Braving the Front Lines: Teacher Alenah

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—While most 51Talk teachers continued their online lessons at home throughout the lockdown last year, teacher Alenah was going through a different scenario. A licensed pharmacist by profession, the 23-year-old online English teacher still had to report to her day job at a local pharmacy in her hometown in Tagbilaran, Bohol on top of conducting her lessons with 51Talk.

“Like most medical professionals, we were required to go to work, even if just on a skeletal schedule,” teacher Alenah said. “Though being on call meant having a higher chance of contracting the virus, I wasn’t scared, nor anxious. I was eager to be of service because I know it’s our responsibility to help during a medical crisis.”

At a time when people flocked to drug stores to stock up on necessities, her role as a pharmacist had never been more crucial. With everyone unsure how to fully protect themselves from contracting the COVID-19 virus, agitated locals turned to pharmacists like teacher Alenah to guide them on what to do.

Prior to the pandemic, Teacher Alenah’s primary responsibility as a training supervisor had been to train newly hired pharmacists, but since they were operating with limited staff, she was helping out in the pharmacy during the lockdown. Suddenly, she found herself entertaining query after query from customers asking how to protect themselves and how to boost their immunity.

“My experience as a medical frontliner during the pandemic wasn’t easy. I may not be scared but it was difficult seeing others go through a hard time. I made sure to extend my care to those in need—my customers, family, and especially my colleagues,” teacher Alenah said, who frequently reminded everybody to follow health protocols, regularly wash their hands, and only go out when necessary.

By helping each other out and being considerate, it makes the situation a little less daunting, she added. “Since medical supplies were low at the time, we prohibited people from buying in bulk to give everyone a chance to get their supplies. I could never forget how thankful customers were for getting a hold of these necessities when they were out of stock  everywhere else. It only showed how a little consideration could go a long way at a time like this,” teacher Alenah recalled.

According to her, what helped her cope with the responsibilities of being a medical frontliner during the pandemic was teaching with 51Talk. Passionate about teaching, teacher Alenah enjoys seeing her regular students and feels proud of every improvement they’re making.

“Being an online English teacher with 51Talk serves as a breather from my job as a pharmacist, especially last year. I enjoy imparting whatever knowledge I have to my students, no matter how much or little. What I love about being a 51Talk teacher is I get to see my students improve over time,” she said.

Apart from that, teacher Alenah’s earnings as an online English teacher have significantly helped during the pandemic, especially because her working hours at the pharmacy were cut short. Since she was spending more time at home, she made up for the lost income by conducting more lessons with 51Talk.

“To be honest, 51Talk has been a godsend for me and my family. It became my main source of income during the pandemic because I was working less than eight hours per shift and was quarantined without pay several times. It came to a point that I was earning more on the platform than at my full-time job,” she said.

Currently, teacher Alenah is teaching full-time with 51Talk. Last April, she resigned from her post at the local pharmacy as she’s currently pregnant with twins and was prescribed bed rest by her doctor. It was an easy decision for her to make because she knows she can safely and steadily earn at home with 51Talk.

Teacher Alenah sees herself teaching full-time with 51Talk for the foreseeable future as she plans to be a stay-at-home mom to tend to her children’s needs. She sees that 51Talk’s flexible teach-at-home setup would make it easier for her to schedule her lessons and tend to her responsibilities in the household and their family business.

“I could never ask for a more perfect setup given the ongoing pandemic. Teaching with 51Talk will allow me to experience the joys of motherhood, and also teach and earn in the comfort of my home,” teacher Alenah concludes.