Summary and Suggestion

 1.1          Purposes of practicum (meets or not meets your need)

The purposes of practicum are :

•  Getting exposure of educational system in other country ( Philippines )
• Getting knowledge and information about school culture in other country ( Philippines )
• Developing teaching skills in the classroom
• Developing soft skills ( Public Speaking, Problem-Solving, etc )
• Expanding the relationship between two countries in terms of education

 

1.2          Procedures of practicum

The procedures of practicum are :

• Applying for the program through the study program department
• Having several training before the program starts ( Pre-departure training )
• Having interview with the Host Univerisity
• Participating in the SEA Teacher Program in Capiz State University ( campus activities, cultural tour, and excursion days )
• Observing the class of the cooperating school
• Teaching in a demo teaching session

1.3          Outcomes of practicum

• Getting exposure of educational system in Philippines
• Getting knowledge and information about school culture in Pilar Elementary School
• Developing teaching skills in the classroom, especially in Elementary level
• Developing soft skills ( Public Speaking, Problem-Solving, etc )
• Expanding the relationship between two countries in terms of education
• Getting exposure of culture in Capiz Province
• Building a bond with the Capiz State University family and other participants

 

1.4          The challenges of practicum

• Limited access of internet connection in certain hour and condition to prepare the teaching material
• Because this is my first time to teach elementary school students, I need to change the way I teach my students. For example, to be more brighter and cheerful in the class.

1.5          Overall impression

Joining this program is one of the best choices I have ever chosen, especially being in a beautiful country and city, Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines. I was worried about joining this program at first because this was the first time I had been in another country for a teaching program. I thought one month would be very tiring, but what I got from being here beyond my expectations. I feel very grateful to be with Capiz State University family, which always helped and provided good service for us from the first day we arrived until our last minutes before leaving Roxas City.

Through this program, I learned how the education system in the Philippines is very different from Indonesia. Not only that, I also learned the culture of the Philippines school which have the similarities and differences with Indonesian school. Also on this opportunity, I can practice my teaching skills—especially teaching elementary school students. The experiences I gain while at school will later become provisions and reflections for me to become a better teacher in the future

Apart from the school observation program and teaching demonstrations, we got lots of activities to get to know the culture, nature and culinary delights in Capiz. Starting from visits to surrounding major offices (Pontevedra, Pilar, President Roxas, Roxas City), Bureau of Immigration, Commission on Higher Education, to the Capiz Cultural Tour and Excursion Day to Aklan (Boracay). The cultural insight and exposure that we got during this activity were things that I enjoyed the most while participating in this activity. I realized how wonderful it was to see another country's culture being introduced to us. Some of the cultural similarities that I found also made me feel happy because I felt how close the Philippines and Indonesia are culturally. Also, each country has its own uniqueness, which makes it even more colorful.

Apart from that, we were given time on weekends to get closer to our foster family, buddies, and especially CAPSU Pilar Family through holiday activities to natural tourist attractions. One of the places I like in Pilar is Hinulugan Falls because I can go there with my buddies and coordinator who I love.

Through this activity, I got to know warm and great people. I gained a new family that I will remember forever--CAPSU Family, Pilar Elementary School Family, and also other 11 SEA Teacher participants who participated in this activity with me. Not only as a forum for becoming teachers in South East Asia in the future, but this activity also builds strong relations between fellow Southeast Asian countries.

1.6          Suggestions for future improvement

There are no significant suggestions that I can convey because all the SEA Teacher programs carried out at Capiz State University run smoothly and are very satisfying. Hopefully all evaluations that are outside of my opinion can bring improvements to the next batch of SEA Teacher Student Exchange Program.