Hello, guys.
I can’t post your final grades just yet because I’m waiting for the go signal from the Department Chair, Sir De Guzman. However, I’ll be giving out your orals grades. These are not changeable naman and from the pre-final grades, more or less you know what your final grade will be.
Off hand I can tell you that more than 50% of the class would be getting A’s or B+’s. ย I believe you guys deserve it from all the every day quizzes and class activities we had so I am pleased to give you the grade you worked hard for. The orals grades will be posted at the end of this post and that means I want you guys to read this. HAHAHAHA. To be more mean about it, the actual final grades will be posted by tomorrow, and will be protected by a password. The clue for the password is contained in the narrative that follows. BWAHAHAHA.
About to follow is an unwritten, unspoken speech supposedly delivered during the last day of class but was not delivered because of lack of time. I really did not prepare anything so this would kinda look like an impromptu speech turned into an impromptu…blog post.
I’ve always wanted to teach in Eco in the Ateneo. The day that Sir DG asked me if I wanted to teach for the summer term, I immediately said yes without hesitation, kinda like the Annunciation, to some extent. It was really one of the happiest days in my life. To tell you the truth, even before I was asked to teach for the summer, I had already made my Ec102 syllabus around 3 months prior. HAHAHAHA That was how much I wanted to do this. Moreover, I already had a good job offer by March, but I decided to defer the position (and I’m actually not sure if I could still get it). I was bent on teaching Ec102.
So imagine my excitement on first day when I stepped into that classroom. I wanted my class to be different from the usual Ec102 classes that most non-Eco majors hate. It is a well-known fact in the Ateneo that most Eco classes are really boring, unless you really like the subject. The topic in itself is not very interesting to most people and add to that the too conventional delivery of lessons that both make Economics a hated core subject.ย I hated my own Ec102 class back when I was a sophomore, so I can very well relate to how many students hated the subject.
My long-term goal is to change that… 35 students per sem. HAHAHA It might be a difficult task to do but I think it’s possible. I want people to see Economics in a different light — the way I see it in my life.
If for Chemistry majors, you see things in how their molecules, etc form them, or for Math majors, every decision has a mathematical equation, or for Bio majors, how every creature is alive through the coordination of every cell in its body — for me, I see life through the lenses of Economics. Whenever I make a decision, I really think about opportunity costs. I measure my actions through the utility I get from them. I explain my behavior through many economic theories I learned throughout my college life. And this is how I wanted you guys to see Ec102: Economics is not composed of theories detached from your daily lives; it is embedded in it. This is why most of our activities involve the application of the theories we learn in mundane, ordinary, and simple situations.
This is what I want each of you to take from my class. Be able to see things around you, kahit paminsan-minsan lang, through the few Eco concepts we learn in class. If you go to the caf and buy waffles or milk tea and you remember indifference curves or market structures, or you see the 100% perfect girl and you think about monopoly, or you sleep instead of studying and you think about opportunity costs, I WILL BE VERY HAPPY. That means I achieved my goal to some satisfactory level.
I know the classes we had were not always great and I can name all the students who have, at least once, had a shut eye during my class — but those do not matter anymore. Whatever grade you get, I hope I helped you appreciate Economics. Yes, there were days when I was tamad or sabog or super boring and I apologize for those days. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed with work (I handle around 3 different classes (2 Eco, 1 for my org) and prepare 3 different lesson plans everyday). I apologize too for classes I missed and as a result we were not able to finish all of the selected topics at the end of the course. We try our best but sometimes I just really am sabog. If ever some of you get offended by my jokes (I hope not!) I apologize as well. Believe me, the version of myself you see in class is super diluted and toned down compared to my real self. HAHA.
If ever you need guidance on who to take in your future classes, or you need an Eco lesson for class or you wanna meet as a group in Cantina (kidding…or not) or whatever help I can extend, just message me on Facebook, or email me. HAHA I’ll reply as soon as I can. ๐
I hope you guys enjoyed the summer as much as I did. And just so you know, of my two Eco classes this summer, you guys are my favorite. I love you guys more than them. HAHAHAHA. But don’t tell them that! (If my Ec112 class is reading this, hello guys! HAHA)
They always say that you’ll never forget your first…class (or whatever first). You guys will always be my first set of students and I won’t forget you. Well maybe I’ll forget your names, but even if I go back to teaching in around 2-3 years, no other class can ever be my first. Kayo na ‘yun. ๐ Say hi to me when you see me around campus! :))
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Okay so for the part you’ve all been waiting for, here are the oral exams grades. The components are as follows:
- Accuracy and Completeness (70%) – if you are saying the correct things and not missing out on the important parts
- Q&A (10%) – how well you answer my questions
- Presentation (10%) – how well you present it and how clear/fast/slow you speak
- Teacher’s Discretion (10%) – if I feel like you’re prepared or you’re just bullshitting* me or I feel like you weren’t really prepared ย (*for the lack of a better term)
- Bonus – well you know what this is
I was very lenient in grading because I know that this is the first for most of you. So don’t let it get into your heads if you get A in this exam. However, I would like to commend two students who really impressed me during their oral exams. GABE BARRIOS and JOSH UY, if you do exactly what you did for my orals in your future oral exams, A’s will be rolling in. You did exactly how an oral exam should be delivered and if it’s your first time, I am very impressed. If you guys wanna know how to really deliver a good oral exam, ask these two guys.
Your oral exam grades are non-negotiable and final. Just saying. HAHA.ย Here:
http://www.box.net/shared/rlcg2jos7i
Updated: 10:08pm