, skills and competencies in order to serve well.

Activities and Assessment

Activity 1. Answer the following:

1. What is a profession?
Profession is an occupation that requires rigorous and prolonged training. The
government can regulate and put certain standards in order to acquire and practice
profession. In every profession has set of qualities that an individual should follow in
order to become efficient in a certain profession.
2. Is teaching a profession? Why?
The “Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994” defines education as a
profession. In the said law states, all the prerequisites or requirements in order to
acquire license to practice teaching. The said act reflects the Philippine 1987
Constitution duty of the state to provide free and quality education to every Filipino.
Therefore it is important for teaching profession should have certain standards and
regulations to make sure that the moral standards of education are uphold.

3. What are the requisites by the PRC one should satisfy before he/she becomes a
professional?
The Philippine Regulation Commission mandated by “Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994” requires every individual who wish to teach to pass the
Licensure Examination for Teachers or LET. Teachers should be a graduate of education
degree or for those non-teaching professionals should acquire 18 units in education
before taking the LET. The license is renewable in every three years and PRC requires
for teachers to have 45 CPD units prior to renewal. The number of units required prior to
renew is to make sure that every teacher should abreast his/her competencies to
become efficient in teaching.

4. What are the qualities of a professional teacher?

As a teacher we posses’ higher influence on learners or students on their formative
years. Therefore, the Board of Professional Teachers issued Resolution 435 series of
1997 or also known as Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers. In the resolution set
parameters of teachers on how to behave inside and outside the classrooms. As an
educator it is important to act decently and serve as role model therefore avoid
excessive behavior such as gambling and illicit relationship. As define in Supreme Court
jurisprudence Joseph Santos vs NLRC, “ A teacher both in his official and personal
conduct must display exemplary behavior. He must freely and willingly accept
restrictions on his conduct that might be viewed irksome xxx the personal behavior of
teachers, IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, must be beyond reproach xxx they must
observe a high standard of integrity and honesty."

5. What is a vocation?
Vocation is a strong inclination to a state or course of action. Religion calls it a divine
calling. It is a set of job or work that has set of skills and competencies that can be
acquired through experiences and does not require formal education or degree. People
tend to do things out of passion, hobby or those jobs defines their purpose in life.

6. How is vocation different from profession?

The difference between vocation from profession is that profession requires specialized
training and college degree. Whereas, vocation has set of standards, skills and
competencies that can be acquired through experiences and not solely dependent on
college degree.

7. When can teaching be a vocation?

Yes, teaching is a mixture of vocation and profession. Effective educator has strong
sense or passion towards transforming and empowering people. It can be a vocation
once the educator goes beyond employee and employer relation but seeing every
stakeholders’ responsibilities should take part in honing the next generation.

8. What are the characteristics of a teacher who takes teaching as a vocation?

Being a believer of popular education, I say that teaching as a vocation. Every teacher
should look at students as stakeholders not as a client. Therefore, it is important as a
teacher to make sure students should take part and actively engage in every activity
that would hone them as individual. As a teacher it is also important to be equip
therefore, I will constantly enhance my skills through seminars and higher education for
 me to be more efficient.

9. How can you make teaching both a profession and a vocation?

Passion and strong sense of serving people make teaching profession as a vocation. But
passion is not enough. Being a teacher, I should always maintain a professional
relationship towards students, colleagues and other stakeholders by way of helping
and supporting their ideas to improve the quality of teaching in the school. I will always
see to it that my competencies as a teacher in the chosen field of expertise should be
abreast through trainings and various fora.

10.Write how you manifest the first quality of a professional teacher.

I believe that having a degree does not guarantee professionalism. The main challenge
is how every teacher to uphold the qualities required in a certain profession. Therefore, I
should continuously open to suggestions and feedbacks in order to improve.

11.Write the attitude you have that foster learning and genuine human relationship.
Knowing your weaknesses as a teacher and doing everything to overcome those
weaknesses at the same time consciously harnessing my potential to me is genuine
human relationship. I see people not higher or lower but equal in that way I can
maintain professional relationship.

12.What attitude do you need to improve?

I should look at stress as normal and it varies from work or profession to profession.
Therefore, I should constantly develop ways in managing stress in order not to affect
my efficiency in teaching.

13.Write what you do to manifest mastery of subject matter? What do you need to
improve?
For now, I am done with my master’s degree and preparing for my post study. Aside
from that I make myself available in training, seminars or fora conducted either by
DepEd or other institutions to improve my skills and competencies.

14.What are the effective teaching strategies that you use to facilitate student learning?
Write them down and share these to your partner.
I conducted workshops to every student for them to have venue to share knowledge and
ideas in each task. I also give students various references and how to access it fulfill
given task required in the subject I teach.

15.What are some of your personal beliefs, insights, and habits that help you do your
work well?
I am a believer of Paulo Freiri the philosopher who sees education as a tool to
empowerment. According to Freiri education is not neutral and always in the side of the
oppressed. Therefore, as I make sure that students really understand and applies the
theories by heart. The knowledge and competencies of student learn should be applying
in empowering others because our purpose is to serve our Creator and to serve others.

Activity 2. Read and analyze the following situations then share your findings to
your peer.

1. Situation 1
Mr. Manalo divided his Araling Panlipunan class according to the abilities and interests
of his students. At the end of the lesson, the groups had the following outputs: The first
group composed a song, the second had a skit, and the third had an artwork.
 What professional quality did Mr. Manalo exhibit?
Mr. Manalo exhibit the professional teaching quality of learning by doing. He is a believer that
education is more effective if students were able to experience and practice theories. Mr.
Manalo also acknowledges diversity of talents of students and give them opportunity to
develop and express arts in other mediums.

2. Situation 2
The school principal visited the Science class of Miss Bravo. The principal observed that
Miss Bravo was reading from the textbook and her notes while explaining the lesson on
ecosystem.
What could have been done by Miss Bravo to improve her teaching performance?
In modern days wherein communication and technology are accessible theories had not given
more emphasis but on application. Miss Bravo can promote proactive activities such as
workshops and other structure learning exercises for students to acquire lifelong learning.

Activity 3. Let your pupils/students answer this survey form.

Put a check if your teacher manifests the following professional qualities.
Professional Qualities Yes No
Caring attitude /
Treat others with respect /
Integrity /
Commitment towards work /
Love of country /
Honesty /
Professionalism /
Punctuality /
Service-oriented /
Competent /

Reflection

As a teacher, I am already manifesting the following qualities like caring attitude,

treating others with respect, integrity, commitment towards work, love of country, honesty,
professionalism, punctuality, service-oriented and competent. However, I need to improve
my qualities in organizing and managing time.

Post-Test

Resolve the issue.

Is teaching more of a vocation or more of a profession?
Teaching for me is more of a profession than a vocation. The bible is clear that God’s employ
bigger accountabilities towards teachers because we are the one who’s guiding the flocks. The
Philippine 1987 Constitution states that it is the job of the state to provide quality and
accessible education. Therefore, the state should provide means to have high caliber of
educators or teachers in order to make sure that we can provide quality education. It means
we provide means to improve the standard of teachers, standard of classrooms and number of
students. In the end of the day it is the duty our duty to provide high moral values of citizen by
equipping the next generation.