Travails of Out-of-Field-Teaching Qualitative Inquiry

Journal of World Englishes and Educational Practices (JWEEP)
ISSN: 2707-7586
DOI: 10.32996/jweep
Journal Homepage: www.al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/jweep
Travails of Out-of-Field Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry
Elven R. Bugwak
Instructor 1, Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, Davao Oriental, Philippines
Corresponding Author: Elven R. Bugwak, E-mail: [email protected]
ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT
Received: December 17, 2020 This study aimed to describe and understand the lived experiences of Out-of-Field
Accepted: February 07, 2021 teachers as they teach subjects outside their field of expertise. This qualitative study
Volume: 3 employed a phenomenological method where ten (10) General Education Tertiary
Issue: 2 teachers from Davao Oriental, Philippines, were taken as participants. The participants
DOI: 10.32996/jweep.2021.3.2.4 are teaching General Education subjects outside their field of expertise. Data were
gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. It is found out in
KEYWORDS this study that teachers who are not experts in the subjects they are teaching
experienced difficulties and challenges. As to the teachers’ experiences with Out-of-
Education; out-of-field teaching; Field teaching, five (5) major themes emerged: challenging, difficulty in adjusting to
tertiary/college teachers; thematic the academic content of the subject, difficulty in addressing students’ queries,
analysis; qualitative- difficulty in establishing authority, and difficulty in employing appropriate teaching
phenomenological method; Davao approaches. Along these problems are the ways of coping despite their occurrence,
Oriental, Philippines. such as careful planning of the subject content, employment of varied teaching
approaches and strategies, engaging with professional development, peer mentoring,
and evaluation/monitoring of learners’ development. Moreover, the following are the
suggestions of the participants to Out-of-Field teachers: continuing professional
development, consultation to experts, hiring of qualified teachers, and assigning of
relevant subjects to teachers. Furthermore, it is suggested that future researchers may
also conduct a study about the underlying causes of Out-of-Field teaching and what
could be the possible solutions to this problem.
1. Introduction 1
Education is essential in our life because it gives us the chance to improve our living ways. To achieve this, we need someone to
assist us; our teachers. It is the teacher's prime duty to transfer knowledge and ignite people to learn more from experience.
Teaching is exceptionally laborious. It is a many-sided task, and it is said to be the noblest of all professions because it lays the
foundation of any discipline dreamt by many. Thus, their efforts are much sought to embark quality education that students
deserve. Besides teachers' actions, their educational background is also a necessary component for effective teaching. It is
argued that a teacher is expected to show expertise in the subject areas he/she is teaching. However, this is not what is
happening (Cinkir & Kurum, 2015).
In Australia, they have identified many teachers teaching subjects they are not qualified to teach, according to the latest Australia
Council for Educational Research. At the lower secondary level, the situation for Mathematics is dire. However, without exact and
comparable data figures quoted by the Office of the Chief Scientist, it is revealed that 40 percent of year seven (7) to ten (10)
students were taught by an out-of-field Mathematics teacher (Hobbs, 2015).
Furthermore, institutions have tried to address the need to hire skilled and experienced practitioners. Still, if the teachers are
qualified, they may be as limited, or even more, so than with faculty who have more teaching experience. Whether teachers have
more years serving the academia, the real challenge is developing subject-specific experts into excellent teachers (Henard and
Roseveare, 2012).
Published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development. Copyright (c)

the author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative
Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license
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JWEEP 3(2):36-57
Each one of the Filipino believes that educational attainment is vital to one's life. It is proven that even poor parents make way to
send their children to school. However, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in
PISA 2018, Among 79 countries, the Philippines ranked lowest in reading comprehension and second-lowest among the same
countries in Science and Mathematics. Thus, despite everyone's effort to pursue education, the DepEd emphasized that the
problem that dramatically affects their quest for quality education is mainly attributed to the few numbers of teacher-education
graduates who are specialists or prominent in such subject. Hence, it is found out that teachers' performance on knowledge
assessments is poor (Demombynes, 2018).
Moreover, Aristotle stressed that understanding rested on one's ability to transfer knowledge to teaching. Demanding teachers
to be subject specialists is very great across the primary curriculum which does not restrict them to understand how pupils learn
in different subjects and what pupils need to know (House, 2009). However, from understandings are experts of what they teach,
they will deliver the lesson well. Further, it is argued that teachers' subject matter knowledge influences their teaching practice
and classroom culture (Supovitz & Turner, 2000).
Furthermore, according to the Australian Council for Education Research in 2015, many teachers still teach outside their field.
While there are little researches about the phenomenon internationally, there is still a dearth of studies conducted about it in a
local setting (Bayani & Guhao, Jr., 2017). Thus, Bayani and Guhao, Jr. (2017) emphasized that the phenomenon is present in all
schools. However, few studies are conducted to explore and understand this phenomenon across the country, especially at the
tertiary level. Salleh (2013) emphasized that teacher training and preparation are necessary for keeping the quality of teaching
and learning in school.
Consequently, most of the teachers at the scope of the study are Out-of-Field teachers. These teachers asserted that they
encounter countless problems. These have never been adequately addressed; this served as the foremost reason for the
researcher to explore and understand Out-of-Field Teachers' travails.
Hence, this phenomenological study aimed to explore and understand the lived experiences and struggles of Out-of-Field
teachers. Furthermore, the researcher used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions in gathering the data. However, this
study's results can never be used for complete generalization, but these can be used for further investigation of the
phenomenon being studied.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Difference between Out-of-Field and In-Field Teaching
Ingersoll (1998; 2000; 2001; 2011) stressed that Out-of-Field teaching is not widely understood in education. Hence, in his article
on the problem of Out-of-Field teaching, he argued that people don’t know how complicated and vital teaching is. Out-of-Field
teaching was used by many to refer to those teachers assigned to teach subjects in which they are not specialized (Ingersoll &
Collins, 2018). Furthermore, in the study conducted by Mohd. Salleh and Darmawan (2013) discussed the causes of Out-of-Field
teaching and the difference between Out-of-Field and In-Field Teaching. He cited that this phenomenon happens because of the
wrong assignment of teachers into the subjects they teach.
Moreover, he emphasized that among the root causes why teachers are assigned to teach non-specialized subjects are;
disagreement between teachers’ qualification requirement and their assignment, the demands of the teacher union, and the
shortages of teachers in a particular field. On the other hand, he discussed the meaning of in-field History teaching, which means
a phenomenon where teachers who hold a tertiary major in History Education teach the subject. The aim of this study titled “An
Investigation into the Differences between Out-of-Field and In-Field History Teachers’ Influence on Students’ Learning
Experiences in Malaysian Secondary Schools” was to investigate if there were differences in Out-of-Field and in-field teachers in
terms of their practice, students’ perception on teaching and learning History. The study utilized a quantitative design. Data
collection was done through two sets of questionnaires. Research participants were drawn from 18 of the 94 secondary schools
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where 52 History teachers and 1653 students participated. The study concluded that there is no
significant difference between in-field and out-of-field teachers in terms of teaching approaches. However, it was found out that
there are variables which revealed a substantial difference between In-Field and Out-of-Field teaching such as characteristic of
experience, the dimensions of the climate and personalization of education. However, in this study, it is still not determined how
out-of-field teachers teach the subjects outside their expertise. Thus, it is also not included in this study whether there is a
difference in learning that students get from an In-Field teacher and Out-of-Field teacher. Hence, the study recommended that
the Malaysian Government should take steps to address the issue.
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2.2 Conceptualising Out-of-Field Teaching Practices

A study conducted by du Plessis (2015) titled "Effective Education: Conceptualising the Meaning of Out-of-Field Teaching
Practices for Teachers, Teacher Quality and School Leaders" was completed and is grounded in conceptualizing the meaning of
Out-of-Field teaching practices, teacher quality, and school leaders. Thus, the latter concepts have gained international attention.
The study utilized in-depth exploration of the implications of Out-of-Field teaching for teacher quality. It unveiled complex
teaching and learning environments. Thus, it is discussed in this study that the Out-of-Field phenomenon defines teachers
teaching outside their field of training or education. The perspectives of educational directors, principals, teachers, and parents
across two countries suggest that out-of-field teaching practices are significant to content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge,
and pedagogical content knowledge. The study utilized qualitative investigation. The data of this study were collected through
interviews, observations, and document analyses regarding the relations among real-life experiences, out-of-field teaching
practices, and teachers' perceived quality. The study outcomes exemplify leadership perceptions, understandings and decisions,
school improvement policies, and support programs about out-of field situations in schools. And the study ends with
recommendations for education policies and further research on teacher quality linked to the out-of-field phenomenon.
In the study conducted by Weldon (2016), he reported secondary school teachers teaching subjects outside their comfort zone.
It presented new data on the extent of out-of-field teaching. He defined out-of-field teaching as a secondary teacher who has
not studied at a university for more than one year. They were not able to acquire knowledge about teaching methodology.
About 26 percent of teachers at years seven (7) to ten (10) teach a subject in which they have not specialized as part of their
teaching load. He added that there are more out-of-field teachers teaching than those who are experienced. He presented that
37 percent of year seven (7) to ten (10) teachers with one-to-two years of experience teaching a subject out-of-field compared
to 25 percent of teachers teaching with more than five years of experience. An Out-of-Field teacher teaches about 16 percent of
class groups in years seven (7) to ten (10) across Australia. In remote locations, about 26 percent compared to 14 percent are
being taught by an Out-of-Field Teacher in metropolitan areas.
On the other hand, in places with low socioeconomic status, 9 percent of class groups in schools are taught by Out-of-Field
teachers compared to 13 percent in high socioeconomic status locations. With these numbers, Australia is interested in
addressing this issue. The teachers' skillful selection of learning activities, methods, instruction, and assessment strategies
depend on/her knowledge about what students need to learn. Therefore, teachers should have an in-depth understanding of the
students' development. In this paper, it is exclaimed that teachers should have a thorough knowledge of the subjects they teach
as researches show that this is a crucial attribute of highly effective teachers. Teaching Out-of-Field means teaching subject areas
outside their field of expertise, which makes it of considerable concern. Hence, it is argued that to improve teaching quality
through have quality initial teacher education and select the best candidates to teach children.
2.3 Out-of-Field Teaching in the Philippines

In the study conducted by Bayani and Guhao, Jr. (2017) titled "Out-of-Field Teaching: Experiences of Non-Filipino Majors, they
accentuated that the phenomenon is present and experienced all schools here in the Philippines. Thus, it is revealed in the study
that Out-of-Field teachers experience diverse situations. Furthermore, it is found out that these teachers experience compliance
and submission, lack of aptitude for the language, lack of administrative and logistics support, inability to muster enthusiasm
and establish rapport, and frustration and insecurity while they are teaching the subject outside their field of expertise.
Moreover, the study also revealed the coping mechanism of these teachers while experiencing the phenomenon such as: being
resourceful and creative, being diligent and conscientious, making instruction stimulating for students, and being calm and
collected. Hence, this study is delimited only in describing non-Filipino Secondary teachers' experiences in Compostela Valley in
Out-of-Field teaching.
3. Methodology
3.1 Research Design
I utilized a qualitative research design in this study. Specifically, I employed phenomenology in this to gain an understanding of
underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. Further, this approach is appropriate, especially when we try to understand
people's experiences (Padilla-Diaz, 2015).
I utilized this research design to narrate and understand the teachers' perceptions, perspectives, and understandings of the
phenomenon: the out-of-field teaching. In this research, I specifically utilized phenomenology because it focuses more on
experiences, beliefs, events, and occurrences with or without regard for the external and physical reality. I believed that this
design is appropriate to the study because, according to the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, qualitative research is
suited to tasks that aim to study reactions, generate ideas, and understand perceptions. Moreover, Manen and Adams (2010)
asserted that phenomenology is used and believed to be appropriate in this study because it prioritizes and investigates
individuals' lived experiences about a phenomenon.
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3.2 Research Participants

The participants of this study were Out-of-Field teachers who are teaching subjects out of their field of expertise. The research
participants were identified through purposive sampling. The researcher selected the participants from the tertiary level leading
any issue out of their area of expertise. The researcher had ten (10) participants for this study, as suggested by Cresswell (1998)
as cited by Omona (2013).
3.3 Data Sources

The out-of-field teachers teaching for three months or below are the sources of information in the study. Through them, the
researcher determined different views, comments, opinions, and efforts exerted by teachers as they experience out-of-field
teaching. Through this, the research was able to see the difference in their lived experiences about the phenomenon. The
information from the research participants' exact location was gathered through audio-recorded in-depth interviews and focus
group discussion. Hence, I solicited their experiences about the said phenomenon. The collected data provided enough
information needed to make the study valid.
3.4 Data Collection Procedure

In any study, procedures are followed to ensure accurate results throughout the study. As the researcher, I am aware of the steps
in data collection. So, the following actions were taken to successfully carry out productive results: Firstly, the participants were
identified based on the subjects they handle, which are out of their field. The researcher sought help from the program heads
after a letter of approval was sent and approved. From then, teachers/lecturers asked if they are teaching subjects outside their
field. Secondly, the participants were informed about the study on out-of-field teaching and were requested to sign a consent
letter to document their voluntary participation in the study. Thirdly, they were oriented individually regarding the core purpose
of the study. Fourthly, the materials needed for the study were prepared that included interview guides and an audio recorder.
Fifthly, an in-depth interview followed, and audio-recorded responses of the participants were transcribed to provide thorough
information about out-of-field teachers' lived experiences. I collected the data in this study through an individual in-depth
interview and focus group discussion. The purpose of this was to explore the participants' experiences on out-of-field teaching.
The researcher personally conducted the face-to-face interview to collect significant pieces of information from the participants.
All useful questions were included in the interview guide, so we will not miss information. Before this questionnaire was
administered, this was validated by the experts.
Furthermore, interviews were accurately documented through an audio recorder and were ensured with safekeeping. Thus, in-
depth interviews and focus group discussion was useful for gathering participants' perspectives. They were also appropriate for
getting peoples' personal feelings, opinions, and lived experiences (Mack et al., 2005). Creswell et al. (2007) emphasized that
gathered data should be stored to be easily accessed and protected. Thus, in this study, participants' recorded and transcribed
audio responses were saved in a CD format.
3.5 Data Analysis

After collection, the data gathered during the focus group discussion and in-depth interviews were summarized, transcribed,
translated, and analyzed. In this study, data were firstly organized and prepared for analysis. This involves transcribing interviews,
optically scanning material, typing up field notes, or sorting and arranging the data into different types depending on the
information sources. Secondly, the data were read thoroughly. I gained a general sense from the information and reflected the
overall meaning. Thirdly, I conducted an analysis based on the specific theoretical approach and method used in this study. This
involved the coding or organizing related segments of data into categories. Fourthly, I generated a description of the setting or
people and identified themes from the coding.
Moreover, I searched for theme connections and represented the data within a research report. Lastly, I interpreted the larger
meaning of the data. After thorough analysis, I classified and categorized the data carefully in which the themes of the findings
of the study emerged with the core ideas. After transcription, I proceeded to the analysis since the purpose of the study was to
explore and understand the lived experiences of out-of-field teachers and identify their efforts as to the phenomenon they
experienced. Furthermore, results were documented and analyzed based on the theory used. Central themes were extracted,
explained, and written under each topic with relevant citations supporting these themes.
4. Results and Discussion

There were ten (10) participants of this study who are from the same school. The participants were divided into two (2) types of
data gathering method. The researcher gathered six (6) teachers to participate in focus group discussion and four (4) teachers to
participate in in-depth discussion. The participants are currently teaching subjects out of their field of expertise for three (3)
months and above. In this phenomenological study, interview transcripts served as primary source of data and structured face-
to-face in-depth and focus group discussion questionnaires containing substantial open comments.
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Table 1: Major Themes and Core Ideas of the Lived Experiences of Out-of-Field Teachers
Major Themes Core Ideas
• Teachers are having difficulty in teaching

something they are not aware of.
Challenging • Teachers prepare a lot when teaching out-of-
field subjects.
• Teachers are challenged because they are new in
this field of work.
• Teachers are having difficulty because it requires
them to read and research about the subject.
• Teachers have difficulty in adjusting to the

subject out of their field.
Difficulty in Adjusting to the Academic Content of the • Teachers are having difficulty in mastering the
Subject subject content.
• Teachers are having difficulty in adjusting to the
subject and are triggered to study more.
• Teachers can’t address the queries of students

about a topic.
Difficulty in Addressing Students’ Queries • Teachers are having difficulty in addressing
students’ questions.
• Teachers were usually not able to properly
address the intellectual students’ inquiries.
• Teachers are handling subjects out of their field
so they are having difficulty in answering the
questions of their students.
• Teachers can’t answer the questions of students
if they can’t prepare for the lesson of the day.
• Students won’t listen because of their mind set is

that their teacher is not an expert and with their
Difficulty in Establishing Authority close age gaps.
• Teachers are having difficulty in handling their
students since they are teaching subjects outside
their field of expertise.
• Teachers are having difficulty in applying

approaches to teaching because they are not a
Difficulty in employing Appropriate Teaching Approaches graduate of teacher education.
• Teachers are having difficulty in teaching since
teaching college students is different from
teaching elementary students.
Table 1 shows the major themes and core ideas of the experiences of out-of-field teachers. As I analyzed the responses of the
participants about their experiences as Out-of-Field teachers, five (5) major themes emerged. They are the following: challenging,
difficulty in adjusting to the academic content of the subject, difficulty in addressing students’ queries, difficulty in establishing
authority and difficulty in employing appropriate teaching approaches.
Furthermore, in the table above, participants expressed that teaching Out-of-Field subjects is challenging particularly when they
are not mindful about the subject because they have to prepare a lot as they teach the subjects. Most especially, if they are new
in this field of work, it requires extensive reading and research about the subject. Then, teachers also experienced difficulty in
adjusting to the academic content of the subject chiefly if students are older. Because of that, teachers are triggered to study
more. Teachers are experiencing difficulty in addressing students’ queries especially if they could not prepare for the lesson of
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the day. Participants are also experiencing difficulty in establishing authority because of students’ mind-set that they are not
experts of the subject and also of their close age gaps. Lastly, participants are experiencing difficulty in employing appropriate
teaching approaches since some of them are not graduates of teacher education program and subsequently others are having
difficulty in teaching since teaching college students is different from teaching elementary students.
4.1 Challenging
The participants argued that they are challenged as they teach subjects outside their field of expertise.
This concept is linked to the response of participant coded as IDI 1,
“Medyo nalisdan jud siya sir. Kay you need to study further in which wala nimo may mga topic or
mga topics na hindi mo napag-aralan during your time. So more on research siyempre mahirap din
yon kasi kapag kulang ka ng kaalaman , ‘pag may katanungan sila so nahihirapan ka din.
Challenge din yun as a teacher.”
(It is really hard because you need to study further since there are topics that you were not able to
learn before. You have to research because if you don’t know the subject, if there were questions,
you will have a hard time answering these questions. It is challenging for you as a teacher.)
The presence of this phenomenon in the school I was assigned leads me to conduct the study. Furthermore, it is found out that
participants are challenged as they teach subjects out of their field of expertise because they need to prepare a whole heap.
Participant coded as IDI 2 argued that,
“For example elementary ka nga teacher tapos magtudlo ka ug Literature subject tapos sa prof.ed is
wala na siya na focus kay gamay lang ang ginatackle during sa college years tapos basta dako kayo
siya ug preparation before ka mo enter sa classroom compared nimo
sa kanang elementary nga teaching kay didto nahibal-an ang mga strategies sa pagtudlo sa dili
tanan natun-an during sa college years maapply nato sa real-life setting especially Out-of-Field
teacher ta”
(For example, you are an elementary teacher then you are going to teach Literature subject and in
your Professional education subject, the topic was not given with enough emphasis because it was
not discussed thoroughly during college. It needs extensive preparation before you enter the
classroom compared to teaching in elementary because it where you learned to apply strategies in
teaching. Not all we learned in college will be applied in real-life setting because we are Out-of-
Field teachers.)
In relation to this concept, participant coded as IDI 3 shared that,
“Ah kadto akong ganina, first maglisod jud ka tungod kay wala paka kabalo kung unsay dagan ana
nga subject labi pa ug kanang first time nimo siya nga ma itudlo murag kuan jud kayo kulbaan pud
ka kay kuan man siya kanang kailangan gud nimo mag study kailangan nimo na ah magprepare
jud ka. Kailangan nimo magbuhat ka ug assignment for yourself para next day naa pud kay ika
share ikatudlo ana siya.”
(Just like what I’ve said earlier, at first it is really challenging because you do not know the subject,
most especially if you are teaching the subject for the first time. You get nervous because you
have to study first. You have to prepare. You have to give yourself an assignment you can share
for the next day’s lesson.)
Participant coded as FGD 3 added that,
“So as a teacher, ipakita gyud nimo ang kadtong boundaries” “Magconduct ka ug research or study
etc. kay para ma aside nga na address nimo tong ilahang learning needs or ilahang skills ma
develop”
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(As a teacher, you have to define limitations. You conduct research or study so you can address
the learning need of students and their skills will be developed.)
4.2 Difficulty in Adjusting to the Academic Content of the Subject

Aside from it is challenging, I found out that participants are also experiencing difficulty in adjusting to the academic content of
the subject.
This is aligned to the idea of participant coded as IDI 2 who argued that,
“Being an Out-of-Field teacher kailangan lang jud siya ug dako nga adjustment especially kung dili
jud nimo field imong gitudluan.”
(Being Out-of-Field teacher requires a big adjustment especially because the subjects you are
teaching are outside your field of expertise.)
Participant coded as IDI 3 also added that,
“Ah bagohan! Nachallenge! Ah medyo naglisod jud kay dili man nimo siya kuan field of expertise.
Then, at first mangapa jud ka. Siyempre w aka kabalo unsa inomg itudlo diba?”
(I am a neophyte and I am challenged. It is quite difficult because I am not an expert of what I am

teaching. At first, you really have to adjust because you don’t know the subject.)
Participant coded as IDI 4 verbalized that,
“Actually there’s a difficulty and in there is a lot of difficulty as an out-of-field teacher so since it is
not my specialization and of course the content of the subject matter we are not familiarize with
certain discussion so we make sure that we have a knowledge not thorough but at least we have
basic knowledge with regards to the topic of the day.”
(Being an Out-of-Field teacher is really difficult since you are teaching subjects out of your field of
specialization. The content of the subject is unfamiliar to you. So we make sure to gain basic
knowledge about the subject.)
4.3 Difficulty in Addressing Students’ Queries

One major theme that emerged in this study is that Out-of-Field teachers are experiencing difficulty in addressing the queries of
students since they are not experts of what they are teaching.
This is linked to the concept of participant coded as IDI 1 when she said that,
“I have a lot of unforgettable experience sir. So one of that experiences na hindi ko malimutan is my
students asked me about yon sa Psychology. So, tinanong niya ako tapos kahit na konting detalye
hindi ko maibigay sa kanya yong konkritong snong tawag nito explanation. Kaya sinabi ko sa kanya
bigyan mo ako ng panahon at magrereearch ako at sasagutin ko yong tanong na pagdating natin
sa kinabukasan”
(I have a lot of unforgettable experience. One of these experiences is when my students asked me
about Psychology. They asked me about it and I wasn’t able to give a concrete explanation. So, I
told them to give me time to research and I will give the answer the next day.)
In relation to this concept, participant coded as IDI 2 emphasized that,
“Kanang mangutana ang estudyante ug mga complicated na questions wherein wala nimo siya
nastudyhan kay tungod dili nimo siya field nga naghatag ka ug focus ana kay kung unsa ang naa sa
book dira lang man jud ka magfocus. Naay mga unexpected questions nga dili nimo, ikaw mismo
teacher dili nimo matubag”
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(When your students ask you complicated questions you were not able to study because you did
not mind it since you only consider what is in the book. Then suddenly, there were unexpected
questions that even you, their teacher, were not able to answer.)
This concept was supported by participant coded as FGD 2 when she argued that,
“So for me no during my Psychology, Psychology jud ang akong pinakanalisdan sa tanan nakong
nahandle na subject because of the different medical terms nga ginagamit and then dili kayo ko
hawod sa Science or whatever. So dili man jud maiwasan nga naa juy mga estudyante nga siguro
mas bright ba or nagpa-bright bright. Ana gud sir, nakabalo na sila daan unya sukit-sukiton ka ug
pangutana sir ba. Then kabalo ka nga nakasabot na siya pero gusto niya nga iya pa ipa deepen pa
jud ang explanation. Tapos mangutana siya ug out of topic, ma feel nimo nga wala jud ko kabalo
ani sir. Didtoa pa lang makabalo nakp, ah kailangan najud siguro nako mag research”
(For me, during my Psychology, Psychology is really difficult for me because of its medical terms.
And, I am not good with it. There will be times students ask you about something they already
know just to check your knowledge about it. You knew they know but they just want a thorough
explanation. They asked you questions then you can tell that you really don’t know it. You can say
to yourself you have to research.)
This concept is also seen in the response of participant coded as FGD 4 when he said that,
“When you enter the classroom na wala jud ka kabalo-an ba gani unsa ng mga musical na mga
terms. Unya mag-ask ang mga students sa imoha. Lisod jud kayo”
(When you enter the classroom without any background about musical terms, then your students
will ask you, it is really hard.)
Participant coded as IDI 3 added that,
“Naa for example ah ang problema pagka dili man gud nimo field nga subject is kanang for
example mo wala ka prepare tapos pangutan-on ka sa estudyante ang problema dinha is unsaon
nimo pagpalusot unsaon nimo pag-explain sa estudyante nga for example wala jud ka kabalo wala
jud kay idea ba unsa imong itubag sa iyaha so mamroblema ka karon kung unsaon nimo ang
imuhang estudyante nga masatisfy sa imong tubag bisag wala ka kahibalo so mao na siya’y
mangita ka diraag palusot.com.”
(The problem in teaching subjects outside your field of expertise is when you are not prepared
with your lesson and your students will ask you then you can’t answer their questions. You can’t
explain the answer well to the student. You are having a hard time in finding the correct answer
that will satisfy your students.)
4.4 Difficulty in Establishing Authority

Another theme that emerged is that Out-of-Field teachers are having difficulty in establishing authority because of their
questionable subject expertise and close age gaps.
This is linked to the concept of participant coded as FGD 2 when she said that,
“Kung ma feel na nimo na ang nature sa imong lecture is that boring na kayo kay lisod man pud
gud mag sige ta ug lecture unya pagkahuman ang atong estudyante dagko na. Dili pud na sila
tanan maminaw sa imuha kay naa pud ang authority ug ilahang kompyansa na katuuhan ba kaha
ni si teaher especially sa amo nga murag kaedad lang namo ang mga estudyante pero in teaching
techniques, mga ingun ana”
(When you can feel that your lecture has become boring and it is hard to always have lectures
because when your students are already mature they have issues with authority whether they are
going to believe you or not especially with us that we have close age gaps.)
In relation to this concept, participant coded as FGD 5 argued that,

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“Naa pud juy dili jud mo ana nga naa juy estudyante na kanang dili, maminaw man pero kanang
mura ganing ug ganing ipakita jud niya na mas kabalo siya kontra sa imuha diba? Naa juy ing-ana
nga estudyante nga kanang mag sige’g pangutana pero pagka the end pud sa topic muhilom ra pud
siya”
(There are students who really would not listen. They would insist that they know better. There are
students like that. They always ask question and later, they become still.)
4.5 Difficulty in Employing Appropriate Teaching Approaches

Another theme emerged from the experiences of Out-of-Field teachers is difficulty in employing appropriate teaching
approaches because some of the participants are not graduates of teacher education program and are Elementary Education
graduates.
This concept is seen in the response of participant coded as FGD 5 who emphasized that,
“As per experience gihapon as an Agriculturist, dili man gyud ni ingon na kanang maestra jud no so
kanang maghandle ug kanang mga social study nga subject unya ang handelan is kanang
Criminology so at first lahi, maglisod jud.
(My experience as an Agriculturist, I am not a teacher by profession. So when I handled social

studies with Criminology students, I really had a hard time.)
Participant coded as FGD 6 argued that,
“So it is very difficult for me as an Out-of-Field teacher because ah the approach that we have
practiced in our college years is the approach for the children and then now we are am handling
college students in which they are very naughty sometimes.”
(It is very difficult for me as an Out-of-Field teacher because the approach that we have practiced
in our college years is the approach for the children and then, now we are handling college
students in which they are very naughty sometimes.)
Being an Out-of-Field teacher is really challenging because it requires laborious efforts that would compensate the problem
faced by these teachers. Although this is the issue, they also argued that it is fulfilling on the part of the teacher to see that the
students are learning. Furthermore, one of the participants added that, despite the challenges these teachers are experiencing,
all they have to do is to love what they are doing.
Table 2: Major Themes and Core Ideas on Ways of Coping with the Difficulties and Challenging Experiences of Out-of-
Field Teaching
• Teachers have syllabus.

• Teachers prepare a course outline that will
be the basis of their activities inside the
classroom.
Careful • Teachers carefully plan and read ahead of
time.
Planning of the Subject Content
• Teachers should plan the lesson through
syllabus.
• Teachers utilize variety/different strategies

like reciprocal teaching.
• Teachers use other forms of strategies and
approaches that best suit the students.
• Teachers employ participatory approach.
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JWEEP 3(2):36-57
Employment of Varied Teaching Approaches and Strategies • The teacher used seminar workshop in which
students have to perform.
• Teachers suggest not settling for mediocrity.

They should aim for higher education.
• Teachers engage in advance reading and
research.
Engaging with Professional Development • Teachers conduct research about the subject
they are teaching.
• Teachers consult their colleagues who have

taught the subject for many years.
• Teachers seek other teachers’ help for
support and believed that they can also learn
Peer Mentoring from others.
• Teachers evaluate the learners whether the

strategies employed are effective.
Evaluating/Monitoring of Learners‘ Development • Teachers assess them during lectures based
on what they have in mind.
• When conducting practicum, teachers make
sure rubrics are distributed ahead of time.
Table 2 shows the ways of coping with the difficulties and challenging experiences of out-of-field teachers. As I analyzed the
responses of the participants about their ways of coping with the difficulties and challenging experiences of Out-of-Field
teaching, five (5) major themes emerged. They are the following: careful planning of the subject content, employment of varied
teaching approaches and strategies, engaging with professional development, peer mentoring and evaluation/monitoring of
learners ‘development.
In the table above, participants articulated their ways of coping with the difficulties and challenges of out-of-field teaching
especially in careful planning of the subject content wherein they commonly refer to syllabi making and planning ahead of time.
The employment of varied teaching approaches and strategies that best suit the students’ nature and capacity is very important.
In their pursuit of finding what approach and strategy suit best to their student, it is seen that they also engaged in professional
development as they do advance reading and extensive research. Furthermore, because they are not an expert of what they are
teaching, it was found out that they also sought support from their proficient equals. To find out whether students learned from
them, participant also performed evaluation or monitoring of learners’ development.
4.6 Careful Planning of the Subject Content

Being an Out-of-Field teacher requires effort and planning to alleviate the challenges along the course of instruction.
This concept is seen from response of participant coded as IDI 1 when she argued that,
“At first may tinatawag tayong syllabi sir. Doon tinitingnan mo kung ano yong ituturo mo . titingnan
mo din, ipaplano mo din kung ano yong pwede mong strategy during sa lesson mo.
(At first, we have this so called syllabus. Included in the syllabi are the things you teach. You also
plan and assure the strategies to be used in your lesson.)
Participant coded as IDI 2 added that,
“So naa mi’y ginabuhat before conducting na ginatudlo sa among program head sa amoa nga
syllabus. So sa syllabus palang daan kadto na ang basehan sa amoang pasunod na klase or kung sa
elementary ginatawag na siya ug lesson plan”
(We are preparing syllabi before conducting our instruction which our program required. Your
syllabi are the basis of your instructional stream. For elementary, it is called lesson plan.)
Participant coded as IDI 3 also emphasized that,

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“Oh naa jud siya’y plano aside from sa kanang syllabus na pagsunod naay advance or kanang mga
other unsay tawag ana ginadugang nimo ba for example mag basa ka ug mga books or asa ka
magkuha’g ah other materials or instructional material.
(We have plans but aside from following the syllabus we can also add revisions and add other
material or instructional materials.)
This concept is also seen in the response of participant coded as IDI 4 who argued that,
“In planning the lesson, it’s in the syllabus itself. Naa nana siya sa syllabus daan in the syllabus for
your preliminary midterm upto finals. So, naa na didto tanan han-ay na. Ginahimo jud namo na
siya prior to the semester so kailangan before the semester starts the syllabus is intact. So, the
content of the subject matter is there so together with the strategies and the methods that you are
going to use.”
(Planning the lesson is all in the syllabus. We really make our syllabus and it is needed before the
semester starts.)
4.7 Employment of Varied Teaching Approaches and Strategies

One major theme emerged as participants cope with difficulties and challenges as Out-of-Field teachers is the employment of
varied teaching approaches and strategies.
Participant coded as IDI 1 said that,
“One of the strategies na akong giingun is reporting, So effective siya it is because ang bata is
maningkamot siya nga mahibal-an ang iyahang topic ug sa iyang lesson. It is because pag naay
question sir sa iyang classmate makatubag siya mismo”
(One of the strategies I said was reporting. It was effective because the students will really strive
learning the lesson. And when someone asks him, he can answer.)
This is supported by participant coded as FGD 5 who said that,
“Okay sa amua pud ah sa among klase is usually dili pud ko musugot na the students is not kanang
using participatory approach. So naa jud ang participatory approach through interactive discussion
so while I am lecturing them after that ah follow up question classification suggestions and
additional ideas then after that ah doing such activity which is connected to the topic so ingon ana
ang flow.”
(In my class I encourage my students to participate and interact because I am using participatory
approach. There are follow up questions every after lecture.)
This is supported by participant coded as FGD 6 when she shared that,
“In my seminar-workshop sir, it is effective because there are two approaches I have employed which
is independent learning and discovery approach”
(In my seminar-workshop, it is effective because there were two approaches I have employed
which are independent learning and discovery approach.)
Moreover, participant coded as IDI 4 shared that,
“Included in the syllabus is the strategies of learning. Okay, so if ever along the way in your ahm
teaching naa kay mga encounter na dili effective ang strategy nga naa sa imong course syllabi you
are going to use another strategy for them to learn. Mao na siya akong ginabuhat tanan nako nga
dili effective ang akong strategy sa akong course syllabi mag try ko ug another strategy nga para
mag fit in sa ilang learning capabilities”
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(Included in the syllabus are the strategies of learning. If you can encounter anything along the
course of your instruction like your strategies indicated in the syllabus are no longer effective, use
another strategy for them to learn. I do this every time I see that my strategies are no longer
effective. I try other strategies that suit best to students’ learning capabilities.)
4.8 Engaging with Professional Development

Another theme that emerged is the engagement of teachers with professional development. Learning is a continuous process.
Teachers need to embrace changes to improve efficacy.
This concept is seen from participant coded as IDI 1 when she said that,
“Dapat dili ta stagnant sa atong nahibal-an. Dapat as a teacher naa paman tay professional growth
kinahanglan mustep-up pa ta ana. Dili kay dinhia lang ta taman. For example graduate na ta ug
BEEd ah dihaa lang ta taman. So naa pamay masteral doctoral if possible para pud sir pinaage ana
nga MAEE or masteral mas madagdagan pa ang imong nahibal-an”
(We should not be motionless in what we know. As a teacher, we should step-up and engage into
professional growth. Don’t just end up there. For example, you are a graduate of Bachelor in
Elementary Education, you end up there. We have master’s degree and doctorate degree. With
that, you can learn more.)
Participant coded as FGD 3 also expressed that,
“Okay so for me so I have experienced difficulties particularly for the subjects out of my expertise. So
in that way so kahit na maka experience tayo ng mga kaunting difficulties pero it is not, it doesn’t
mean na wala na tayong gagawin. So as a teacher, we should do both our efforts in order to address
the learning needs of our students in the sense na that is our goal, why are we here in the
institution,diba? That is why so edouble ang effort then conduct more research and study kung
maari mas mabuti na pwede hindi na tayo matutulog para lang ma address ang learning needs sa
imong students.
(For me, I have experienced difficulties particularly for the subjects out of my expertise. In that
way, even if we experience difficulties, it doesn’t mean you won’t do anything. As a teacher, we
should do both our efforts in order to address the learning needs of our students in the sense
that it is our goal why we are here in the institution. We need to double our efforts and conduct
research and study more. We have to break a leg just to address the learning needs of our
students.)
This concept is also validated by participant coded as IDI 4 when she said that,
“I have am I have a problem,dili,peace, in terms of its specialty or the specialization of the subject
matter. So that is why I am trying to address these difficulties in the form of reading such references
that is nga naa na assign sa ako nga course or subject”
(I have a problem in terms of expertise to the subject I teach and I am trying to address it in the
form of reading references of the subjects assigned to me.)
4.9 Peer Mentoring

Moreover, another theme emerged from the study was about participants seeking experts help for self-improvement. Peer
mentoring is one of the ways of coping cited by the participants.
This notion is seen in the response of participant coded as IDI 2 who stated that,
“So mao to siya naka experience naman ko ug ing ato so usahay mangutana ko sa mga teacher pud
na nakaagi na ani tapos didto ko mangutana sa ilaha tapos nagabasa ko ug mga books. Then
mangutana ko sa uban pa na mga tao kung kabalo ba sila about ani nga topic. Daga pangutana
jud ko sir kay lisod man pud ug dili ko mangutana kay ako mismo wa man pud ko nangutana”
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(Because of my bad experiences, I now consult my fellow teachers who have previously taught the
subjects I am teaching. I also read books. I ask questions from other people if they know
something about the topic. I really ask questions because it’s hard if I would not.)
This was supported by participant coded as IDI 1 when she said that,
“Siyempre mas makalearn man ka if dili lang sa imong sariling paningkamot mas makalearn man
ka if dili lang sa sarili nimong paningkamot mas makalearn man ka sa laing tao”
(Of course you can learn more if you don’t rely solely to yourself. You can also learn a lot from
others.)
4.10 Evaluating/Monitoring of Learner’s Development

Lastly, in view of the teachers desire to assure learning, another theme emerged which is focused on evaluation or monitoring
learners’ development.
This impression is realized as participant coded as IDI 4 supposed that,
”Okay so what are the tools to prove that your strategies is effective or not, through evaluation. You
have to evaluate your learners if that certain strategy is effective of course you have to do your part.
You have to do your part. You have to try your best to explain it clearly kay dili man siya effective
ang imong strategy kung ikaw mismo sa imong kaugalingon di ka masbtan magtudlo.” “You have to
assess them para imo siyang makita kung effective ba or dili”
(What are the tools to prove that your strategies is effective or not, through evaluation. You have
to evaluate your learners if that certain strategy is effective. Of course you have to do your part.
You have to try your best to explain it clearly. If they couldn’t understand you, your strategies are
not effective. You have to assess them so you would know if your strategies are effective or not.)
This notion was supported by participant coded as FGD 1 as he said that,
“I incorporated language ah I mean communicative approach in my teaching” ”So what I did is that
ah I focused more on the speaking part of the students or communication part of the students in my
subject rather than paper-and-pencil test exams” “We socialize with others and communicative
approach was effective on my part because my learners were able to express what they have learned
through that particular approach. I can assess them during my lectures or my class time not just
through quizzes and exams. I can assess them every day whether they’re learning or not because
they are truly expressing what they have in mind”
(I incorporated communicative approach in my teaching. What I did is that I focused more on the
speaking part of the students or communication part of the students in my subject rather than
paper-and-pencil test exams. We socialize with others and communicative approach was effective
on my part because my learners were able to express what they have learned through that
particular approach. I can assess them during my lectures or my class time not just through
quizzes and exams. I can assess them every day whether they’re learning or not because they are
truly expressing what they have in mind.)
“In my HELE subject I used performance-based or practicum. And also, I before I before na dili pa ko
mag instruct sa ila is ginahatag nao ang rubrics. So di jud ta dapat makalimot ana kay on how to
assess the performance of the students na para makabalo sila kung asa sila lamang or asa pud sila
baba.
(In my HELE subject, I used performance-based or practicum. Before I instruct my student, I give
them the rubrics because through that they can also assess themselves with regards to their
strength and weakness.)
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JWEEP 3(2):36-57
While there are many challenges along the way, we can always find solutions to these challenges. The participants have spoken
and shared their ways of coping with the challenges they encountered. Above all, their concern to their students and work
prevailed.
Table 3: Major Themes and Core Ideas of the Suggestions of the Participants to Out-of-Field Teachers
Continuing Professional Development • Teachers should engage into professional

development.
• Teachers should conduct study and research.
• Teachers should improve their weaknesses
through professional development.
Consultation to Experts • Seek the help of teachers who are specialized

in these fields or certain subjects.
• Don’t hesitate to ask something from other
teachers.
Hiring of Qualified Teachers • The school should hire teachers who will
teach subjects within their field of expertise.
• There should be enough teachers teaching a
specific field.
• Make sure that when you hire teachers they
are what you are looking for.
• The university or institution must hire
particular teacher for a particular field.
• The institution should strongly align the
subjects to the expertise of the teacher.
Assigning of Relevant subjects to teachers • The administration should give/load teachers

subjects that are familiar to them.
• The school should offer subjects according
to the teachers’ ability/capacity.
• The distribution of the subjects could be on
the expertise of the teachers.
Table 3 shows the suggestions of the participants to Out-of-Field teachers. For the participants, it is reflected that teachers are
suggesting other Out-of-Field teachers to engage in professional development to purposely improve efficacy. Moreover, they
suggest consultation of teachers teaching subjects outside their field of expertise to their competent fellow teachers. Hence, they
were also suggesting that institutions should hire qualified teachers emphasizing that teachers should teach based on their field
of expertise. Furthermore, assigning of relevant subjects to teachers is encouraged by the participants to be addressed to the
administrators of any institution.
4.11 Continuing Professional Development

Participants expressed that teachers should develop themselves in terms of their proficiency about the subject. This concept is
seen in the response of Participant coded as IDI 1, who said that,
“First siguro sir naa man tay ginatawag na professional development kung saan yong mga instructor
or yong mga Out-of-Field teacher is example sa BEEd siyempre pag BEEd alam talaga lahat diba sir?
Siguro first, is professional development. Mag-enroll ng masteral if ever. Then, next is seminars or
workshops for example or emeeting nimo imong colleague for example asa sila nalisdan”
(We have Professional development wherein Out-of-Field teachers can engage like BEEd
graduates. They can enrol to masters and seminars or workshops afterwards.)
This is supported by participant coded as FGD 3 when he said that,
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“In the field of education dili man gyud na malikayan na ah kanang latagaw bitaw tag kanang out
sa atong expertise. So as teacher so dili nato limtan ang atong sarili. Pwede nato siya butangan ug
boundaries so we’ll expand. Then mao to siya, we will conduct more research. Kinahanglan ka nga
magstudy. So mag duty para para maaddress tong learning needs sa imong estudyante para at the
end naa pud kay ah kanang imong product ba or ang imong ma produce is quality”
(In the field of education, there is a great possibility that you can teach subjects outside your field.
We should not forget to improve ourselves and conduct research. We need to study so that we
can offer quality teaching.)
Moreover, participant coded as IDI 4 added that,
“After the adjustment period kabalo naka sa imuhang weakness and the strength at that time. So
what you have to, you have to improve your weaknesses”
(After adjustment period, you already know your weaknesses and strength. What you have to do is
improve.)
4.12 Consultation to Experts

Another theme that emerged is Out-of-Field teachers should consult experts about the subject.
This is suggested by participant coded as IDI 1 when she said that,
“If nandoon yong mga katrabaho mo for example if ako nahihirapan talaga ako sa Science
nagpapatulong ako sa iyo. Nagpapaturo din ako doon sa mga Biology or mga Science talaga na
teacher” “Siguro sir sa akoa as an out-of-Field teacher if naa miy mga subject na dili ko
knowledgeable I think I have to ask my colleagues or my co-workers especially those specialized na
nila nga mga subjects. Pwede pud siguro sir cooperative teaching for example if ako magtudlo ko ug
subject nga related sa Science siguro pwede ko mo tap sa mga Science teachers na pwede mo sulod
sa akong klase para sila maka discuss para mas maayo nga sila ang mo discuss kay sila man ang
well-known ana”
(Seek help from your colleagues like what I am doing I seek help from you and other teachers
teaching Biology or Science. Cooperative teaching can also be utilized wherein I can ask help from
Science teachers to enlighten my students about certain topics.)
This was supported by participant coded as IDI 3, who said that,
“Unang una kung naglisod jud ka dili dapat maulaw mangutanan dili ka dapat mag alanganin na
mag research ug magtuon para jud dili ka maglisod. Ikaw raman gihapon ang makakuan ana
benefit diba? So dili ka magpa as if nga hawd ka nga gipatudlo ka ana nga subject bisag wa gyud
ka.”
(If you find the subject difficult don’t hesitate to ask help. Don’t act as if you know everything.)
4.13 Hiring of Qualified Teachers

One major theme that emerged is hiring qualified teachers in an institution which is thought to be of inordinate relief in solving
disputes of Out-of-Field teaching.
This is seen in the response of participant coded as IDI 2 who suggested that,
“Siguro sir sa institution pa lang daan dapat siguro maghire sila ug is aka teacher kanang field jud
niya kay for example sa English nga teacher maghire ka ug English nga teacher unya ang imong
ipatudlo sa iyaha field sa English teacher. Katong literature, English ug unsa pa diraa. Di nimo siya
ipatudlo ug lahi ang field ang tao. For example Mathematics tapos magtudlo ang Gen.ed na teacher
ug Mathematics. Then naa may mga in-depth bisag muingon ka oh hawod siya ug Mathematics
pero dili mana niya ingon jud niya na field. So, dili niya ma sustain tong kinahanglan nga info sa
mga bata.”
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(To the institution, they should hire qualified teachers for a particular subject. English teachers
should teach English subjects. For example BEEd-Generalist will teach Mathematics, there are
topics in Mathematics especially in-depth lesson which they don’t know. They can’t sustain the
needs of the students about the subject.)
Participant coded as IDI 3 also verbalized that,
“Enough ang teachers for example kanang kung unsa ilahang expertise didto sila kanang kompleto
jud sila ba para dili ang kay kulang kulang man gud siya ug mga teachers siyempre kanang dili
imuhang kuan maglisod jud ka. Ang epekto pud sa mga bata man gud is dili man pud hawd dang
ilahang teacher ana dinhaa nga area”
(There should be enough teachers for a particular subject area because if teachers would teach
subjects outside their field they’ll experience hardships. Students will be primarily affected.)
This was supported by participant coded as FGD 1 when he said that,
“I believe University/institution must hire particular teacher for a particular field. So how to do this?
Very difficult. It is up to the ahmmm”
(I believe University/institution must hire particular teacher for a particular field. So, how to do
this? It’s very difficult.)
Participant coded as IDI 4 also added that,
“Make it sure pag hire pa lang daan ang specialty niya tugma na didto sa imong ipatudlo or kung
naa man gani kay imong mga subordinate ihatag lang nimo nga topic is naa silay background
though dili ing-ana ka thorough but naa silay background sa specific nga subject.”
(Make it sure when hiring teachers they are suited to one you need. Teachers should have
background about the subjects they are going to teach.)
Participant coded as FGD 2 further said that,
“Actually ano na siya sir no lisod na siya nga suggestion. So mag start siya sa kato nga mga panel of
interviewers unsa ilang standards when it comes to hiring a teacher whether part time or regular.
For example from then mangutana sila sa particular program head para makabalo siya kung unsa
diyuy gikinahanglan sa kana na ano ka na institution. Kay for example if ever maghire lang deritso
ang atong university or panel of interviewers didtoa, yes maam you are officially hired pero wla sila
kabalo ay magtudlo diay ni sila ug Filipino and then English major murag ing-ana gud sir. So sa
diraa pa lang daan gikan sa taas padung sa ibabaw nga information na kami nga particular nga
teacher dili lang kay pag mangutana man gud na ang interviewer na can you teach this kind of
subject Filipino unya English ka ikaw nga job seeker muningon ka yes sir. Dapat naa kay particular
nga English nga motudlo jud kung unsa jud iyahang field of expertise”
(These suggestions are hard to achieve in our level because these should start from the panel of
interviewers. There should be particular teachers who will teach specific subjects.)
4.14 Assigning of Relevant Subjects to Teachers

Another major theme found is that administration must assign relevant subjects to teachers.
This concept is seen from participant coded as IDI 4 who said that,
“For the admin of course ang ako kay jud maikasulti is ang mga applicant gyud muingun gyud silag
kasagaran man gud pangutana sa admin like for instance you are a Science a teacher muana man
gyud na ang admin nga gusto man gud nila ang versatility or the versatile teacher so ang
pangutana gyud ana nila sa HR to be specific muana man gyud na sila, okay you are a Science
teacher can you handle Filipino? Can you handle of course as an applicant muana gyud na Yes! Ok
kaya nimo ang job and that is for ah kuan na siya what do you call this one kanang ok economiya.
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Sa iyang sa mga applicant mao gyud na iyang itubag. Yes I can handle Math. I can handle Filipino
but the point there is, even me kung also ang applicant, Yes I can handle Filipino. Whatever subjects
you will give to me pero pag abot ana sa field. Yes you can handle but you are not specialized so
mao na siya dapat, make it sure pag hire pa lang daan ang specialty niya tugma na didto sa imong
ipatudlo or kung naa man gani kay imong mga subordinate ihatag lang nimo nga topic is naa silay
background though dili ing-ana ka thorough but naa silay background sa specific nga subject.
(Administration of any institution should see to it that in the hiring process, hired teachers are
properly matched to the subjects they are going to teach. If not possible at least teachers have
background about these subjects.)
“I think this is very broad idea no but I will try my best to suggest this one solving this in opinion will
start on the macro level which is the offerings of the subject of course when these subjects have
particular teacher”
(My opinion will start on the macro level which is the offerings of the subject of course when these
subjects have particular teacher.)
Solving the issue of Out-of-Field teaching would be difficult if everyone in the academe would not support each other in this
endeavor. Moreover, this issue requires collaborative efforts of the students, teachers and the administrators. Therefore, all
should work as one for the benefit of everybody.
Lived Experiences of Out-of-Field Teachers
The term Out-of-Field Teaching was used by many in a way that it denotes to those teachers assigned to teach topics which they
are not specialized in (Ingersoll and Merril 2011). Furthermore, it is mentioned earlier in this study that there are more out-of-
field teachers teaching than those who are really experienced (Weldon, 2016).
4.15 Challenging
As for the participants, they find teaching outside their field of expertise very challenging. They mentioned that it is problematic
because it requires extensive reading and further research. They exclaimed that most of them are new to the subjects they are
teaching.
Moreover, they are not aware or equally knowledgeable as to the subject content is concerned. This is roughly determined to be
one of their primary concerns. According to Mizzi (2013), teachers teaching outside their specialism area face considerable
lesson preparation challenges. This was supported by De Jong et al. (2002), who stated that teachers' knowledge base strongly
influences all aspects of teaching like preparation, planning, and decision making regarding the choice of content to be learned.
Thus, it is argued that preparing as a teacher is very challenging and difficult as difficult decisions are to be made when crafting
the course's structure and content (Calderhead & Shorrock, 1997).
4.16 Difficulty in Adjusting to the Academic Content of the Subject

Secondly, this theme arises when participants emphasized their difficulty in adjusting to the content of the subjects they are
teaching. Most of the participants experience difficulty, especially that this is not in line with their expertise. They are having
difficulty in mastering the subjects because they themselves do not understand the terms under this umbrella of topics or ideas.
When you are not an expert on what you are teaching, you will have a hard time adjusting. This is seen from Mizzi's (2013) idea
that teachers must understand the structure and nature of the discipline and learn to adapt to the unfamiliar content knowledge.
Furthermore, he added that the teacher's inadequate background about the subject results in issues in adjusting with the subject
and will impact the development of the teachers' pedagogical knowledge, self-confidence, and attitudes when teaching disciples
outside their field of expertise.
4.17 Difficulty in Addressing Students' Queries

Another theme that emerged is about teachers experiencing problems in addressing students' questions. Teachers uttered that
they often fail to address their students' queries about the subjects they are teaching. As they narrated, there were times wherein
students know more about the topic than they do, which results in students interrogating them. They further exclaimed that their
inability to address students' queries is due to their lack of content knowledge or expertise. Thus, according to Auseon (1995), he
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stated that a teacher's professional knowledge affects all instruction phases: lesson content and planning, implementation,
assessment, and reflection. In the art of education, limited knowledge affects the teacher's representation of art, the focus of
inquiry and criticism, and the criteria and method for assessment. And, this leads to the inability of the teacher to answer
students' questions. Moreover, this was supported by Jadama (2014), who stated that teaching involves imparting knowledge,
skills, and attitudes to an individual. It is argued by Montebon (2015) that articulate teachers are proficient in the subjects they
teach and are profound in delivering the lessons through their art of teaching.
Furthermore, in the process of teaching, students' doubts and misconceptions should be clarified. However, if the teacher is
mainly ignorant or uninformed about a subject matter, can pass false ideas. Therefore, a teacher will find it extremely difficult to
answer varied questions from students about a subject matter (Jadama, 2014).
4.18 Difficulty in Establishing Authority

The participants shared that they are having difficulty in handling the students' behavior. Since they are Out-of-Field teachers,
they are not an expert of what they are teaching. There are times their lectures go boring, one participant shared. They do not
have enough knowledge that will contain students' interest along with the discussion. They also shared that when students think
or know that you are not an expert on what you are teaching, they will not listen because they tend to question your credibility
to establish authority inside the classroom.
This is supported by Thomas's (2014) concept about the Expert Power of a teacher, which refers to the knowledge and
experience a teacher brings with them into the classroom. Teachers with this form of power are knowledgeable about the
subjects they are teaching and can also express it in a straightforward way to the students. He also added that when students
can tell that if you know what you are doing, it gives you, as a teacher, some authority and the right to lead your students
because they trust you. When teachers do not know what they are teaching, students may not want to follow them. Furthermore,
Weimer (2009) said that students are willing to do as their teacher says if they recognize that they know more than they do.
4.19 Difficulty in employing Appropriate Teaching Approaches

As to the participants, they are experiencing difficulty in using teaching approaches inside the classroom. This is happening
mostly to those teachers who are not a graduate of teacher education courses. This difficulty occurs when teachers do not have
something to apply. The lack of expertise in the subject, including teaching strategies and approaches used to teach the subject,
impedes effective teaching, says Kathirveloo, Puteh, and Matematik (2014). Teaching approaches and methods are learned in
teacher education programs in any institution that offers this kind of curriculum. Although these can be learned through
experience, formal training is still more effective.
Ways of Coping with the Difficulties and Challenging Experiences of Out-of-Field Teaching
I gathered a lot of ways on how participants cope with the difficulties and challenging experiences as Out-of-Field teachers. They
emphasized that one of their ways of coping with the difficulties and challenges they are experiencing is through careful
planning of the subject content. For example, the creation of a course outline wherein teachers are guided with the activities in
the classroom.
4.20 Careful Planning of the Subject Content

The participants emphasized that they make sure that they carefully plan the lesson by formulating their syllabi. One participant
added that these syllabi complement the lesson plans of elementary and secondary teachers. Along with these syllabi, they
prepare themselves for the conduct of instruction, which includes pedagogical and content knowledge. According to Vellena
and de Mesa (2015), instructional planning provides logical sequencing and pacing of lessons. Moreover, he added that this
provides teachers sense of direction. Thus, practical teaching will be achieved with careful planning, preparation, and interest in
what you are doing (Alanzi, 2019). Hence, when the teacher is clear with what is to be done, the lesson's flow is smooth because
all the information has been gathered. Thus, the details have been decided beforehand.
4.21 Employment of Varied Teaching Approaches and Strategies

Another concept seen is that participants use varied teaching approaches and strategies to support students in the learning
process. Participants mostly use student-centered methods like reciprocal teaching, communicative approach, wherein students
are primarily involved in an activity. One participant added that when one strategy is no longer sufficient, she will move on to
another method to ensure learning. Brodhagen (2015) argued that for teachers to reinforce the learning, they must learn to
apply various teaching strategies. He also emphasized that this will maximize the understanding of the students. According to
Levy (2008), as cited by Gentry (2013), educators are mandated to see that all students meet the standards. By using
differentiated instructional strategies, educators can meet all students' needs and help them exceed the established criteria.
Page | 53
4.22 Engaging with Professional Development

To address their concerns as Out-of-Field teachers; they engage with professional development to augment the lacking
knowledge and skills they have. Furthermore, they emphasized not to settle for mediocrity and engage in research to advance
oneself to another height of professionalism. Improving oneself as a teacher is essential because students' needs are changing,
and as 21st-century teachers, we have to adapt to these changes to ensure that students have something to learn from us. When
teachers do not improve themselves, students' performance can also be hampered because teachers are the models of these
students. When people refer to professional development, they usually mean a formal process such as a conference, seminar, or
workshop; collaborative learning. However, according to Mizell (2010), it may occur in an informal setting such as independent
reading and research. Moreover, this enables educators to develop the knowledge necessary to address students' learning
challenges. He added that what teachers learn from college cannot provide a wide range of expertise to support them in the
field. All professionals take many years to gain the knowledge and skills for their roles to be in place. He also exclaimed that
educators who do not experience effective professional development do not improve their skills, and student learning suffers.
4.23 Peer Mentoring

Another theme that emerged from the participants' ideas is peer mentoring, wherein teachers consult their colleagues who have
taught the subjects they are training for the past years. A participant also added that teachers do not learn by themselves; they
also learn from others. Nobody is an island. We need each other back to ensure we would not fail our students from their
expectations. We need support from other people aside from ourselves. According to Mizell (2010), it is evident that teachers
encounter several challenges such as classroom management, instruction, and curriculum and school culture. Moreover, studies
show that new teachers who receive intensive mentoring significantly affect student achievement after as little as two years.
Hudson (2012) asserted that preparation has always been the concern of a beginning teacher. Thus, a teacher graduating from
any institution has the same responsibilities as those who have been teaching for many years. Moreover, he also emphasized
that school administrators should be aware of their teachers' needs, especially in helping them get through their period of
adjustment. Furthermore, he stressed that beginning teachers should work hand-in-hand with the experienced and seasoned
teachers.
4.24 Evaluating/Monitoring of Learners' Development

Participants believe that teachers need to evaluate or monitor students' progress to see if strategies used are effective or not.
Assessing students' performance will give teachers hints whether they learned from you or not. This will also help teachers
improve themselves because of the feedback they can get from its results. Evaluating students' performance is vital because this
is one way of knowing whether we have achieved our objectives of the day. Hence, it is argued that assessment is one of the
essential aspects of the teaching and learning process. Furthermore, it is emphasized in the study titled "Assessment and
Feedback Practices in the English Language Classroom" that assessment and feedback are two of the inseparable aspects of the
classroom culture (Rahman et al., 2011).
Suggestions of the Participants to Out-of-Field Teachers
4.25 Continuing Professional Development

Participants are suggesting that teachers should submit themselves to professional development. One of the participants argued
that teachers have weaknesses and strengths and what matters most is we keep moving. As discussed previously in this study,
continuing professional development is essential for teachers because this keeps them abreast of the changes in students'
knowledge and skills. According to Kloosterman (2013), the ultimate outcome of well-planned continuing professional
development is that it safeguards the public, the employer, the professional, and the professional's career. She added that
professional development ensures the capability of the teacher in pace with the current standards of others in the same field.
Hence, this is supported by Collinson (2010) as he emphasized that the improvement of an educational system is dependent on
many factors, including the advancement of teachers' skills through continuing professional education. Furthermore,
Kloosterman exclaimed that with this, you and your knowledge stay relevant and up-to-date.
4.26 Consultation to Experts

Another theme that emerged is that teachers should consult experts of the fields/disciplines they are teaching. They said that
when a teacher is having difficulty, they should not hesitate to ask for others' help. It is usual for teachers to teach outside their
field of expertise to know everything about these subjects. These experts can help these out-of-field teachers have a deeper
understanding of a discipline.
According to Professor Loughran (2011), as a beginning teacher, it is reasonable to seek others about what needs to be done
and the best way to do it. Thus, it is mentioned earlier in this study that teachers need support in their first years of teaching
(Darling-Hammond,2010; Le Maistre and Pare, 2010).
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JWEEP 3(2):36-57
4.27 Hiring of Qualified Teachers

Out-of-Field teachers experience problems from all directions, from the subject content down to the employment of appropriate
teaching approaches and strategies inside the classroom. These out-of-field teachers were suggesting the hiring of qualified
teachers who are experts in their fields. These teachers should be encouraged to teach subjects in line with their area of
expertise. When teachers know a wide range of knowledge about what they are teaching, they become more effective and
efficient because they know what they are teaching. A teacher can't teach something he or she doesn't have. This issue should
start with the school administrators as they are the ones who hire teachers to teach. Furthermore, a participant emphasized that
enough teachers teaching a specific field should be provided. It is argued by Valenzuela (2019) that competent and qualified
teachers are indeed very crucial in any educational institution. Teachers being the prime mover of the educational wheel, play an
essential part in achieving the school's vision, mission, and goals. Thus, his study on "Recruitment and Selection Process of
Faculty in the Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines" recommended that the schools' recruitment policies should be
strictly followed. Further, he emphasized that administrators should take part in improving the recruitment system. Moreover,
Glass (2001), as cited by Stronge and Hindman (2006), stated that teachers who are already experienced and experts are more
effective with students due to their use of a wider variety of strategies. This is supported by Kathirveloo et al. (2014) in their study
on "Effective Teaching: Pedagogical Content Knowledge," in which they found out that there is a powerful relationship between
what the teacher knows, how he or she knows it, and what he or she can do on this knowledge in the context of instruction.
Therefore, we must also understand the importance of qualified teachers to high-achieving schools. Moreover, Ingersoll (1998)
stated that this is precisely why it is crucial to find solutions to the Out-of-Field teaching problem. Thus, it is argued that school
administrators must hire quality teachers who are experts in their teaching in order to assist students in reaching their maximum
potential.
4.28 Assigning of Relevant Subjects to Teachers

Lastly, another theme has emerged, which is all about assigning teachers to their field of expertise. Meaning, teachers will be
given subjects in line with their area of specialization. The participants exclaimed that this might be hard. If found impossible, at
least institutions will ask and adequately assess these teachers about their capabilities/abilities to assign them to their inclination.
The participants were suggesting the need to assign subjects to teachers based on their expertise because when topics are in
line with the teachers' expertise, they are more effective (Huizinga et al., 2019). This notion is supported by Haitti (2003) when he
identified five major dimensions of excellent teachers, namely: can identify essential representations of the subject, can guide
learning through classroom interactions, can monitor learning and provide feedback, can attend to affective attributes, and can
influence student outcomes. Furthermore, he explained that experts in their field have more integrated knowledge. They can
combine new knowledge with prior experience, which allows them to relate new curriculum across the other.
5. Conclusion
This phenomenological study aimed to explore and understand the lived experiences and struggles of Out-of-Field teachers.
Thus, in this research it is discussed that subject matter knowledge is essential in the teaching-learning process. Although
teaching is not all about imparting the subject's content, it could significantly affect the students' learning. Being an expert on
what you teach has a wide array of effects on the teaching-learning process. If one is an expert, he/she can explain the subject;
clearly, he/she can answer the questions of the students and will lessen his/her workload as a teacher as he/she will have little
adjustment as to the subject matter is concerned. Moreover, it is argued in this study that expert teachers are more effective
than beginning teachers. The foremost concern of the teaching profession is the way teachers transfer the knowledge. If the
teachers are experts in the field they are teaching, they have a deep understanding of the subject, enabling them to impart the
knowledge in a more exact and more accurate form of explanation. This implies that teachers must be proficient in what they are
teaching. Teachers impart knowledge to students who believe that it is right. Most of the time, students ask questions, and when
the teacher is well aware of the subject matter, he/she is teaching, he/she can answer. However, in a case where teachers are not
experts in what they teach, they should solve their issues with content knowledge. Teachers should engage in professional
development where they could improve themselves professionally. Teachers are the leading agents of the educational wheel.
Therefore, they must equip themselves with in-depth knowledge about the subjects they teach.
With the results of this study, other researchers may study further the experiences of Out-of-Field teachers. Many of us still do
not understand the experiences of these teachers. The fact that it is still occurring makes it unattended or ignored. Moreover,
this study is all about Out-of-Field teachers' experiences, but future researchers could broaden this study and focus more on the
solution to this phenomenon.
Additionally, in this study, the researcher utilized phenomenological qualitative study. However, future researchers may conduct
quantitative research about the phenomenon, which will be all about the ratio of Out-of-Field teachers to In-Field teachers to
trace the severity of the problem. Furthermore, future researchers may also conduct a study about the underlying causes of Out-
of-Field teaching and possible solutions to this problem.
Page | 55
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Journal of World Englishes and Educational Practices (JWEEP)

Travails of Out-of-Field Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry

ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT

Published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development. Copyright (c)

2.2 Conceptualising Out-of-Field Teaching Practices

2.3 Out-of-Field Teaching in the Philippines

3.2 Research Participants

3.3 Data Sources

3.4 Data Collection Procedure

3.5 Data Analysis

4. Results and Discussion

Major Themes Core Ideas

• Teachers are having difficulty in teaching

• Teachers have difficulty in adjusting to the

• Teachers can’t address the queries of students

• Students won’t listen because of their mind set is

• Teachers are having difficulty in applying

This concept is linked to the response of participant coded as IDI 1,

Participant coded as IDI 2 argued that,

In relation to this concept, participant coded as IDI 3 shared that,

Participant coded as FGD 3 added that,

4.2 Difficulty in Adjusting to the Academic Content of the Subject

Participant coded as IDI 3 also added that,

(I am a neophyte and I am challenged. It is quite difficult because I am not an expert of what I am

Participant coded as IDI 4 verbalized that,

4.3 Difficulty in Addressing Students’ Queries

In relation to this concept, participant coded as IDI 2 emphasized that,

Participant coded as IDI 3 added that,

4.4 Difficulty in Establishing Authority

In relation to this concept, participant coded as FGD 5 argued that,

4.5 Difficulty in Employing Appropriate Teaching Approaches

(My experience as an Agriculturist, I am not a teacher by profession. So when I handled social

Participant coded as FGD 6 argued that,

Major Themes Core Ideas

• Teachers have syllabus.

• Teachers utilize variety/different strategies

• Teachers suggest not settling for mediocrity.

• Teachers consult their colleagues who have

• Teachers evaluate the learners whether the

4.6 Careful Planning of the Subject Content

Participant coded as IDI 2 added that,

Participant coded as IDI 3 also emphasized that,

4.7 Employment of Varied Teaching Approaches and Strategies

Participant coded as IDI 1 said that,

This is supported by participant coded as FGD 5 who said that,

This is supported by participant coded as FGD 6 when she shared that,

Moreover, participant coded as IDI 4 shared that,

4.8 Engaging with Professional Development

Participant coded as FGD 3 also expressed that,

4.9 Peer Mentoring

4.10 Evaluating/Monitoring of Learner’s Development

This impression is realized as participant coded as IDI 4 supposed that,

This notion was supported by participant coded as FGD 1 as he said that,

Participant coded as FGD 4 added that,

Major Themes Core Ideas

Continuing Professional Development • Teachers should engage into professional

Consultation to Experts • Seek the help of teachers who are specialized

Assigning of Relevant subjects to teachers • The administration should give/load teachers

4.11 Continuing Professional Development

This is supported by participant coded as FGD 3 when he said that,