Introducing Mr. Josefino Rivera
Meet Mr. Josefino Rivera. He is one of our High School English Language Arts teacher and it is his 1st year at AIS. Originally from the Philippines, Mr. Rivera grew up in California and this is his 13th year of teaching. He previously taught in California, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Bulgaria, and we are excited to have him as part of our community. Read to find out more about him.
What is your favorite thing about being at AIS?
Perhaps one of my favorite things about being at AIS is the staff I get to work with. They are wonderful professionals that deeply care about our students and teach quality lessons. They have a great sense of humor too.
As faculty members we often talk about how proud we are of AIS students. Share one particular thing you’re proud of about our kids.
I’ve been lucky to be able to work with almost all of the Class of 2019. They are diligent, thoughtful, and funny students. I’ve worked with many of them on their personal statements, and I especially enjoy their ability to tell narratives.
Who inspires you? Why?
I’m particularly inspired by people who face their fears head-on. One such person is a former student, Analia Wu, who is of Chinese origin but lived in Argentina when I worked there. She was working on her English and Spanish simultaneously being a native Mandarin speaker. She joined my TED-Ed Club and delivered a powerful talk about success and failure called “Redefining the ‘F’ Word“. Her talk was so well-received that TED-Ed in NYC invited her to speak on the TED Stage despite English not being her first language. Her talk has now been viewed over a million times.
Which famous deceased person would you want to have dinner with, and why?
Believe it or not, I hated English class when I was in high school despite being an English teacher now. It wasn’t until I attended university did I realize the power of language from one of my now favorite poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley. He argued that when everything else dies away, words still exist. Words have the power to preserve. No doubt, I would love to spend time with him.
What are some passions you explore outside of your career?
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling all over the world. I also enjoy playing the cello.
What’s in your lunchbox today?
A salad from Pret a Manger and a matcha Kit-Kat bar.
