Summary & Suggestions

It was indeed a memorable experience for me. I often dreamed about the possibility of teaching abroad, captivated by stories of educators who had ventured into international classrooms. To think that I would one day be one of those educators seemed almost unimaginable. And then, look at me, who would’ve thought that I would be able to go beyond it? This teaching practicum helped and provided a hands-on teaching experience, internationally, in a classroom setting. It helps me to discover my capacities, conquer my fears, and go out of my comfort zone. It aimed to help me or student teachers develop instructional skills, apply different pedagogical theories from the host institution and the country of origin, and help improve classroom management techniques. The challenges I faced pushed me to adapt and remain flexible in my teaching style, reinforcing the essential lesson that being a teacher is not just about imparting knowledge, but also about being true to oneself and embracing growth. This practicum has me a lot of positive effects not only on my future career but also on me as a person. I even didn't know where I got my confidence to teach my students and most importantly, it teaches me the concept of flexibility and adaptability, indeed being a teacher requires you to be the version of who you are. 

The practicum followed a structured process, beginning with consultation with mentor teachers to discuss lesson plans and teaching strategies. After lesson planning, we were assigned to teach in the classroom, they introduced us to the students and had a short “get to know me” activity to make them feel comfortable with us. Throughout the teaching sessions, we engaged with students using interactive teaching approaches, we used a combination of traditional and modern teaching methods. The use of Instructional materials and PowerPoint presentations including images and videos related to topics are included. After the lesson, we reflected on our performance, received feedback from mentor teachers,  unidentified our strengths, and adjusted our methods for improvement. 

The practicum provided a profound enhancement of our teaching abilities, classroom management skills, and adaptability in diverse learning environments. Throughout the experience, I can say that the teaching practice was successful. We gained invaluable insights from planning our lessons, implementing various teaching methods, and experimenting with strategic approaches tailored to meet the needs of our students. The challenges we faced, such as managing varying student behaviors and adapting our lesson plans on the fly, ultimately sharpened our skills and prepared us for future teaching opportunities. In addition, we have also developed a better understanding of Indonesian students’ needs and learning behaviors. Plus the feedback from our mentors and coordinators helped us refine our teaching techniques and gave us lifelong learning. 

For future teaching practicums, it would be incredibly beneficial for us to have the opportunity to manage a regular classroom setting prior to conducting our teaching demonstration. This hands-on experience would not only allow us to familiarize ourselves with classroom dynamics but also to refine our classroom management skills in a real-world context. Additionally, it would be immensely helpful if our cooperating teachers could incorporate some basic English during our observation sessions. By doing so, we student teachers would have a clearer understanding of the lessons being taught and the interactions happening among students and teachers alike. 

Overall, the teaching practicum has been a pivotal step in our journey towards becoming effective educators. It has not only enhanced our teaching skills but has also strengthened our passion for education. The practical experiences we have gained and the insights we have learned from observing experienced educators will significantly shape our future careers in the field of education. I truly appreciate the opportunity to grow and look forward to applying these valuable lessons in my teaching practice. Overall, the teaching practicum has been such an important step in our journey to becoming effective educators, and the experience has truly strengthened our skills! our passion for teaching and provided us with valuable skills that will shape our future careers in education.