The SEA-Teacher project aims to provide opportunity for pre-service student teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia (seateacher.seameo.org).

Based on my personal experience, this program provides an opportunity to develop my skills and network. This program makes me braver to open my limits and get out of the comfort zone that limits me from progressing.

Through this program I am more confident to carry out comprehensive learning in a new environment. I learned new things that can equip me as a prospective professional educator. The collaboration and socialization that I carried out with teachers, pupils, mentors and colleagues was able to increase my ability to build team work and cooperation. 

These abilities directly and indirectly build my pedagogical competence, personal competence, social competence and professional competence which I hope will continue to develop as a provision as a future educator.

Practical implementation procedures are:

1. First week: Class orientation and observation

At this stage I took part in the orientation carried out by Saint Louis University Baguio together with coordinators, colleagues and mentors. During orientation, I was explained about various community habits, socio-cultural conditions, geographical conditions and other matters related to the receiving university. 

I conducted classroom observations at SLU BEDs-Les. Observations are carried out to obtain information and descriptions related to the teaching and learning process and other important information.

2. Second Week

At this stage I collaborated with the class teacher at St.Francis Xavier Grade 4. I consult about lesson plan components and their implementation. Apart from that, I also discussed the condition of the students and what strategies there were for managing the class. I also discussed with my buddy and received her guidance regarding the steps for preparing a lesson plan. 

Before preparing the lesson plan, I first asked/proposed the learning topic to the subject teacher. After getting a topic, I will prepare a lesson plan then hand it over to the meta-lesson teacher for review. 

3. Third Week: Teaching in Classroom

At this stage, I carried out classroom teaching 3 times with three different subjects (Science, English and Mathematics). During teaching, I was supervised by the subject teacher. The subject teacher checked the suitability of the learning procedures I carried out with the lesson. Then he gave an assessment based on the format provided.

After teaching, the teacher provides an evaluation. Evaluation takes the form of an explanation of the results of supervision and assessment. Moreover, the teacher also provided criticism and suggestions for further learning and developing my teaching abilities.

4. Fourth week

I reflect on program implementation, complete blogs and reports, and submit all assignments.

The SEA-TEACHER Project is an activity that provides valuable experience for me. Following this program helped me develop my hardskill and softskill as well as develop my life skills. 

Based on my reflection, the outcomes of the practicum that I obtained were:

1. I studied the education system in the Philippines. Where there are several essential aspects that are different from the education system in Indonesia. There are differences in the components of the teaching module so I am motivated to study the entire lesson plan holistically. This directly increases my understanding in preparing teaching modules so that I can make comparisons in determining what producers or components I need to include in the lesson plan and how to implement them in learning.

2. I learned to manage activities and pursuits according to a predetermined schedule, these activities include activities at school, activities with mentors, colleagues and friends, as well as personal activities

3. This practicum really helped me develop my English skills in various aspects of speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar. During the program, English is the main language used as a medium of communication.  This is different from in my area where English is a foreign language so this is something new for me. Apart from that, English is one of the national languages ​​in the Philippines and at the school where I carry out learning practices using English. So I am encouraged to improve my English skills both through independent study and through direct communication with English speakers

4. This program provides experience for me to interact and collaborate with people from different socio-cultural backgrounds. These differences encourage me to adapt and learn about the culture. I am grateful because this broadens my insight and hopes to share my knowledge with colleagues at my university.

5. This program fosters the development of my life skills, especially in adapting to an environment with various habits and cultures that are sometimes different from those of my hometown. 

Through this experience I got the experience to learn about a wider and more diverse world with various interesting new perspectives.

In participating in any activity there are of course challenges, including the SEA-Teacher Project activities. During this practicum I faced several challenges from both external and internal factors.

The main challenge is the difference in the education system where the number of subjects, length of study time, length of school day and implementation of activities at school are different from those in Indonesia. Then the unpredictable weather, especially in the first week, resulted in many activities being postponed and inefficient, the activity schedule became unsystematic and less than optimal. The weather tended to be stormy and heavy rain resulted in a suspension so that schools were closed as a result of which the implementation of observation activities was less than optimal.

 Then there are cultural and cultural differences where there are some who are not familiar with my culture.  

However, these various obstacles actually had a positive impact on me, especially in improving my adaptability and time management skills.

I describe my journey during the SEA-Teacher Project Batch 10 program in two words "Blessed and Grateful".

I feel blessed because through this program I can develop my potential and am able to realize my abilities which were previously hidden but which I realized.

This program helps me to try to do my best. As a prospective future educator, this program equips me with various soft skills and hard skills that will support me so that I can become a professional teacher. Through this program I gained new knowledge and tried to explore various aspects.

I socialize and build my national and international networks which I hope can continue to build positive and sustainable relationships.

Although it cannot be denied that there were challenges while participating in the program, it was those challenges that made my problem-solving abilities develop and increased my adaptability. I am grateful because through this program I met great people from various backgrounds who sometimes have different perspectives in responding to something, this enriches my insight in responding to a task. 

Through interactions with students, I learned that each child has various unique qualities that need to be explored and encouraged so that they are able to develop their golden potential. Pupils need to be supported mentally so that they are motivated to learn. This practicum gave me valuable experience, that's why I called it "Memorable Journey became a greatest experience".

1. Schedule

It is recommended that the implementation schedule be adjusted to the current weather and climate conditions at the receiving university so as to minimize delays in activities due to bad weather. The schedule created should consider various aspects such as mobility, document processing, and travel/activity costs.

2. Information

It is better if a special and centralized social media account is provided for this program so that it gets higher exposure and can increase the number of participants. This social media can also be a source of information and various participant activities or activities, selection information, information on implementing activities and so on.

3. Pre-Departure

It is recommended that before departure, intensive training and preparation for departure be carried out so that participants can have a clear picture regarding the implementation of activities and the host university. During this pre-departure seminar, a seminar was also held regarding the assignments being carried out and an explanation of the activities that would be carried out, so that the party could have an idea and prepare the equipment required.

4. Coordination

It would be better if the coordination between the sending and receiving universities carries out more intense coordination, especially regarding habits/discharges at the receiving university so that participants can learn about them. It is also necessary to provide information regarding special diets, allergies, special tendencies/habits, so that before carrying out activities as a preventive measure to prevent danger.