It is not uncommon for students to return to their high schools and instill the same love of learning their teachers once instilled in them. Ms. Maricris Masilongan, one of Fort Hamilton’s newest ENL teachers, is excited to be back at her alma mater. Grateful for her experience here and her involvement in journalism, musicals, and the drama program, Ms. Masilongan hopes to give back to a community that gave her so much just years ago.
Ms. Masilongan comes from a large family where she grew up surrounded by kids, and she had always been passionate about teaching children. She has a degree in elementary education and is currently working on getting a master’s degree. Her experience in babysitting and tutoring gave her many of the tools necessary to work with kids.
“Caring is the most important characteristic of being a teacher,” said Ms. Masilongan in an interview with The Pilot staff. This is the characteristic she always wants to embody as a teacher. She described her teaching style as hands-on and outgoing, believing that students can learn best when given visuals to aid their comprehension. She encourages her students to go tutoring if needed and to take ownership of their education, especially if they are struggling. Her main goal as an ENL teacher is for students to move up one or two levels by the end of the school year, and most importantly, to understand important concepts in the English language.
