From Binary Code to Classroom: How My Unconventional Path Led Me to Teaching Tagalog

If you spoke to a 22-year old me in 1992, fresh out of Adamson University with a degree in Computer Engineering, that I would one day be teaching Tagalog to learners around the world, I would have laughed. Back then, my life was all about software, startups, and solving problems with 1's and zeroes—not language, culture, nor anything Filipino.

But life, as it turns out, has a way of rewriting our plans.

The Early Years: Building Software in the Philippines

After graduating, I landed a job at a Japanese-owned property development corporation specific to hotel/resort and golf course. My role? Building guest folio and reservation software for the Fantasy Elephant Club in Marinduque (now known as Bella Roca). It was my first taste of real-world projects—finding bottlenecks, developing tools that people could use.

By 1996, I moved to an I.T. focused startup, specialized on payroll and POS (point-of-sale). I customized software for small and medium businesses, learning how technology could adapt to real-world needs. But the startup life was unpredictable, and by 1998, I decided to go freelance.

Freelancing in the early days of the internet was tough. I was building standalone applications, but without funding or a team, it was a struggle. After four years, I had to admit defeat—my projects weren’t sustaining me, and I found myself jobless for three years.

A Career Pivot: From Developer to Educator

In 2005, I made a bold decision: I switched careers and became an instructor at Emilio Aguinaldo College in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Teaching Programming, Calculus, Physics, Electronics, and Software Engineering to future engineers and computer scientists was a whole new challenge. I loved it. There was something deeply rewarding about helping students prepare for their careers, just as my own mentors had once done for me.

I even pursued a Master’s in Information Systems (though I didn’t finish—life had other plans). But by 2016, I was ready for another change. I left academia and moved to the United States, thinking I was leaving teaching behind.

The Unexpected Return to Teaching—This Time, Tagalog

After three years in the U.S., I realized something: I was still a teacher. Just not the kind I expected.

In 2019, I started teaching Tagalog online. What began as a small passion project—helping heritage learners and enthusiasts connect with the language—turned into Aralin World, a space where culture, storytelling, and language learning come together.

Now, instead of writing code, I am crafting lessons, building community, and helping people find their voice in Tagalog. It is not the career path I imagined, but it is the one that feels right.

Why This Matters to You

If you are here, you are probably learning Tagalog for your own reasons—to reconnect with your roots, communicate with family, or simply explore something new. My journey reminds me that paths are not always straight. Sometimes, the skills we pick up along the way (even the unexpected ones) prepare us for what is next.

So whether you are a beginner, a heritage learner, or someone just curious about the language, I am here to guide you—not just as a teacher, but as someone who has reinvented herself more than once.

Let’s Connect

I would love to hear from you:

• What is your story? Have you ever made a career pivot that surprised you?
• What is your biggest challenge in learning Tagalog right now?

Drop a comment or reply. I am reading all your replies.

Mabuhay!

—-<--@
Albine Bodo