My journey in teaching here in Palu Sulawesi, Indonesia is one of my greatest experienced and most unforgettable moment in my life.
1.1 Purposes of practicum
The purpose of this practicum is not only to practice my teaching skills but to inspire and motivate my students in SMA Lab school. Yes, a practicum is one of the platforms that providing all student teachers a memorable experienced in handling the classroom setting before they go to the real world of teaching.
In my experience, the purpose is not only to teach but to give inspirations and motivations to all the students and I believe a practicum is a place wherein the teacher now was transferring their knowledge to the actual work.
This practicum gives me truly delve into teaching experiences I enhanced myself and I enrich and encapsulate the professional wisdom that I have.
1.2 Procedures of practicum
In this practicum, Angeles University Foundation was allowed to be part of the SEAMEO-SEA Teachers Project 2019 Batch 8. Students who are willing to experience the program was given a letter of invitation from Tadulako University Tengah In Palu Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Practicum coordinators from our sending universities to our receiving universities are teamwork with each other to be able to achieve the success of the program. After that, the cooperating teachers and mentors from the receiving school will be responsible for supervising our work and responsibilities in the practicum school. Within the stay, we as a student-teacher must act on or own responsibilities and give our best every single way. Then, practicum evaluation will follow.
The teacher of the said subject will be evaluated the student-teacher together with the higher people in the said University they will look the development from our personality, behaviors attitudes and especially on how we deliver our lessons managing our beloved students. And that is how a practicum will end.
1.3 Outcomes of practicum
This teaching experienced helps me a lot by to improving my ability in teaching, classroom managing and so on. This practicum helps me develop awareness, understanding, and capacity in the specific roles and responsibilities of a teacher especially in my specialization the English and Mandarin subject. I also developed my refines skills for classroom knowing the barrier of language. This practicum also helps me demonstrate the ability to plan some activities so that the students won’t feel bored, I also learned how to implement and evaluate effective teaching and learning strategies with the help and guidance of excellent teachers as mentors. This practicum enlightened me to my journey in the teaching field. I am forever grateful to be one of the chosen students in this program.
1.4 The challenges of practicum
One of the big challenges of this practicum was the language diversity and culture difference of the students. As a student-teacher practicing teaching skills is one of my goals but I just learn how to communicate with my beloved learners, so that I can transfer and they can learn some a lot. There are a lot of things that the student's teacher should do fist are they need to adjust their speaking skills, English communication is one of their media, and their usual teaching strategy to perform a lot of activities must wonderful and planned so that the students will have a wonderful learning environment
Furthermore, one of the difficulties or trials that I encountered was the degree of understanding of my dearly loved students after I taught them. I am very contented if my students learned by me, it is because of my duty and responsibility to take that moment that all of my students must learn and understand new things. Besides, the way you must wear clothes is also one of the important matters. In Indonesia I can’t wear shorts sleeveless, dress, etc because this was forbidden in their country, the girls in their country must cover their bodies with long clothes. I find it challenging because in our country I can wear anything, but thankfully I adapt and I adjust and I loved the way I wear my clothes in Palu, Indonesia.
Despite that we got to shape our inner self with the values of adaptability, patience, and positive outcomes, socializing that helps us sustain the excitement and happiness within our stay.
1.5 Overall impression
This program gave me a 100 percent impression it just like a 10-month-old baby excited to walk already. I get too excited of my new adventure, I get too nervous because I still looking forward in my new environment, I get too happy because of the people I might meet in that country and the achievement that I get. I get confused because I may now battle with differences. I also get frustrated because of the unfinished work that needs to be done. I get frustrated by the unfinished work that needs to be done just like a lesson plan. I also get sad because I sometimes miss my family and friends. But one thing for sure, I know I achieved a lot I got new friends family and my students love me, there are all a family not by blood but a family by heart which helped me develop as a better human;
This program doesn’t only help you with the exchange of knowledge and experience. However, it is a program that makes me see how beautiful it is to be united with everyone despite the cultural diversity, the beliefs, and the language.
1.6 Suggestions for future improvement
To all future SEA-Teachers, all I want to say is that this program was indeed a remarkable experience. You will never regret this opportunity until you experienced it; you just need to adapt to the cultures and belief of the country you may go to. Of course there still some things that still need to improve; I may recommend also few things before and after this program.
The first thing that the student’s teacher must know before going to the said country they must orient about the culture or beliefs that they may observe and follow. Never know who will be the one
Second, it is better to know who we will be responsible for your stay in that country. Along with it would be safer if the student-teacher knows how much allowance they must bring because there are tendencies that they will be paired by someone who will ask for money because she no longer has an allowance, or even worse to steal something from you. It is also needed because as we all know, not all schools cater to our meals. What if she can no longer eat proper food because she is out of budget?
Besides, we are the tourist or an alien to this country where we don’t know how to speak with the locals, how to go to places like tourist attractions and how we can experience the most of our stay; a proper plan during weekends would be a great idea. I am happy to say that I am one of the lucky people who experienced traveling with great people in Indonesia, Sulawesi, Palu. They are all humble and compassionate to all of us they are willing to give their time just for us to have an unforgettable weekend. My rest of days staying in Palu, Sulawesi were indeed a great day for me, they make it meaningful, and thank you so much to all the people behind those experience without you my staying here in this country is boring.