James Padilla

Meet James Padilla from the Philippines

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What has been your most memorable cultural experience so far?

As a J1 teacher exchange here in the United States, particularly here in South Dakota, my most memorable cultural experience was when I was with different leaders of the Department of Education. I learned the diversity of leadership systems and the different disciplinary methods among teachers which is quite different from way back home. I had been teaching for 20 years in the Philippines, 2 years as a school principal and 4 years as Education Program Supervisor in the Department of Education. Since then, I learned a lot from classroom management, teaching strategies and disciplinary approaches. At first, it was a little bit scary for me teaching American students, but with my expertise and constant professional development, I was able to gain their attention and trust. At present, I am a teacher-mentor with other Filipino teachers here in Eagle Butte School District, South Dakota, helping new J1 teachers in their field especially in teaching English Language Arts and classroom management.

What has been your favorite part about living in the US?

My favorite part about living in the United States is the weather. My adjustment was quite difficult. But I love the cold weather here in South Dakota. The beautiful sceneries and the people as well because I am teaching here in the reservation and the Native American culture is close to the Filipino culture such as close family ties and the love and for the elderlies. My 4 years of teaching here in Eagle Butte, South Dakota has been very fruitful and I have met a number of Native Americans and they’re simply amazing people.

What has been the most challenging?

As an English Language Arts teacher here in the United States, my most challenging experiences include the following:

Teaching English Language Arts (ELA) comes with its own set of challenges, which educators often encounter. Some of the common difficulties include:

Differentiated Learning Needs which houses Diverse Student Abilities, English Language Learners (ELLs), Engagement and Motivation, Promoting Literacy,  Maintaining Interest, Assessment and Feedback, Evaluating Writing Skills,  Balancing Assessments, Incorporating Technology, Digital Literacy.

These challenges necessitate thoughtful instructional strategies, differentiated approaches, and ongoing professional development to address the diverse needs of students in the English Language Arts classroom.

Do you have tips for your fellow J-1 teachers?

Teaching in a new country can present unique challenges and opportunities for foreign educators, like us J1 exchange teachers. Here are some valuable tips I can share to support J1 teachers here in the United States:

· Embrace Diversity: Familiarize yourself with the cultural diversity in the United States, both in the classroom and the broader community.

· Sensitivity and Inclusivity: Cultivate a deep understanding of cultural differences and strive to create an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity.

· Positive Discipline: Develop strategies for maintaining a positive and inclusive classroom environment, including culturally responsive discipline practices.

· Cultural Sensitivity: Be mindful of cultural nuances when addressing behavior management and student interactions.

· Continued Learning: Engage in professional development opportunities to further your understanding of the U.S. education system, pedagogical approaches, and best practices in teaching.

· Connect with Colleagues: Build relationships with fellow educators to exchange ideas and experiences, and seek mentorship if available.

By embracing cultural understanding, language development, effective classroom management, ongoing professional development, and community engagement, foreign teachers can navigate their roles with confidence and contribute positively to the educational landscape in the United States.

What has been your student's favorite cultural exchange activity so far?

So far, the most favorite student’s cultural exchange activity that we did with my students back home in the Philippines was on the differences in celebrating Halloween. I had my students do make-and-take activity which included making of some Halloween decorations integrating a Language Arts strategy which was following directions. We did a zoom meeting with my students back home. With the differences between the time zone, it was a challenging one because I had to gather my students back home in my house for their safety and I had parents’ consent so they can see what my students were doing here in the USA and they were excited back home to see them too. So they were talking over zoom and share different ideas on how the Philippines celebrate Halloween and what they usually do during Halloween and what they did in school activities related to the said celebration. My students were making Halloween masks and they showed how creative they were while making those and they wore them during the zoom meeting. They were having a good time talking and exchanging ideas. I was also very happy looking at them and I was a bit teary seeing them thousand of miles away from me and they told me they missed me already and I told them I missed them too. My students back home were grown up now after leaving them for 4 years and they’re all in their Senior year. We exchange sending photos online and we ended up happy and teary at the same time

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