Inspirations from a Teacher

Inspirations from a Teacher

We believe that teachers have a great influence on their students’ lives and that influence could last a lifetime no matter how big or small the experience is with the teacher. Mr. Venerando D. Talento or Sir Talento, 81 years old has devoted his life to teaching for almost 51 years and STI College Balayan is honored to have him as one of its faculty members in General Education for almost 13 years.

Sir Talento as every student calls him is as inspiration to teachers because of his incomparable dedication in teaching. Though not all may vocally express their admiration, teachers especially those who had been his students look up to him as a role model. Others may deem his characteristics very simple but these are the notable things that greatly impressed his students.

Conscientiousness of time

If you were his student, you would be ashamed to come late for class because he was never late, not even once. His students can vouch on his remarkable timeliness. He often comes to class minutes earlier and arranges the chairs before his students could arrive so they can seat properly on neatly aligned chairs. In all his classes, he would use up the entire duration giving lectures and short quizzes. One of his former students, Ms. Bernadette Bobadilla who is now a teacher recalled that sometimes he would give two quizzes in a three-hour class to make sure that they listened and understood.

Consistent Mastery

Everyone who knows him admires his incomparable and unfailing memory on his lessons. He can conduct a three-hour lesson without looking at his references yet he still can give the exact dates and names in history. He may not bring a book to class but his mind is well prepared for everything that needs to be discussed. His current and former students shared that before he starts the lesson he would always check their attendance. He is addressing his students by their last names with the title Mr. or Ms. and recognizes them even outside the classrooms. Sir Talento humbly commented that he now fails to remember his student’s name due to his age but the facts about history he is still sure.

Diligence at work

Students are most likely to cheat during quiz or exams but in his class it is always impossible. He takes time in quiz preparations. He always has at least 2 to 3 sets of quiz to give to his students. In addition, he often has the quiz ready with an answer sheet so students need not buy papers for the quiz. “Cheating even during exams is the reason why there is graft and corruption. It’s not a simple thing because it’s dishonesty. When you are dishonest in small things, it will be easy for you to be dishonest even in greater things”, Sir Talento explained when asked why he always make different sets of quiz.

In his quizzes, he would require students to always answer in a complete sentence even if it’s an identification question. It’s his way of practicing the students with the use of correct grammar and it’s the same with the essay. He always read them and writes the corrections whether it’s to correct the answer, the spelling or the grammar.

During major exams, he always prepares a student list with numbers and seating arrangement that the proctor should follow. He visits each examination room and sees to it that his instruction on the seating arrangement is implemented.

Motivational technique

The works and life of Jose Rizal is always a boring subject for students and requires a good motivation for students to listen or worst not to fall asleep. Oftentimes, it may seem he is very traditional in his way of teaching. He usually gives his lessons as if he was just telling a story but beware. Students are sometimes caught not listening because he would suddenly call someone to answer a question related to what he just said. Students are also hesitant to absent in his class because he always gives a quiz after the lecture. Once you miss the quiz he will not give any special exam unless the student has a valid reason.

Eagerness to feedback

It’s easy to check a multiple choice type of quiz but for identification and essays it’s quite difficult. Most of his students wonder how much time he spent checking their papers. They are always amazed to receive their corrected tests because there will always be corrections in spelling and even grammar. After the major exams, he will advise his students about their performance in the course. He provides per section ranking of his students so they will know their rank in class. He also prepares an over-all ranking of students’ grade on all classes taking his course. He has a neat record of all the students’ attendance and absences including their grades in every quiz and exam which he shows to his students seeking advice especially if they are in the brink of failing his course.

Some of his students said his way of teaching and motivating students to learn is a traditional approach but most of his students claimed it’s the most effective for them because they felt they need someone to impose d i s c i p l i n e .

Whenever his former students saw him, they would always ask how he’s doing and complement him in the way he taught them back then. Maria Richelle Q. Abiad, one of his former students and now his colleague would always look up to him as one of her best teachers and her role model.

By: Terranya M. Tiamson, IT Instructor