1.1 Purposes of Practicum

Why is practice teaching important for a pre-service teacher? A decade ago, simply having a good academic standing was enough to qualify you for a decent job. Today, good grades just don’t cut it. When it comes to securing employment, most institutions want to make sure you can put what you learned to practice. Practicums allow students to earn real hands-on experience with the best in the industry.

 

​Modern society demands high quality teaching and learning from teachers. Teachers have to possess a great deal of knowledge and skills with regard to both teaching and assessment practices in order to meet those demands and standards of quality education. Teacher learning is a continuous process that promote teachers’ teaching skills, master new knowledge, develop new proficiency, which in turn, help improve students’ learning. Classroom management is essential to both teachers’ education and teachers’ professional development, it is crucial to keep teachers knowledge up to date, so they can deliver high quality teaching.

 

Teachers with high quality teaching tend to do and find out more about their own craft, pushing out the boundaries of their learning and teaching, looking for the new topics and ways to teach. Teachers provided with proper training on up-to-date information and new research on classroom management, on emerging technology tools for the classroom, new curriculum resources, and more, could become a successful factor to their schools. The best professional development is ongoing, collaborative, and connected to and derived from working with students and understanding their culture.

​

 

1.2 Procedures of practicum

The procedure intends to coordinate student teaching practicum, conducts assessment on quality and outcome and ensures the respective duties and responsibilities of a student teacher. Student teaching practicum enables to strengthen the knowledge and competence on major courses, psychology, pedagogy, and didactics, and learn effective teaching methodology and perspectives.

 

As discussed during the orientation of the SEAMEO program, we are have to spend 4 weeks in another country by observing, assisting, and teaching classes in schools. I did all of these chronologically with the help of my Coordinating Teacher at the school where I was assigned at. I spent the first week observing classes and pointed out the major differences between the education in the Philippines and Indonesia. One of the differences was that the language of instruction being used is Bahasa, unlike in the Philippines where English is considered to be the second language and is also used as the common language of instruction.

 

Then I assisted all of the English teachers in their classes and outside. There, I got to learn different ways and varied means of preparing and giving lessons. On my third and fourth week, I got to finally teach and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my time as a pre-service teacher. I have found my true purpose in teaching.

 

 

1.3 Outcomes of practicum

Practice teaching is a way for a student teacher to improve her craft by knowing how to deal with diversity and by being able to deliver a good quality lesson to students. I expected my practicum experiences to be smooth sailing and that I will get to learn new methods in teaching. Instead, I learned and did so much more than those.

 

To be a good quality educator, one must have a thorough knowledge in knowing how to deal the diversity in the classroom. I have never handled a class wherein a muslim student is present. So teaching a class full of muslim students was an eye-opener for me.

 

I have learned not just the new different methodology of teaching but also I have learned how to deal with diversity and differences inside the classroom. My practicum experience has taught me to become a good quality educator.

 

​

1.4 The challenges of practicum

• Time Management

• Proper Budget Allocation

• Learning how to live independently

• Adjusting to their culture

• Not getting lost

• Dealing with diversity inside the classroom

• Language barrier

 

​

1.5 Overall Impressions

I have always wanted to join the SEAMEO program ever since I was introduced to it. I have been saving up so that I would be able to join the said program. Being an exchange-student would be an amazing experience. Plus getting to practice teach in another country could really add up to my experience as a student teacher.

 

Overall, all of my expectations were met. I got to meet new friends and have new connections outside the country which could help me a lot in the future. This has been a wonderful journey for me and I am so glad to be able to accomplish such a venture.

 

​

1.6 Suggestions for future improvement

• Always have a proper agreement and communication between two receiving and sending schools.

• Rules and regulations of the student-exchange program should be emphasized more during orientations to avoid confusions.

• Make sure the assigned buddies of the receiving students can easily communicate with them therefore building a stronger and more comfortable relationship.