V. Summary and Suggestions

       1. PURPOSES OF PRACTICUM

The SEA Teacher Project or the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia aims to provide us, pre-service student teachers, to have teaching experience in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia.

First, it helped us to develop our teaching skills and pedagogy as we were assigned to teach in schools where we can use the skills and pedagogies that we have learned throughout the past few years from our home university. Second, it encouraged us to practice our English skills as we were tasked to communicate to our students, coordinators, mentors, teachers and others using the English language. Third, it allowed us to gain a broader regional and world view as we were able to use different perspectives and ideas from other people. And lastly, it exposed us to diverse teaching and learning situations and opportunities, and the value of flexibility as we were primarily tasked to be involved in the class and in fact run the class.

And all of these purposes helped us, pre-service student teachers, to aspire to become globally competitive teachers and effective ones in order for us to produce productive citizens.

Indeed, the purpose of this practicum even exceeded my needs and expectations. –

       2. PROCEDURES OF PRACTICUM

During my first two days in the school where I and Lynton were assigned, I introduced myself, observed both the students and my teacher instructor and became a facilitator of the activities in different classes. Thus, I have assisted our teacher instructor in guiding the pupils in things that they do such as what they (the students) need to do in order to come up with a good performance. In these classes, I was also tasked to give evaluation to the performance showed by the students. On my third day, I have observed my teacher instructor solely as she talks about their topic, “Too and Enough.”

Moreover, due to sudden change of schedules, one of my classes has been cancelled. As a result, I have taught three times in the school only. My first class’ topic is on the 8 Main Structures of Text in an Advertisement: (1) persuasive statements/words, (2) event, (3) consumers, (4) contact, (5) price, (6) venue, (7) date, and (8) time. Next, my second class’ topic is on 7 Language Features of an Event Advertisement: (1) evocative language, (2) informative language, (3) persuasive language, (4) powerful language, (5) simple language, (6) positive language, and (7) active sentence. Lastly, my third class’ topic is also on the Language Features of an Event Advertisement.

In teaching, I made use of different instructional materials such as video clips, speaker, projector, laptop, cutouts, markers/pens, different colors of cartolina/carton, draw lot box, and worksheets not only for individuals but also for groups. These materials were my aids in teaching so that I can make my teaching process not only efficient but also engaging, meaningful and interactive. This kind of strategy helped me in encouraging the students to participate in the class, and in persuading them to be present not only physically but also mentally. –

       3. OUTCOMES OF PRACTICUM

As what the SEA Teacher Project expected us to achieve, I was able to teach students and learn from students from different SEA countries, to challenge myself, to meet different kind of learners, and most importantly, I was able to expand my teaching capabilities even in just a short period of time.

First, I was able to teach students and to learn from students in other Southeast Asian country. Finally, I got to utilize the things that I have learned from my school for the past few years, all the teaching methods, strategies and techniques to make an effective teaching process. As I get to share knowledge or teach the students, I came to realize that I am also learning from the students. I learned things not only for my teaching career skills but also for my life’s skills. I got to understand how to accept and respect each other’s differences. I got to learn about how to communicate and bond well with people despite of having different language, race, culture and tradition. And I have been taught that somehow we are similar – hoping for better future.

Second, I was able to challenge myself in different aspects. Speaking in front of a crowd has been pretty hard for me back then but as I was tasked to speak in English all the time to be able to speak to the students, I was able to surpass my nervousness in speaking in front of a group. I was able to train myself to communicate in English with my students and to others confidently and calmly.

Third, I was able to meet different kinds of learners. Because of this, I got to know the different learning styles of the students whom I have handled, this helped me to understand that every student has their own uniqueness and thus it came to me that in order to be a better teacher I need to expand my strategies and have variety of tasks and activities that could cater all kinds of learners. In addition, I came to understand that although their styles are different to each other, with meaningful and engaging teaching and learning process, all of these students are ready to learn.

Lastly, I was able to expand my teaching capabilities. As I was given the chance to work with capable teachers, I got to learn how to be more effective in encouraging the students to raise their performance. I got to understand that varieties of teaching techniques persuade the students to engage themselves in the teaching and learning process. Also, as some instructional materials were not available all the time, I have learned to become resourceful and creative. I have learned how to continue the lessons even when there are minor problems such as technicalities. Yes, I learned how to come up with immediate solutions whenever I encounter teaching problems and difficulties.

Indeed, this practicum abroad has truly helped me to gain new ideas and insights. The information that I gained would definitely be useful as I continue in teaching the students and in sharing all the knowledge that I have with me. All of these things helped me to have better and broader perspective to the world of teaching, that I have realized the responsibilities that I am carrying in my shoulders, that I need to be that kind of a teacher who teaches not because of material things but because of my love in teaching and because of my aspiration that students will become productive citizens. –

       4. CHALLENGES OF PRACTICUM

Behind the activities that have been done, there have been challenges and struggles that I have met along the way.

We all know that the SEA Teacher Project requires one to go to another country in order for the practicum takes place, I, then, have been away from my parents for almost a month and million miles away from them. It has been quite hard at first as it is my first time to be away from my family and as I always depend on them. Thus, with this project, I have learned to be independent from my family or do things on my own. During my different first times to different things, our student buddies have helped us to know things, after then I have then become someone who does things autonomously; I tried things and explored things on my own after.

Another is that there were no near places where I can buy things needed for my lessons which is the reason why I needed more time in making my instructional materials. Due to this, I have then planned and listed all the things needed in all of my classes. As a result, I have gone to stores not every time I have my class.

Also, as the students and I have different L1 or first language, we use English language as a means of communication; as a result the allotted time for teaching takes longer time than the expected. To become then a teacher who is flexible at all time, I have used simple words in communicating and assist students when sharing their thoughts in the class.

Lastly, I came from different race, I have different language, culture, tradition and religion. Although I have been stunned with the differences, this has never become a problem. In fact, I am amazed that despite of these differences, I was able to build a relationship with all of my Indonesian friends, students, and teachers, and also with my fellow SEA teachers who came from Thailand. And if problems occur, big or even the small ones, at the end of each day, we would always come up with great solutions.

I got to explore my fullest potential! –

       5. OVERALL IMPRESSION

In just the age of 20, I am beyond grateful as I was given an opportunity to see another part of the world! I am thankful as I got to learn and teach in a foreign nation. And I indeed feel satisfied as I got to take in the allure and culture of a new land which is the Indonesia!

First and foremost, through this project called Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia, I have experienced a different style of education and because of this, I came up with ideas for my teaching plan in the near future. From this, I was exposed to diverse teaching and learning situations which enables me to adapt diverse situations while being able to solve the problems that occur. To understand how the world of teaching works in the school and how the educational system being used by the school administration enables me to be interested as well to other systems as to acquire broader knowledge. The system used by the school is so unique that I want to learn also the other educational systems in hopes that I will get useful information for my teaching career. Although there are difference in the system, in the end, I have come to understand that all we need is a teacher who has an unconditional love and willingness in order to cater well the needs and demands of the students.

As I needed to communicate with the students, teachers, coordinators, and staffs, I needed to use a language which can let us understand each other and surprisingly, I was immersed with my second and universal language, the English language. I have come to learn that awareness to a language helps us value things – the people, the culture, the education and the life. There is no better way to learn a language than to be in a place where you can use the language - inside the classroom, in the community, in communicating with fellow students, during cultural immersion days, in different tour and trips, etc. This practical immersion truly helped me improve my language acquisition.

Indeed, through this project I have met the better version of me. The learning and knowledge I gained propel me towards acceptance and understanding an array of different cultural and community perspectives. This training encouraged me to become flexible, to learn autonomously in order to get to explore as well, and to be someone who is willing to help not only when someone asks me to but whenever I see someone who needs help either emotionally, physically, or academically.

The SEA Teacher Project has been truly a great stepping stone for me to become a great teacher in many aspects; I have learned so much that the hardships and sacrifices that I and my family have made were paid off. The experiences and learning that I have gained will surely be my guide as I continue on knocking the doors of education of every student that I am going to meet. –

       4. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENT

SMA Negeri 2 Madiun offers different curricular activities and extracurricular activities as to cater the learning needs, and interests of the students. The school also provides learning experiences that are contextualized in which teachers provide examples that are proximate to the knowledge of the students. The learning activities are connected to the real life experiences, thus if students go out in the world, the students have already something in their minds which they could apply.

However, the teachers of the school use the Bahasa language in teaching in different subjects. In order to master the English language, the use of English in English subject should be often used as the students are already in Senior High School. Although, this may let the teaching and learning process time-consuming as the teacher needs to let the students first organize their thoughts to share through speaking in English, this exercises the students to communicate in English. Eventually, the students will gain confidence and be immersed already in English language during English subjects.

On the other hand, if not for the whole lesson of the other subjects such as Math, Science and others, it is good to use English at least some basic English words/ phrases such as to greet the teachers or their fellow students.

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Moreover, I would like to suggest that it would have been better if we were given more schedule to teach the students or let us more meet the students to have at least some conferences with them. This is to let us expand more our capabilities and at the same time make our free time a productive ones. They could then ask the future SEA teachers whether they have the time or not.

Meanwhile, I had so much great time with SMAN 2 Madiun students; I admire and commend the teachers’ ways to guide the students in becoming good citizens! –