Happy World Teachers' Day 2022!
Every October 5th is World Teachers’ Day, and at Engoo, we’re proud to say that our tutoring community is truly a group of “world teachers” representing over 100 countries around the globe.
In fact, this is one of the things our students love most about us. Your diverse backgrounds don’t just help improve their cross-cultural communication skills, they also get our students to embrace the world beyond their home country.
In short, you’re changing lives! In celebration of your collective impact, today we’ll share some stories students have told us about the most memorable moments they’ve had with Engoo tutors from different countries around the world.
The Philippines
When asked about their most memorable lessons, two students mentioned lessons with tutors from the Philippines.
Once, I booked a lesson with a Filipino tutor who was active as a singer. When I mentioned a song that I liked, she actually started singing it for me. It was amazing!
We’ve always known our tutors were a talented bunch, and this confirms it!
During a conversation with a Filipino tutor about auroras, I asked if the tutor had ever seen an aurora. He said, “I’ve never seen an aurora but in the Philippines, the rainbows after squalls* are like auroras!” Many tutors share about the weather and the environment where they live, and I feel like I’m getting to experience it through them.
We definitely relate to how this student feels. We also learn a lot about the world by talking to our tutors, even about topics as simple as the weather.
*According to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, a “squall” is “a sudden storm of brief duration; closely akin to a thunderstorm but not necessarily attended by thunder and lightning.”
Serbia
Here’s what one student said about his most memorable lesson with a Serbian tutor.
My most memorable lesson was with a tutor from Serbia who provided support to kids with autism. Since I studied special education in graduate school, … we had quite a discussion about the topic, and I think I gained a lot of confidence [in my English abilities] as a result.
This lesson shows that besides our cultural diversity, another strength of our tutoring community is the diversity of experiences you bring to your lessons.
Whether you have worked in education, business, the medical field or any other industry, these are all experiences that you can use to help students expand their range of conversation and broaden their horizons.
UK
Here are two stories students shared about lessons with tutors from the UK.
There are a lot of tutors who live outside their original country …. British tutors, in particular, like to move to places like southern Europe or Asia, where the weather is beautiful and the cost of living is lower. They really changed the stereotype I have of British people all being very serious!
I once met a British tutor of African heritage. In his self-introduction, he said something like, “I’ve temporarily moved to Africa to explore my roots.” He used a phrase like “explore my possibilities", which left a big impression on me and made me contemplate not just language but also my own life and the way I live it.
Through our interviews with tutors and also the stories our students tell us, it seems a lot of our British tutors live outside their home country. It can definitely be eye-opening for students to hear about your experiences and motivations for living abroad.
And we’re happy to hear that a stereotype (or two) gets challenged along the way!
Egypt
One student shared this memorable moment with an Egyptian tutor.
Once I chatted with an Egyptian tutor about weight training, and we both kept saying things like, “I can lift X kilograms of this or that.” Basically, it was a lesson where we both bragged about ourselves!”
It seems like the student had fun! Finding a shared interest is a great way to connect with students, so we're always happy to hear that a tutor has turned their knowledge or hobbies into an asset while teaching.
Zimbabwe
Last but not least, here’s a story a student shared about a lesson with a tutor from Zimbabwe.
When I told a tutor from Zimbabwe that I liked to take photos of flowers, she showed me photos of a flower there called the "jacaranda,” which stretches into infinity like a carpet when it blooms. I was so overwhelmed by the beauty, I vowed to go take photos of it one day.
Who knows? Your lessons may be boosting tourism to your country!
Happy World Teachers’ Day!
When you’re in the habit of teaching every day, it can be easy to forget the impact you’re having.
So we hope this post reminds you of all the times you opened your students’ eyes to the infinite possibilities of our world.
And if it also jogs your memory of special moments you had during your lessons, feel free to share your story with us through Tutor Support.
In the meantime, thanks for all your hard work and Happy World Teachers’ Day!
