Summary and Suggestions

A. Purposes of Practicum

When you have purpose in your life, you likely feel good about the way you are living your life. To be honest before I join this program, I was very clueless with myself. But as time goes by I encourage myself to be able to do this. I believe, this program is a good opportunity for the PSTs. Align with SEAMEO’s mission, the SEA-Teacher Project is aims to provide aspiring educators with the unique opportunity to engage in practicums at schools in different countries within the region. Not only that, It also give awareness to the participants with the cross-cultural exchange and international exposure.

B. Procedures of Practicum

The duration of practicum is 3 weeks. I had a lot of new experiences and activities during this program. The first week is orientation and observation. We are introduce to school environment and observed the PSTs in teaching. The second week is assistantship. I have 3 chances of assisting in EHS in order to get to know better of the classroom and students. During assistantship, my buddy always with me while the supervising teacher observed me.

Before doing grand demo, all SEA-Teacher participants have to make lesson plan according to the topics. I prepared all of the lesson plan, materials, and media needed and then discussed it with my buddy and my supervising teacher. The third week is the grand demo which is where I have my full teaching in class and been graded. After the grand demo, I had post conference with the assessor where he gave feedback and advice to my teaching process. After 3 weeks in school, all the SEA-Teacher required to making blog as the final report.

C. Outcomes of Practicum

My experiences give me confident in teaching. During this program, I am trained to be flexible and ready in all circumstances so that’s why I feel that this program increase my pedagogy and classroom management skills. I personally think that this program is a very interesting project, because it give the participants chance to directly interacted with people from all around the countries. By exposing myself talking in English, I could say that my public speaking and social skills getting better. This program also a great platform to share ideas and culture. I have so much knowledge about the Philippines. Not only that, I have much of memorable experiences with my new friends from different school and nationality. I believe that the differences are not meant to tear each other down, but rather to strengthen.

D. The Challenges of Practicum

I believe every people always meet the challenges. It is like part of our life and we can’t avoid it but overcome it. During this program, I also faced a lot of challenges, like:

Language barrier. Since English is not my active language and it’s the second language for the Filipino, I need gap time whenever I want to speak or responding to others. And also I have to watch them because they have unique accent.
This is the first time of me teaching in real class. So I feel little nervous and overwhelmed when I talk to students. Also it needs more effort for me to manage student’s behavior in class.

E. Overall Impression

SEA-Teacher program is one of best decision ever in my life. I remember when my lecturer ask me to join this program and she said that this is a big opportunity for me. Well, of course at first I feel glad to be selected but kinda doubt about myself since I didn’t have much preparations. But I trust God’s plan. During this program, I have learned a lot. Especially in EHS, from orientation to closing ceremony. I learned how to manage class and making sure that they understand about what I am saying. Also since this is my first time to studying abroad, I feel like this program changing my life into a better person.

F. Suggestions for Future Improvement

I truly believed that this program is well planned, but If I can give suggestion is about the school suspended. One concern form me is about giving us activities during suspended days. Because we spent almost 1 week only in dorm and have to rush in teaching to fullfil at least have 20 hour teaching demo in school. I think that’s it since I already satisfied with all of their treatment while I have practicum in EHS.