It is a vital phase in a teaching journey to witness and to handle a class depicting a foreign language in a foreign country. As a future educator, practice is what really gives us the point of view on which teacher should be in the field. Facing a diverse learner now a days requires vast understanding and competence to be able to deliver a meaningful academic understanding. 

My journey in SMP Muhammadiyah Muliska has taught me more than just understanding the competence of English in their school but driving me more understanding about how it is important to them and how will I solve problems inside the classroom in terms of ways for them to learn. This program has not only expose me to the realities of teaching but also finding a unique cultural experience that I cannot just seem to forget. From the students, to the teacher and to the places and foods. This experience has gives me so much to hope for. Truly what a journey!

It is the program of the receiving university to arrange all the possible engagements and school related assignment specifically to assign the school as for our batch in Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta we we’re assigned to SMP Muhammadiyah Muliska, A junior middle school. And we had a great experience. 

The first week in SMP 5 we are tasked to observe the class and the school, the following weeks we already had our assigned Grade level for teaching practicum. In those weeks, we will be teaching the classes in a specific time and the last day of our teaching practice is our final teaching demonstration. 

This program has already given us more on opportunities to improve the teaching capacity and to handle a class. To also used in practice the different approaches and strategies to students. It is a positive and engaging program which not only develop yourself to adjust in the environment new to you but also to be resilient in any situation. 

Every journey truly has a challenge, which is only fuels by determination to do it. Language was the only barriers that provides a struggle for me and to my students but I find ways to provide a meaningful learning by making use of the technology application for translations and incorporated more of audio visual presentations in my teaching time. My journey in SMP Muliska wasn’t a struggle but a learning and progress everyday. Seeing my students wanting to learn English is more than an achievement. It is a fulfillment on my part to be able to see them learn. 

Teaching experience in a different country is something like achievement but it doesn’t comes without the challenge. As time goes by. We learned to adjust and observe. The first week was something as whirl whorl of emotion. But the students makes us feel joyful and excited. This practicum has given me the identify inside the classroom. What kind of teacher I am. As I continue my journey in the Philippines I know that teaching in Indonesia has equip me lessons that I could use back home. The last day of our practicum was something I did not expect. It honed myself to see them everyday and our closing was a mixed of tears and laughers. Indeed, SMP Muliska showed us a home in Indonesia which gives me more than reason why I have to be better in becoming a teacher. 

SEA TEACHER Exchange Students Program is a helpful tool in teaching teachers- to-be as resilient and ready for the academic field. But of course, there are things needed to improve for the betterment of the next batch. As for me I see the difficulty of having a language barrier not just for communication outside the school but also inside the school premises. It is perhaps a good initiative to have a Basic Bahasa Indonesian Language Seminar for the students who will go to Indonesia and same with the partner country. It is a short briefing for the future delegates on what to expect when they arrived in Indonesia. Because learning the language is not just vital every where but it is most needed inside the classroom on how you would able to express ideas in a simple manner, the same with English language.