MANILA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pearl Ann Chua-Razon, 30, who worked as cabin crew for Philippine Airlines Express for more than eight years, was made redundant in March as COVID-19 grounded air travel around the world.
With an 11-month-old daughter and mounting bills to pay, Razon searched for jobs for about three months until she chanced upon a Facebook post seeking home-based English teachers for 51Talk, China's leading online education enterprise.
"I needed a job to help with family expenses. I need to help my husband in our expenses now that we have a baby," Razon told Xinhua in an online interview.
Undaunted by her lack of teaching experience, Razon, who has a degree in tourism management and is proficient in English, submitted her application and landed a job with the NYSE-listed, award-winning online English education platform which has empowered over 25,000 Filipinos to teach, learn, and earn in the comfort of their own homes by providing a fun learning experience for young Chinese learners.
The Philippines, one of the largest English-speaking nations in the world with the majority of its population having at least some degree of fluency in the language, is the leading source of online teachers for Chinese students.
Jack Huang, founder and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk, said he and his co-founders conducted a lot of research in setting up the platform, which included where they could find the best English teachers who would be a good fit for the young learners in China.
Their research led them to the Philippines, where the majority of the population has high proficiency for English language education, Huang said.
Aside from that advantage, he said Filipinos are naturally jolly and patient.
"They are also familiar with both Asian and Western cultures since the country is a cultural melting pot. The Philippines and China are also in the same time zone, so students and teachers have no trouble scheduling the lessons," Huang told Xinhua in a written interview.
Huang said 51Talk students "have grown to love Filipino teachers because they are not only fun and engaging, but they also take the time to listen and empathize."
"They also correct the mistakes lovingly and are very encouraging. The Chinese parents, on the other hand, have developed newfound respect and trust for Filipino teachers because of their skills and ability to educate their children efficiently," Huang added.
Razon said that working for 51Talk has been a great turnaround for her. And the job has been emotionally and financially rewarding.
Nearly five months into the job, Razon is getting the knack of online teaching. "I still have to adjust depending on the student from time to time. But I could say I am enjoying teaching online now," she said.
Razon teaches every day, including weekends. "I need to earn. I open 10 slots a day, and I am thankful that it always gets booked. I usually open from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., usually when my baby is asleep," she said.
Razon teaches an average of 10 students per day. "Our earnings here at 51Talk depend on the number of students you teach. So you can open as many slots you want," she said.
And because of her love for kids, Razon said she enjoys teaching Chinese children.
"It is fun talking to these cute children. There is excitement. There is enthusiasm. Their eagerness to learn, their innocence, and positivity affect me in a good way," Razon added.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian lauded 51Talk for providing alternative jobs to Filipinos affected by the pandemic. 51Talk provides the platform for educational cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and the Philippines to flourish, he added.
"The 51Talk has provided more jobs for Filipino English teachers and opened a window for tens of thousands of Chinese children to learn more about the world," he said in a speech during an event hosted by 51Talk on Friday.
Thanks to 51Talk, the envoy said, the booming online education and digital industries in China "cultivated new modes of win-win cooperation" between China and the Philippines.
Razon is grateful for finding a lifeline in 51Talk amid the pandemic, and for allowing her to discover a hidden talent.
"I am very, very thankful to 51Talk, and blessed to be working for this company," she said, adding that 51Talk helped her sharpen her online teaching skills, provided her with the tools and the modules needed to make teaching fun.
Talking about her future career plan, Razon said that when the pandemic is over, she might resume being an air hostess. But she will still find time to teach.
"I will continue to teach online, so I can help lovely Chinese students to learn English and speak to the world. I can do this part-time. If I don't have flights, I can open slots," she said. Enditem
