"You have a very contagious smile!"
"You look so cute!"
"I appreciate your kindness!"
"I love how you easily get along with your students!"
"What a hardworking teacher you are!"

Every now and then, I hear such compliments from my students.

I admit I indulge in the flattery I receive, though it is not enough of a dose to make me a narcissist of some sort. As an empath, I predominantly rely on others' words, especially the ones that aid my pessimism and demotivation. Like the roots of a tree, they stretch to the far depths of my emotions, allowing me to resurface with positivity and elation to some extent. 

What I consider the best compliment I have ever received has something to do with English. You see, the Philippines may not have English as its mother tongue, yet is has been dubbed a country with a massive source of great English speakers. That is why countries outsource manpower from the Philippines as it has a wide pool of professionals who can speak English. 

"I have met a lot of Filipino tutors thus far, but your pronunciation is the most beautiful and clear."

I couldn't process the idea at first. I was skeptical since all along, I believed the other English tutors enunciate just as well as I do. But according to my students, they could hear the other tutors' "Filipino accent," which took me by surprise. Similarly, tutors from other countries have strong accents, which somehow impede understanding. Although English has a variety of accents, my students say it is not an excuse to tolerate one's inability to clearly convey words. They, too, consider this a challenge as they struggle to omit their accent, leading them to seek tutors with an accent of their preference. 

I was not born and raised in an English-speaking environment, nor did I grow up with a golden spoon to carry on with life's predicaments. I was aware of how low my poor family was perceived, even among my relatives. To combat the stigma, I decided to learn English as my means to sound smart and socially relevant. I read English books and mimicked native speakers from the Hollywood movies I watched. Nobody taught me how to pronounce English words, let alone to sound native-like with a particular accent. 

I was self-taught. 

Gradually, speaking English seemed as easy as breathing. That was how I became multilingual. Yet what I could not notice early on was how others hear me when I speak English. It became crystal clear to me when my students started complimenting my pronunciation. I am fully aware that there are tutors out there who are far smarter and better than I am. In all honesty though, I prefer being unique. What sets me apart, I believe, is what my students often tell me: 

"You pronounce English beautifully."


And that is how I keep myself motivated.