During the preparation and closure of teaching activities at ICES, I had considerable opportunities to explore new knowledge and gain hands-on experience in an international school setting. Being part of the SEA-Teacher program made me realize the vital role of teachers in early childhood development—building strong relationships with parents and children, setting good examples, teaching life lessons with discipline, and guiding children to the next level of education. This experience also broadened my perspective on creating engaging learning ideas, stimulating various teaching competencies, and fostering lifelong learning in children to benefit their communities.
Courtesy visit with the Principal, administrative staff, and class mentor at Indang Central Elementary School.
Observed teaching and learning processes for one week and discussed engaging teaching methods.
Participated in teaching activities during the second week, including opening activities, assisting with work periods, and grading assignments.
Concluded with a demo teaching session in the final week, covering both morning and afternoon sessions.
The experience of teaching and learning has made me more confident in practicing and applying teaching methods, especially for early childhood education with international students. It has expand perspective on improving and collaborating more effectively with fellow educators to generate new ideas for implementing better, higher-quality, and more meaningful learning processes.
During my teaching practicum at ICES in the kindergarten grade, communication challenges appear as some students struggled to respond in English. While most understood English, their primary language was Tagalog, and English was used occasionally in class. To address this, I encouraged students to speak English slowly and allowed peers to help translate or explain during discussions.
All the experiences at Cavite State University, Indang Central Elementary School, Indang, and in the Philippines remain unforgettable. Gratitude and happiness will always accompany the moments shared with the wonderful people there, making the journey in the SEA-Teacher Batch 10 program truly valuable. From them, I learned to stay motivated in my journey and to keep learning about various aspects of education, especially in becoming a professional educator in the future.
The SEA-Teacher program can expand its network with universities across Southeast Asia. It provides a great opportunity for education students to gain hands-on experience abroad, exchange information, and collaborate with universities in the region, helping to develop highly qualified and skilled future educators.