Procedures of Teaching
How I actually do my teaching process? This question widen my understanding on how teaching is being done. In my experience being a SEA-Teacher, I really expect for the unexpected things to happen. I know that my university prepare me well and it’s time to show what I got.
Actually, it’s quite different to teach in Indonesia particularly in SMA Laboratorium UNSYIAH than in the Philippines. But the process? I think it is almost the same. First I must know first the curriculum guide that the school is using specially in the field of mathematics. Through the curriculum guide, of course I will be guided on the subject to teach, how many hours I am going to teach each lesson and the standards to meet and the objectives to achieved and assess. After knowing those things, it’s very important to know your learners, that’s why on my first time meeting my class and my students, I have done first an introductory game for me to know them very well and know how much interested they are on me and how I manage differently and pressure-free the class. As what I said we must first know our learners and try to cater each differences. I’m pretty sure that I actually catch their attention at first meeting. Next thing to do is to make a lesson plan on the selected lesson aligned in their curriculum guide or syllabus. But sometimes do not focus and expect that all the things you plan on the teaching and learning process will be the same in what you plan. So things may work differently from what we planned. Mastery of the lesson is needed. After making a lesson plan from the objectives to evaluation and even assignments, it’s time now to make an effective instructional materials. I used both traditional instructional materials and technology-based instructional materials. Both I think is effective in either ways. When everything is done, always remember God for everything. Review my lesson from time to time and think also of different techniques specially in motivating students. Start the teaching with full of enthusiasm. For me, I started my lesson with a big smile in my face showing how much I am interested in teaching. I always don’t forget the important process in teaching. Teach with passion and patience. When I’m done teaching my students, I never forget to assess or evaluate their understandings. Give them a few assignments to still enhance their study habits. I end my teaching with a sweet goodbye and being thankful. Properly store the instructional materials I used and be ready for mentorship. After hearing always good comments from my mentor, I am now facing my responsibility as a SEA-Teacher and inspired again to teach on the next meeting. And the procedures of my teaching always follow the same pattern.
Time Management and Organizing Activities
Before I arrived to the school where I am going to have my practice teaching for a month, I already know what I am going to do week-by-week because the SEAMEO already gave a summarized activities for all the SEA-Teacher. On the first week is the orientation and classroom observation. Second week is teaching assistant, this week will be working with classroom teacher and lesson plan consolidation. Third week is teaching practice week. A SEA-Teacher must utilize the teaching hours and prepare for the monitoring and evaluation of the mentor. Last or fourth week is the goodbye week, maybe, but it is more on reflection and lesson learned writing. On the final week it is about reflecting on self-performance in general and discussing the lesson learned. Finalizing blog and asking some interview from mentor to be used in blog writing as a requirement by SEAMEO.
But honestly aside from the weekly schedule, many things are listed on my bucket list. I can say frankly that I came to Indonesia of course to have my practice teaching but I also expect that I can be a tourist in a one month period of the program. So, I need to manage my time properly. To manage my time and daily activities, before the other day comes, I ask already my mentor, sending university coordinator of what will happen on the next day. It is for me to plan what I am going to do on a particular day. Since that I have vacant times and days, I allotted those days to go around the city and experience how wonderful Indonesia is. Sometimes there where some Invitation from friends and teachers and even nearby schools and we accept those invitations if we are free. Actually, my whole stay in Indonesia is very productive almost every day because I really plan for every single day where to go and what to experience. I only have a limited time to do both my practice teaching and excursion of course that’s why everything must be done according to plan. Many activities sometimes occurs in a day simultaneously but I need to still strong and have full of energy. A teacher is a role of being a strong and active person to student and peers. In short, I manage the time properly and organized my activities very smooth and smart. In the end, I did all of the things happily and satisfied.
Problem - Solving
Problems always come in an unexpected moment for me. But I know that every problem has a solution on it. The very first problem I encountered is culture shock. I always vomit almost every day on the first week and experience headaches also. I took medicines also but still not working. I am just very thankful that I have co-SEA-teachers in the Philippines who are always there to take good care of me. I just accept and adapt their culture and daily routines and after that week I feel okay already and my activeness become so high again.
The other problem that I encountered during the program is the communication barrier. Not all of my students can speak English fluently and even can’t speak and understand. My subject to teach is Mathematics and their medium of instruction is in Bahasa Indonesia. Even the process is different and the formula construction, the used of variables particularly is different.
When it is time for me to teach, I asked one student the formula of the triangle. He said that he knows the formula but honestly can’t speak it in English that’s why I thought of a simple way on how all of us will understand each other. I said, if you don’t know how to speak it in English then write it on the board. He wrote it on the board and then suddenly understands each other already. Sometimes I ask other student who knows well how to speak English and translate their classmate’s answer. Even though it is long process but the important is each student must learn it. That is the problem I encountered in terms of communication barrier but actually solved by finding best and even simple ways.
Another problem that I encountered is the learning materials or references that I am going to use in my teaching. SMA Laboratorium UNSYIAH has a good and award winning school library but the problem is that I didn’t find any textbooks or learning materials written in English. I still tried to barrow some textbooks even it is written in Bahasa Indonesia because maybe I can find ways to translate it. But then I realized that the google translate is not that good quality that’s why I just used recommended and educational related websites in searching for my lessons.
Every simple problem I encountered has its solution. You must just think calmly and relax and then just remember that “don’t let your problem problems you,” let the problem slowly but surely be solved.
Classroom Management
Every single student has their own different characteristics and perspective in education. That’s why it is very hard to motivate sometimes the student to be always focus and active in the class discussion. Classroom management is one of the best ways to have a better teaching and learning process. Classroom management should be done on the very first day of the class or school year. It is to ensure that the students know what to do and act properly inside and outside the class and even be guided of the dos and don’ts.
How I did my classroom management? I started it first to an introductory game where I used paper fortune teller and random questions that they need to answer. After that game I ask my student their feelings about the game and what they have learned from it. They also set expectation and give some impressions to me. In that way, I know what they want to do, what they are expected to do and how can I make the learning environment fun and interesting. I start my classroom manage by setting rules. First is about cleanliness. I asked them that every time I’ll enter their room, someone or everybody must initiate to clean the room. Erase the handwritings on the whiteboard and arrange properly their respective seats. Second is in terms of using electronic gadgets. I told them that do not use cell phones if it is not needed. They can only use it for computation purposes and for emergency purposes also. Third, is about discipline. I imposed that if there is a teacher speaking in front, please keep quiet. And if someone has a question or will answer my question, they must raise their right hand properly and stand when saying the message. Many rules is being set to my class. But I always remember that I must limit everything for them to feel free and have some fun while learning. I always told to them that they must not feel shy every time. Consider me as a teacher inside and a friend outside the classroom.
And I’m pretty sure that all the things I’ve done in classroom management before the formal start of my class went very well. I leave the school with a teary eyed and sad face because I actually love my students even though sometimes there are naughty and noisy a sign of being a teenager citizens.
