Purposes of Practicum
The purpose of the SEA-Teacher practicum program is as follows:
Enhance Teaching Skills: Improve participants' teaching skills in real classroom settings abroad.
Cross-Cultural Experience: Encourage cross-cultural understanding and exchange between Southeast Asian countries.
Education System Exposure: Provide participants with insights into different educational systems and teaching practices.
English Communication Practice: Improve participants' English language proficiency through teaching and daily interactions.
Professional Development: Develop professional skills and confidence for future teaching careers in diverse environments.
Network Building: Establish connections with peers, educators, and institutions across Southeast Asia.
This program aims to prepare participants for a more globalized teaching profession.
Procedures of Practicum
The practicum process followed a structured procedure that spanned four weeks, with each week featuring a distinct set of activities and learning experiences aimed at fostering growth as a prospective teacher. The details of each stage are as follows:
First Week: Orientation and Observation
The first week, my team from Indonesia and Vietnam, accompanied by our Buddies, attended our initial orientation at Saint Louis University, School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) which was attended by the Rector, the Dean, and lecturers. The second orientation took place at SLU Basic Education School, where we were welcomed by the principal and teachers. I also had the opportunity to meet my cooperating teacher at that time. After that, I conducted observations alongside my buddy and the cooperating teacher in her class.
Second Week: Assistant Teaching
In the second week, I served as a assistant teaching, facilitating and supporting my supervising teacher in the classroom while also conducting classroom observations. This activity gave me an understanding of how teachers manage the class.
Third Week: Make Lesson Plan and Facilitate Exam
In the third week, I was assigned by my cooperating teacher to complete three lesson plans within the week, as it was exam week with no regular teaching activities. During this time at the school, I assisted my cooperating teacher by supervising the students in the classroom during the exams.
Fourth Week: Final Demo Teaching and Reflection
In the last week, I conducted my final demo teaching, teaching in two classes on Monday. The following day, I did not teach due to a typhoon that forced the school to close, resulting in a one-week suspension of classes. After the demo teaching, the evaluator provided feedback, reflections, and assessed the results of my demo teaching.
Outcomes of Practicum
As a student with a major focus in education especially Physics Education and being one of awardee SEA-Teacher Project Batch 10th, I felt various benefits gained during this program, as follows:
Real teaching experience: I have gained hands-on teaching experience in a real classroom setting, which has allowed me to apply my theoretical knowledge and lesson-planning skills effectively.
Culture exchange: I experienced how the practicum fosters cross-cultural interaction by teaching in a foreign setting, which has helped me become more adaptable and broadened my perspective on global teaching methods. Through this experience, I also learned a lot about the lesson plan structure used in the Philippines and how they greet teachers, and that is a good example that I will bring with me when I am in Indonesia.
Classroom management skills: through teaching in diverse classroom environments, I have learned various classroom management techniques and enhanced my ability to effectively address a wide range of student behaviors.
Professional growth: the experience enables student teachers like me to develop essential skills, including effective communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are crucial for both responsible and impactful teaching.
Feedback and reflection: through guidance and evaluations provided by local teachers, cooperating teacher and my special mentor/buddy (Bro Nicole😉), I have received valuable feedback that has greatly supported my self-reflection and ongoing improvement as an educator.
Language skills: experiencing teaching in another country has given me the opportunity to enhance my English language skills and refine my ability to communicate concepts clearly to students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. I thought that if I stay longer in SLU maybe about six month, my English will be better than before.
The Challenges of Practicum
The challenges I faced while teaching at SLU Basic Education School included navigating different cultures and learning styles, difficulties in pronouncing physics formulas and terminology in English, and the limited time available for instruction.
Teaching in a new environment has been both exciting and challenging for me. One of the main difficulties I encountered was the differences in culture and learning styles. Each student has their unique way of understanding and absorbing information, which made it essential for me to adapt my teaching methods.
Another significant challenge I faced was the difficulty in pronouncing physics formulas and terms in English. Physics has its own specific vocabulary, and sometimes I struggled to articulate these terms correctly. This not only affected my confidence but also made it harder for my students to grasp complex concepts. I realized that clear communication is crucial in teaching, especially in a subject like physics, where precision is key.
Time was another factor that added to my challenges. The limited time I had for each lesson made it difficult to cover all the material I wanted to teach. I often felt rushed, trying to fit in explanations and demonstrations within a short period. This left me concerned that my students might not fully understand the topics.
Moreover, the unpredictable weather also posed challenges. For example, a recent storm caused the school to close for almost a week. This disruption meant that I could not go to school to teach and connect with my students and fellow teachers. The unexpected break in classes created gaps in learning and made it harder for me to maintain a consistent teaching schedule.
In conclusion, while there were several challenges related to cultural differences, language barriers, time constraints, and unpredictable weather, I believe that these experiences have helped me grow as an educator. Each challenge taught me valuable lessons about flexibility, communication, and the importance of understanding my students’ diverse needs.
Overall Impression
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) for facilitating this invaluable Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange program. Being selected for this exchange and assigned to the Philippines has provided me with profound learning experiences. I am deeply grateful for the insights gained into education within a different cultural context, specifically in the Philippines, which will remain with me permanently.
To Saint Louis University, thank you very much for providing excellent facilities and such a comfortable dormitory, which ensures I can sleep well after a long day at school. I also appreciate the halal cookware provided, as you are so considerate of us as a minority Muslim community there.
To SLU Basic Education School (BEdS), thank you very much for the warm and cheerful welcome you gave us. I had valuable experiences in the classroom, and I appreciate my cooperating teacher for always providing feedback on my lesson plans. The teachers and students always smiled when we met. Also, to the canteen staff, I really enjoyed the "Turon" and would love to try it again!
To my friends in the attic (attic's family), thank you very much for welcoming us so warmly and making us feel at home. You always invite us to share stories and respect my prayers without making noise. We exchange stories, laugh together, and talk on the way to and from school. This is what keeps me excited to go to school, even from morning until night.
Through this program, I have been able to meet and share stories with new friends from different countries, such as Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China. For my roommate (Nan and Mary) I would like to say thank you for being such a funny friend and being able to share stories about today's tiredness. Forgive me for always disturbing your sleep in the morning because I have to get ready for school in early morning.
Special thanks to my buddy, Bro Nicole😉 because she always helps me during this program, she is my place to complain and confide about my problems even though she is also very busy but she always listens to me even though it is via chat and only answers with emojis.
Taking part in the SEA-Teacher program was the right choice for me and they are all the reasons why I want to go back there and be even more enthusiastic about pursuing my dream of becoming a physics teacher.
Suggestion for Future Improvement
During my time in this program at Saint Louis University, Baguio, Philippines, I would like to offer some suggestions for future improvement. First, for Saint Louis University should consider not scheduling the SEA-Teacher program during the exam period at the school. This timing makes it challenging for us to find suitable times to teach and conduct observations, as most classes are not following the usual learning process.
For the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) as the program organizer, if possible, I would like to suggest extending the duration of the SEA-Teacher program to two or three months. A longer program would allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of the host country's education system, teaching methods, and classroom environment. Additionally, it would provide more time for building meaningful connections with students, teachers, and fellow participants, leading to a richer and more impactful learning experience. Thank you for considering this suggestion for the program’s future development.