When I was in my elementary grade, my teacher presented to us different places here in the Philippines and that triggers me and started to declare that I will be on those places soon. My journey leads me to become a teacher, a MAPEH teacher and that gives me more reason to travel and explore our country.
Here are some important and beneficial way that travelling will benefit you as well as your student.
Allowing children to leave familiarity and enter foreign places without leaving their classroom.
Traveling gets the teacher beyond the textbook. Too often, topics are taught with little relatable context. Travel can provide real world experiences to bring to the classroom. For example in Kalinga Apayao when I visit Apo Whang Od the oldest mambabatok or tattoo artist in the Philippines I notice that our tour guide who is a local in that place didn’t have a tattoo, knowing that he is with Apo Whang Od. He answered me that, in their culture the one who gives honour in their family will be marked or tattooed. In the old times the one who won the tribal war or cut a head of an enemy will be tattooed, as a mark of honour. Now a days, there is no tribal war existing in their place that’s why for them the one who will finish their study will receive that mark or tattoo for giving honour in their family. Sharing experiences like this makes the topic “real” and relevant. We will not just share knowledge but also the values behind those practices and culture. Actually experiencing the topic through travel and having relatable experiences to share makes the topic come alive.
Traveling provides countless ways to learn new things and gain new experiences.
They usually say that travelling is expensive and it can lead your pocket empty but make you more rich, rich in new knowledge, experiences, friends and connections. You will be exposing in different cultures, practices and beliefs especially when you travel here in the Philippines with a very diverse culture.
You will gain new experiences that you will prove in yourself that you can do more. By sharing your travels with your students you can show them ways that they too can see the world. You can share the importance of budgeting for travel and making priorities. Even local trips can be a huge inspiration. Encourage your students to start close to home by visiting interesting places in their own city/province. I use my love to travel to show them that learning and self-improvement can take place far outside the confines of the classroom.
Travel allows you to take time for yourself
According to the study one of the most stressful work is teaching, no wonder why we hear stories or headlines teacher’s committing suicide. Travel lets us recharge and reconnect with our inner selves. Teaching can be stressful and exhausting. Travel should be the opposite. It can give us the space and quiet we need to come back to the classroom with renewed spirit and vigour. Sure, keep in mind the ways that travel will benefit you and your students, but keep it to your heart and put this as one of your priority to travel even once or twice a year for a start. As teachers, we have the vacation time to travel that many others lack. In spite of a strong value in the importance of travel to professional growth and student learning, about half of teachers rarely, if ever, travel themselves. My advice is for you to set your personal travel goals or encourage your co teachers to travel with you and experience those benefits. Life is too short, enjoy it! #travelgoals #yolo #guronggala
By: Ms. Rose-Ann Marie R. Manalili | Teacher III | Bataan National High School
