A teacher never forgets the first class - and I am no exception. It was back in '88,

 and I was fresh out of grad school and had my first job at Tidewater Community College,

teaching an English as a Second Language grammar class. I was very anxious going

to class this first night, and I am certain my anxiety showed itself as I looked over the

 classroom full of students - 22 recently retired U.S. Navy sailors from the Philippines.

 I guess I must have looked like the navy wife I was,

 for I was quickly peppered with questions as to my husband’s rank and

where he was presently stationed. There were some raised eyebrows that he was an

aviator, but seemingly relieved to know he flew helicopters.

Somehow I got through the first night, but at the next class, during the break, one of

 the men walked me to the cafeteria where I was headed to  get a much-needed cup

of something. He explained to me how tired all my students were because they work

all day and then come to class, and it would help a lot, he suggested, if I could tell a

joke to start the class, as that would get the evening started in a good way. I told him

that was an interesting idea, but that I was a horrible joke-teller.

"That is no problem, ma'am - we will take turns telling a joke each

night. I will arrange everything for you." The next class, before I began my

meticulously-planned lesson on past perfect tense, one student stood and told his joke,

and their gentle laughter filled the classroom. I am now sure this all had nothing to do

with  relaxing them. These wonderful warm-hearted students were trying to

relax me, which it did.  

Ever since the end of Spanish American War, the United States Navy has

had men from the Philippines serving on her ships. First limited to

stewards, followed by enlisted ranks, and now both men and women serving

 as officers, the Filipino community has certainly served our nation

well. It is this link with the U.S. Navy that brings so many of them to

the Hampton Roads area. But this is not always an easy journey. My ESL

 classrooms at TCC are still graced with their presence, alongside many

other students of various nationalities who have found their way to this country for a

future with opportunities.

Joseph Iguban was born in the Philippines, but his grandfather

petitioned for him and his mother to come to the USA when he only 5

years old. Petitioning is long process; Joseph finally came to the

States when he was 15, at which time he attended a high school in

California. He was mistaken for a Spanish-speaker and delegated to a

Spanish-speaking classroom. Needless to say, high school did not go so

well for him and, after a short stint in a community college in

California, Joseph enlisted in the Navy and served on active duty for

eight years.

Joseph has since left the Navy and is happily married with an

eight-month old daughter. He was in my advanced composition class this

past spring. I also had a shy young European woman who was clearly

having trouble making new friends in her new country.

Around the third week of class, the students were to work in pairs on an exercise

creating a series of thesis statements. I teamed Joseph with

this anxious young woman. The students were not 15 minutes into the exercise

 when I heard her laughing - loudly. I looked over, and Joseph was in the process of telling her

something that she found very funny. A little joke, I am sure, to help

her relax. It worked like a charm.

When I go to ESL teacher conferences and tell colleagues about the

Filipino community in our area, they are always surprised to hear about

these wonderful students I have. Sometimes we in Hampton Roads fail to

take notice of them, but their warm hearts and gracious generosity are

not to be taken for granted.