INNOVATE. CULTIVATE. EMPOWER
TEACHER’S EXPERIENCES ARE THE BEST TEACHER
To have a practicum across the diversity is one of the best training for a pre-service teacher like me. I was given an opportunity to render minimum of 20 hours teaching experience abroad specifically in Pelita Nusantara School at Bandung Indonesia. New comrades, new environment, new culture with highly diverse learners. I grabbed the opportunity because I know this will help to improve my skills, potential and efficiency as a future educator furthermore, this experience will hone me and let me see the reality about the system of education that we have.
January 21- February 1, 2019, almost a week after I observed I had may teaching experiences at Pelita Nusantara School. I was assigned to upper primary specifically P5b and P5c and I used the format of their lesson plan because I found it quite easy. At first I had a hard time to adjust and think what teaching method I’m going to use because I don’t know them yet. I just remembered and applied what I learned to my course subject principles of teaching that I must serve as the facilitator of the class and they must learn and discover by their own. English subject was the first subject I taught. My cooperating teacher gave me the topic procedural text. I felt so nervous before I start until the first 5 minutes of my discussion. To introduce the topic to them I used inductive method wherein I cite some examples and I kept asking question for them to discover the concept of the topic. I practiced my art of questioning because this is one of the effective way to elicit ideas and avoid spoon feeding to the students. Everything went fine. After I discussed and ensured that they understand the topic. I ask them to make a model city then they will going to demonstrate and tell the procedure they did using the sequence adverb and the preposition with. I was amazed that they were successfully done the activity I prepared for the both P5b and P5c and one of my student ask me for more fun activity and some games because she told me that they enjoy hands on activity because it makes them active and think more comprehensively rather than sitting and just absorbing all the concept of the topic. That moment was filled of satisfaction and happiness because of their performance. That day, everything change. It made me excited to think more fun and challenging activities that they can enjoy while learning.
I also taught my class about water cycle on science subject. I made a lesson plan and I read my topic. I was reading lesson and I encountered some problems about my topic. There are some experiment on the work book but the school doesn’t have these materials and I don’t have it either however I look for some remedy I read other references and downloaded an educational video to help me explain my topic. I decided to used media because I believe that they could learn better if the can experience and see it how water cycle happens rather than imagining it. Also, I just noticed that their science teacher refers too much on the book. After our discussion I ask some students to explain how water cycle happens and they are successfully explained it then I asked them to answer the activities on their workbook as additional activity to test what part they don’t understand to have remedial discussion if ever.
I tried also to teach mathematics subject. I taught them how to read clock with 24 hour system and 12 hour system. So I prepared a clock as a concrete example then I elicit some ideas about what they already know to know where to start. I just keep guiding and asking them for them to discover the concept. I used and manipulate well my materials for them to enjoy it. I used my clock to let them play a game of reading time. They found it very enjoyable and exciting and I concluded afterwards that they really understand the lesson and having exciting activities are effective and helpful in delivering the topic.
After my practicum my cooperating teachers congratulate me then they give their comments to improve more my teaching skills. I really learned a lot from them on how to manage a class properly, how to ask questions or how to think fast when unexpected things happened. They also remind me that never show to my class that I’m nervous and be more confident all the time. They understand my situation and they know the pressure I’ve been through that’s why they shared to me some of their experiences when they are interns. I admire them because I have something. Something that I can bring and use once I become a real teacher.
February 4, 2019 Monday, the moment of truth has come. I was given a chance to choose the subject to teach and type of lesson I will going to use. Since day 1 I decided to use detailed lesson plan of the Philippines because I’m comfortable to use it and I was trained well to use this kind of lesson plan. I decided to teach science subject and my cooperating teacher told me that I must teach the next chapter of the lesson I taught last time. I was given 60 minutes to have my final demonstration. I took a deep breath and started reading the next chapter which is about light. While reading it I started to think about what activities I could invent to connect with my topic. I also listed the improvise materials I could use to execute my topic like flash light, visual aids, example of transparent, translucent and opaque materials. Afterwards I started to make my detailed lesson plan and my visual aid as supporting means in delivering my topic I also prepared my evaluation form for my three mentors Ms Rita coordinator of SEAMEO, Ms Ana coordinator of Pelita Nusantara School and Ms Ira my mentor from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia . A night before everything was ready and I keep reading my material book and other reference to smoothly execute it.
I executed my final demonstration at P5b. I started my class on a flashcard drill to stimulate their mind and give them idea about what we will discuss on that day. Then I conducted a review about the previous topic in a form of game. They were really happy and active every time they involve their selves on an activity. After that I motivated their through a game entitled “Guess what” they were blind folded and I asked them to determine the thing I put on the table. Then afterwards after the funny active game I asked them if it hard to determine the thing if you are blindfolded, I also ask if what they see when they are blindfolded until I was able to introduce the topic which is about Light.
I used video to help me impart the concept of it. I prepared a guide questions that we will discuss in detailed after they watch the video. Upon the discussion of the concept of the light I provided mirror, bottled water, pencil and flash light to differentiate the concept of reflection and refraction. Using the materials I asked a students to demonstrate the instruction I said to them to help them discover the concept of the reflection and refraction. On the other hand I presented three materials and a flashlight then I asks some student to hit the object with the ray of flash light and make an observation about the amount light passes through each material until they discover the concept of transparent, translucent and opaque materials. I let my students demonstrate, observe and discover on their own to build their curiosity to learn more thus, in having more concrete and hands on activity they were able to remember and really understand the concept.
After discussing the topic I called some student to make some recap on the concepts and topic we were discussed. Then, I still had 15 minutes for my evaluation and assessment. I provided my own worksheet to ensure if everyone understand the lesson.
I was able to execute my topic smoothly and my three mentors congratulate me for a job well done they told me that they were amazed about how creative I am in thing a kind of funny and exciting games to relate on my topic. They also acknowledge my techniques to involve the students on the discussion and elicit ideas from them. I was very flattered because all the sleepless night, tired days, efforts in preparing the lesson plan and visual materials in Indonesia were finally paid off. Massive thanks to the Pelita Nusantara School for having us experience to teach across the diversity and to my cooperating teachers who guided me upon my journey in honing myself to become skilled teacher. I really learned a lot from them and most especially I learned a lot from my students and experiences I had, the lapses I had that I could bring until I become professional. It was a fun a great experience to teach other nationality. It helps me to become more resourceful, devoted, passionate and flexible which are the characteristics of a teachers.
I can’t describe the satisfaction and happiness I had during my intern. But every small beginning has an end. I was so happy because I was successfully finished my practicum yet sad because I need to leave because I will be back home soon. I already established good relationship with my students that’s why I will miss them so much.
On my last day at the school the classroom was filled of different and mixed emotion because I need to say goodbye. I can’t help myself not to cry because I will miss them so much. I gave them a Philippine Peso coin as a remembrance and they gave letters and experience that I will never forget. Terima Kasih (Thank you) class, Terima Kasih Pelita Nusantara School Terima Kasih Indonesia! Someday somehow I could go back and visit you again to reminisce all the happy moment and valuable experience I had here. Terima Kasih (Thank you).