Summary and Suggestions

Purposes of Practicuum

Prior to my engagement with this project, I undertook comprehensive pre-planning. I diligently conducted research on the project, consulted with my seniors, and sought advices from my professors. Upon synthesizing this information, I resolved to forge ahead with this endeavor. Notwithstanding the rigorous application procedures involving interviews at both our university and the host institution, as well as navigating the intricacies of visa application, I remained resolute in my decision to pursue this opportunity, also taking into consideration that I am a third year student, meaning I have classes that will be left in the Philippines.

Taking all those things into consideration, my conviction stemmed from a firm belief that every undertaking holds a purpose. In the case of this project, it offers pre-service educators, such as ourselves, a unique chance to immerse in diverse classroom environments. This experience provides an avenue for fostering independence while honing our teaching acumen and refining our skill sets. The intrinsic value lies in the opportunity to gain firsthand experience and insights, which are pivotal for our growth and development as educators. Not to mention that this project is once in a lifetime opportunity for a student teacher like me, so I asked myself, 'can i really let this opportunity go to waste if this project can help me improve?'.

Therefore, I am grateful and never regrets that I joined this once in a lifetime opportunity project hosted by SEAMEO. With this project, my purpose as an educator became more important. The real purpose of this whole project is not just producing educator but rather producing a 21st century educator who is ready to faced the continuous changes in our society.

Did this project meet my needs? ABSOLUTELY! it did not just meet my needs but it exceed my expectations making it more memorable and I will surely treasure those moments where I commit mistakes, grew and learn independently not forgetting that I should apply those learning in my future endeavours as a soon to be licensed teacher.

Procedures of Practicuum

In teaching, we always start with knowing the curriculum, planning our lesson, preparing instructional materials, actual teaching and proceeding to evaluation and assessments. With this project, we are given a chance to have our class observation, teaching assistantship before proceeding with actual teaching demonstration.

During my first week, I observed both elementary and high school class in Ban Mak Khaeng School. Just like in the Philippines the teachers have their introductory activities such as checking of attendance, consultation on the students grade and a review of the previous lesson. I also noticed that teachers in BMK used microphones in each and every classroom so that students at the back can also hear them. Teachers also always prepare an activity after every class.

On my second week which is the teaching assistantship, my cooperating teacher tasked me to make an interactive activity for her subject and she gave me 15-20 minutes to do the said activity, so I let my students play jumbled words, hep hep hooray! (this is a Filipino game), spelling bee, hot potato, guess what am i and stop dance. This week is the most exciting and fun since I had the chance to play with my students while learning despite the language barrier, I also included Thai language in the instructions so they will not have hard time understanding the mechanics of the game.

On the third week, I had the chance to teach the topic about Oceans and Oral Communication. I handled the class and I always start with asking them about their day and just letting them talk to me in English, it is fun at the same time heartwarming since the students exerted a lot of effort to talk to me in English, In exchange I also teach them some Filipino words and they teach me Thai words. In my grand demonstration teaching, I remember that Mr. Phet, our cooperating teacher from the host university watched it together with my cooperating teacher in Ban Mak Khaeng, Mrs. Ampanida/ Dr. Koi. They gave me comments and they liked the way I teach the students, one comment that strucked me the most is the comment: "I like that you used quiz game to break down the content into smaller chunk so that the students can have a better understanding of the content.", I admit I am nervous with the final demonstration teaching but my students made me feel at ease and they participated on our class. As a teacher, I felt loved and supported by my students and that made me realize that I love teaching, my students and my profession, this also made me realize that I may not get rich in this profession but the benefits that I get from it such as the love and achievements of my students are more than enough.

Outcomes of Practicuum

The impact of our teaching efforts is most evident in the progress of our students. In my experience, witnessing their growth from struggling with simple words like "Philippines" to confidently spelling complex phrases such as "United States of America" marks a significant achievement. Their milestones, though seemingly small, bring me immense joy and validate the effectiveness of my teaching methods.

The students shared that they found English Class challenging and dull before my arrival. However, my presence seemed to ignite excitement about the subject, making it more accessible and engaging for them to comprehend.

During my final demonstration teaching, observing my students' mastery of our topic on global warming and their ability to answer questions accurately was a gratifying moment. However, what truly resonated with me was a poignant instance when they expressed affection in my native language, saying "Mahal Kita" or 'I love you' during our last gathering. This touching gesture served as a reminder that my impact extended beyond imparting lesson content; it fostered a genuine appreciation and affection for the me and the teachers.

Challenges of Practicuum

In the whole duration of my practicuum, I faced few challenges which are:

1. Language Barrier, English is not Thailand's second language nor their third language. Within the classroom setting, language differences can impede the teacher's ability to effectively communicate lessons and instructions to students. It becomes challenging to convey complex concepts or clarify doubts when the language used by the teacher might not be the students' native or preferred language. This hampers the flow of information and understanding, affecting the learning process.

2. Adjustment to Teaching Methods, as much as possible as a pre-service teacher, you need to quickly adapt to the foreign way of teaching methods in your designated country. The time is limited as you only have a week to observe the class, so you need to maximize your time in preparing your approach to your students.

These are the challenges that I faced during the practicuum, and we all know that life can get a little dull without the challenges, so as a pre-service teacher you just need to prepare yourselves and be ready to conquer all those challenges, because somebody believes in you and your ability, your students!

Overall Impresion

I see this program as a wonderful opportunity, perhaps even a blessing, especially for aspiring teachers like myself. It provides student-teachers with a unique chance to put their skills into real practice in a foreign setting. This highlights the importance of teachers being adaptable and resourceful to meet diverse educational needs. That's why I coined the slogan "Two Different Cultures, Towards One Goal: Education!" This slogan aims to highlight the rich diversity within this program. It enables us to blend our own cultural backgrounds with that of another when it comes to teaching. I find it truly beautiful to not only learn about a new culture and its curriculum but also to innovate and enrich it with aspects of our own culture.

In conclusion, my decision to be a part of this remarkable project is one I hold without any regrets. The moments and lessons I've gained from this program will be cherished, serving as valuable experiences that have not only enhanced my skills but have also offered me a fresh outlook on the essence of my profession.

Suggestions for future improvement

One possible suggestion to enhance the SEA Teacher Exchange Program could be to consider extending the duration of the project. Extending the duration of the SEA Teacher Exchange Program could offer an added advantage by providing SEA teachers with more time to immerse themselves in the host country's culture and educational practices. This longer duration would enable teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances and teaching methodologies within a foreign setting, enriching their overall experience and professional growth.

Another suggestion is, to establish clear communication channels between the program coordinators and the practicum schools. This can be achieved through structured orientation sessions and comprehensive written guidelines. These orientation sessions should be meticulously designed to acquaint the practicum schools with the project's specific rules, regulations, and the expected hours of duty for visiting SEA teachers. Providing a detailed handbook or document outlining the program's objectives, code of conduct, and any essential regulations will further solidify this understanding. Regular updates and ongoing communication channels will ensure that the practicum schools remain informed about any revisions or alterations to the program's guidelines.

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