Purpose of Practicum

This project of SEAMEO SEA Teacher has a purpose for the pre-service teachers to have experience teaching in another country in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the aims of the SEA – Teacher Project are: 

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1. To enable the student teachers to develop their teaching skills and pedagogy.

2. To encourage student teachers to practice their English skills.

3. To allow the student teachers to gain a broader regional and world view.

 

To expose future teachers to diverse teaching and learning situations and opportunities, and the value of flexibility.

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Procedure of Practicum

As a Pre-Service Teacher, I have one (1) month duration which started from August 1 to August 29, 2019. University of St. La Salle Bacolod, the receiving university accommodated us for the entire stay.

 

Since I am an Early Childhood major, I was deployed to one preschool in Bacolod City -The School for Creative Beginners. However, I was also fortunate to have a brief exposure in another private preschool; Bright Kids and a public school, Corazon L. Montilebano Elementary School. 

 

I spent three (3) weeks The School for Creative Beginners where I have my practice teaching happened. I was assigned to a class having ages 4-5 years old. This class is being taught by Teacher Jayzelle/Jay. My first two (2) days in her class was observation. I get to learn how she handles the class, do the process of teaching, managing the time, how to organize the activity for every subject, and also how to manage the classroom with 12 students for the first class and 9 students for the second class without teacher assistant. 

 

With my observations, I have realized that there is a variety of teaching methods and strategies a teacher can utilize. I spent my remaining days in helping and assisting my cooperating teacher in the class. I did my demonstrations on the last 2 days. Before my demonstrations, I have to ask first my cooperating teacher about the subject that is needed to be taught to the students and make sure that my activity(es) are appropriate for the students. 

 

I was also able to observe in another private preschool which is Bright Kids and a public school. Both of the private schools I have observed are using English as their medium of instruction. While the public school uses their mother-tongue or their own dialect used on a daily basis which is called Hiligaynon. 

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Outcomes of Practicum

Through this program, I gained so many experiences both in education and culture. I met new friends and have a good conversation with them. I knew so many things about the education system here. We talked about the different curriculum and approaches in teaching. Since I was assigned in three particular schools I observed the different setting and approaches. I learned how to use the traditional approach in preschool education. I adjusted to a new environment and to deal with people with a different culture. Even though there’s a contrast on how I deal with my students in my country and here I can easily adapt and learn the ways to teach in progressive and traditional.

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The Challenges of Practicum

I moved to a completely different place that has a different culture, language, food, and also religion. One of the most challenging parts is the language that public school uses when I have my observation. I just observed the flow of the class. As much as I want to talk to the children in school I can’t understand their language as well as the students because they are using mother tongue-based language. I also have a hard time making my lesson plan because they have different format on how they made their plan. Though they use different formats of lesson plans, I was able to make mine with the semi-detailed format where I need to put the details and flow of my lesson during my demonstration.

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Overall Impression

I’m amazed by the approaches that they have in both public and private schools. Every school has different strategies that they are using to have a proactive learning process to their learners. I enjoyed both environments because I easily get along with the learners and to my cooperating teachers. They treat me so well and give me more information that I need to know. This journey as a SEAMEO sea teacher is a very big part as a future preschool teacher I learned so many things that make me more efficient in this field.

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Suggestion for Future Improvement

The education system is good, the strategies and curriculum are relevant in the corresponding school. I can easily adjust to this kind of curriculum. However, since Indonesia has a different approach and curriculum which depends on every school, perhaps the strategy can not be implemented directly. Digging some good facilities and some good behavior in some school in Indonesia could be a good idea. Through this condition, it proves me that SEAMEO should continue their project because we can take the good from our receiving university to our own country as well.

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