The SEA Teacher Program, organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), provides a unique opportunity for pre-service teachers to gain international teaching experience. The primary aim of this program is to promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among future educators in Southeast Asia. By allowing student teachers to teach in a foreign country, the program helps participants develop professional skills while contributing to regional educational goals.
One of the main purposes of the SEA Teacher Program is to foster professional development. Participants gain hands-on teaching experience in a multicultural setting, improving their abilities in lesson planning, classroom management, and instructional delivery. This practical exposure prepares them for real-world teaching challenges and enhances their confidence as educators.
Another significant outcome of the program is the development of cross-cultural competence. Immersion in a different educational system and culture helps participants understand and appreciate diversity, fostering mutual respect and collaboration. This experience broadens their perspectives and prepares them to work effectively in diverse environments.
The program also enhances participants’ communication skills. Teaching in a foreign environment often involves overcoming language barriers and adapting to different communication styles, which helps student teachers become more effective in conveying their ideas. Additionally, the program provides networking opportunities, allowing participants to build connections with peers, mentors, and educators across Southeast Asia. These relationships can lead to future collaborations and professional growth.
Finally, the SEA Teacher Program allows participants to make meaningful contributions to education. By bringing fresh perspectives and innovative teaching methods to their host schools, student teachers enrich the learning experience for students and add value to the educational community.
During my practicum i have my observation to learn effective teaching strategies, classroom management techniques, and student engagement methods by analyzing real-life classroom dynamics. After observation i have my first assistanship whit the help of my adviser and another internship student. After that i have to do Demo teaching, i followed the flow of my lesson plan, as this was my guide in teaching Basketball to the learners. My adviser complimented me on having a loud voice because i was teaching skills at their covered court in SMP Lab
One major challenge is the language barrier, as communicating with students and colleagues becomes difficult if the teacher is not proficient in Bahasa Indonesia. This can result in misunderstandings during lessons or interactions, highlighting the importance of learning the local language to improve engagement. Cultural differences also present a significant obstacle, as Indonesia’s unique norms, practices, and expectations for student-teacher relationships, discipline, and classroom dynamics may vary from those in the Philippines. Adapting to these differences requires patience and an open mind. This experience as a SEA Teacher has strengthened my passion for education and reinforced my commitment to becoming a teacher who inspires, adapts, and connects with students across cultural and linguistic boundaries.
The SEA Teacher immersion program was a valuable and eye-opening experience. It allowed me to teach in a new cultural setting, learn different teaching styles, and build connections with students and fellow educators. I gained a deeper understanding of the Indonesian education system, improved my adaptability, and became more culturally aware. Although challenges like language barriers and adjusting to new teaching norms were present, they contributed to my personal and professional growth.
To improve the program, i suggest that all the learners who are going to participate in the SEA Teacher program must be educated with the language and also the culture. through this participants from different countries will have a knowledge on the country that they will be deployed on.
"Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." – Joshua J. Marine
I would like to thank Dr. Sopingi, Firs Lady and Azizha for accompanying us in our journey as a SEA Teacher, without them it will be hard for us to face the challenges on this program. To Ma'am Rhere as she helped us to she is also helped us in our journey in Indonesia. To Ms. Nohan for inviting me in her lectures and also treating us like her children. To my Adviser Mr. Yuwono i want to thank him for the knowledge that he passed on to me and Mr. Roby for guiding me and becoming my translator during my assistanship. Without these people, my journey as a SEA Teacher in UM and SMP Lab will be hard for us in facing the challenges.