On Taking Praxis Exams

It’s two more days before my third, and hopefully my last, praxis exam. TWO days!! I have been browsing a thick physics book in preparation for my 0265 Praxis 2 exam. Yes, that’s right! PHYSICS.

I passed my praxis 1 & 2 with much sweat and as I call it, kinareer. Who wouldn’t? Aside from it being a ‘different’ kind of exam than I had already taken, it’s also very expensive. And why do I need to take them and much more pass them all? Sad to say, it’s because of the prospect of working in the US…

Taking praxis exams has actually made my journeying towards immigration sort of become less emotional and less painful. The process of applying for a teaching job to the US became more like an extra challenge: I have to pass one challenge at a time without really worrying what kind of life it’s going to be once I get there. There’s no time to get emotional or to worry because I had to spend most of my time studying while figuring out how to survive without a job waiting for my ‘departure’. At least, whenever I get my praxis results I have a sense of victory. So far, I’ve done well each step of the way.

Also, understanding the kind of exam praxis is helps me know the way they think. It has helped me grasp a little how Americans differ from us pinoys. In my observations, I realized that Americans seem to be not always interested in finding the final and correct answer, they seem to be more interested in the steps involved in order to arrive at the correct answer. While for us, just like most of our type of examinations, there is no easy way, it’s either you know the final answer or you don't. The ‘how’ is not much of an issue. Sort of dogmatic and conservative, it tells us a lot about our values. We believe that in life there’s often if not always, a one and final correct answer to our quests.

In two days I’ll be face to face with a 100-multiple-choice questions from mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, sound, to probably some questions about nuclear physics (I know nothing about this one). If there’s anything I learned it is this: that one is never too old to learn new things or relearn old ones. At 33, at least am not too old. :)

Whether I pass my Physics 0265 on Saturday or not is actually not very important. For one, because I can take it again :D and for another reason, I had my notice of approval for my h1b visa. But, I am pinoy and I value the outcome of my actions. So, I should study in order to pass (that's pinoy), without forgetting to note my learning as I go through the process (now that's american style). :)