Grade 7 teacher Irish Baleling of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School in Tagbilaran City, Bohol addresses tutors students using a wireless microphone (lapel mic) during opening of classes on Monday, June 3, 2019. Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas
TAGBILARAN CITY 鈥� Grade 7 teacher Irish Baleling doesn鈥檛 need to raise her voice to get her students鈥� attention.
Even when she turns around to write on the chalkboard, the students can still hear her. And that鈥檚 not because she鈥檚 shouting.
Baleling, 31, is addressing her students through a wireless microphone (lapel mic) clipped to her uniform.
She is among several teachers at the Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS) in this city who opted to use lapel mic during classes to preserve their voices and prevent fatigue.
DCPNHS has the biggest student population in Bohol province. As of Monday, they have 6,000 students and 259 teachers.
Ideally, one class in a public school should only have 45 students.
Baleling has been using lapel mic during classes for the past three years.聽She has 43 students under her ward for this school year.
鈥淎s a teacher in this number of students, lapel mic is very much important because if we will not use lapel mic our voice will only last for an hour,鈥� she told Inquirer.
On Monday, Baleling distributed student handbook to her students. She also handled the orientation session, discussing school rules and regulations.
She also told students to spread kindness.
鈥淲e鈥檇 all like the world to be a better place. It doesn鈥檛 take much to turn someone鈥檚 day around. A smile, a compliment, a small gesture will do,鈥� she said.
According to her, the use of lapel mic has proven practical and effective since it enabled her to overcome usual classroom noises and distractions.
鈥淚t relaxes me,鈥� said Baleling, who has been teaching for 10 years now.聽She bought her own lapel mic for her convenience.
She said she doesn鈥檛 have to shout since the lapel mic boosts her voice over background noises and help prevent voice strain.
It was also effective in keeping students attentive during class.
Student Leah Mae Lozano, 11, said she could hear her teacher clearly.
鈥淢akadungog ko klaro sa gisulti ni ma鈥檃m tungod sa iyang mic (I can hear our teacher clearly because of her mic)鈥� she said.聽(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)