Autobiography

My name is Jonathan Zabala Muñoz, and I will tell you the most relevant aspects about my life.

XXI years ago I was born in Bogotá. My mother, Maria Esther Muñoz, and my Father Albeiro Zabala were absolutely happy because of my arrival. I was surrounded by a really warm family environment. When I was two years old, we moved to Huila, but my father remained there in the Capital city.

Most of my life I grew up with my mother, and my little brother who was born when I was just five years old. We were a small family, but leaded by the bravest, and the strongest woman I know, my mother. She always wanted me to study and to be a professional. As a kid I imagined myself as a doctor, as a singer, and as an international businessman. However, as the time went by I noticed I would not be able to accomplish my childhood dreams. My voice was not that beautiful to be a singer so I dismissed it, and to be a businessman it was really boring to me. Being a doctor was the most appealing to me. Nevertheless, I wanted to learn languages, and it was absolutely clear to me. 

When I graduated from my high school, my dream to be a doctor faded away. I could not afford it, and my father was going through a real tough economic situation. Thus I decided to study something that I could afford, and I could take advantage of. I started my major in an English Language Teaching Education Program at Universidad Surcolombiana. I had never considered myself as a teacher, and I never expected to be in that path, but it would be worth it to learn another language.

Despite the fact that I have had some teaching influences, I could not imagine myself teaching a class. I was very impatient, but according to many people I was in the right track because of my kindness, and charisma.  During my high school I did not like English, or that was what I thought, later I discover that it was my teachers’ fault. She was absolutely boring, and the classes were not dynamic, it was only a translation process in every single lesson. It was noticeable I had some aptitudes to languages and I received many prizes because of that, nonetheless, when my previous teacher was fired, and  a new one arrived, I realized I was good at speaking English, and it was kind of easy for me, I was motivated, so I kept on learning by songs, and watching a lot of series in English.

In second semester, I received a call from a friend who asked me to teach a class. I said yes, but I was so scared that I hesitated it a lot. I was very young, I was 17 years old, and I had never taught a class. I think in some extent I was dared, but totally freaked out. The first class I taught was memorable, I was nervous, but I controlled myself in order to seem calmed. My students called me teacher, and it melted me. They were kids and they were very cute. An advantage I have is that I look older than I am. My beard has a good effect on my age, and I think they really take me as a teacher, not as a student.

From that moment on, I tried to never say my real age. I let them guess and figure out about it. I think I have tried to apply all the theory that I have learnt from my classes at the university in my lessons, and they have partially worked. It is required to adapt it to our context, and maybe to mix some of those theories in order to get a good teaching- learning process.

Sometimes I felt like crying, and not doing anything. Being a teacher produces a big load of stress. Our mind is sometimes too tired that is even worse that being physically exhausted. I really admire all my teachers, and all the teachers around the world. They are the ones who shape our minds, and give us many tools to be implemented in the future. Being a teacher is synonym of braveness, courage, intelligence, and a lot of patience.

Currently, I work as a teacher, and I really like my job. I am not sure if I want to continue doing it for the rest of my life because there is another major waiting for me, but meanwhile I am pleased to be a teacher, and I do it as good as I can.