Upon Wings of Change

Being a teacher isn't just about being a degree holder or passing all the other examinations. It is about having the courage to transmit your learning and being able to help young people. Being a teacher is a long way run, you are about to wear a crown because you will have your own kingdom. You will lead a thousand of people who will someday could be an ambassador of change.

Pedagogical Content

A week after, (January 29, 2019) I had my first teaching assistance in class 7E. Inside the classroom, I have noticed that teachers are more focused on what's on the book. They rely on the textbooks that help and guide them in their teaching. They usually don't use visual materials. Addition, the students also have worksheets to be answered according to the topic that will be discussed. I have seen that they focused more on giving the students tasks and assignments than discussion and lectures. I am a little bit shocked because it is not the way I used to see. The teacher would ask the students first to answer all the tasks in their book related to the topic that is to be discussed and later on when they already finished, the teacher would just explain and give short examples and afterwards will check the activities given. Sometimes, every time the class hours end, the teacher evaluate and assess the students work individually by asking which part majority got the mistakes so the students will be corrected and I think that was the most important thing. To help and at the same time encourage the students that making mistakes is not a synonym for being not good enough.

Upon observing, I have realized that letting the students to discover first on their own would help them to grow and learn better. However, I'm also amazed how the learning environment is conducive to learning. Students are comfortable enough to study and didn't bother their surroundings. All the classrooms are well-ventilated and air-conditioned. There are also whiteboards present in each classrooms as well as speakers that connected to the main office and LCD that can be also used in teaching.

Multiple observations and assistance happened. My observation was one week straight. (29th of January - 2nd of February) By that, I've got to know the students better and deeper. I always try to make a connection so they won't feel any barriers between us just because I'm not one of them. Little did I know, going to every class is the only thing that made me more excited about every day and does completed it well. But my observation and assistance were not stopped inside the four corners of each classrooms. Because true learning happens outside.

Teaching Plan

Ibu Iik also told me that in their school, they only meet the students every week once in a subject. And that was part and rule of their curriculum. The class takes only 80 minutes including the discussion and evaluation. Upon observing and teaching different classes and students, I have noticed that we may have that learners's diversity but in here, in Indonesia you could see that all students meet in the same line. They afraid to break the rules. They always follow and respect others. Every time you see them in the way, they will always give you their sweetest smiles and do their handshake as a sign of their respect. But even though they can't easily understand the language I am using, they still try to adjust and do their best just to let me feel I am being appreciated. They are noisy but you cannot feel the uncomfortable feeling. For the noisiness comes from the heart. Everything has sense. They don't do any necessary noise that was not part of our discussion. By that, I realized that being a teacher, you should really be flexible and can adjust and cope up with new things. Maybe the students might meet each other in same page but we still not sure on how they are learning. Everything would not be easy but with the power of faith, just believe that you can and you will definitely will.

I was told to handle grade 7 students in the junior high school which were composed of eight class. But I only handled six sections. From grade 7C- grade 7H. Ibu Iik helped me to become better enough to handle different situations. Actually, everyday she gives me shocking moments, like for example, she will going to ask me the exact time of the class to teach the students immediately. But when she do that, I take everything as a challenge all the times. I never doubted myself for I know she herself believes in me. I accepted the challenge always for I know at the end of the day, I'm going to gain something from it.

Everyday, we go to school from 7 am to 12 in the afternoon. And as the school rules, we should go out at 12 pm also. I'm proud to say that I finally did well. I'm so done with my mission. And with that, my perspective is widen and had changed into something great. I know as I go back to my country, I am no longer the same person anymore.

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Teaching Practice

FINAL DEMO

When it comes to teaching, of course I always think of the process. Because when I say process, I should really have the plan and the steps to do it. So, I always begins in preparing my lesson plan. Consequently, my teaching still follows my teaching plan. It always starts with asking my students' day, how are them and their feeling at that moment. Because I believe that as a teacher you should care to your students. And then I can now give my strategies that will trigger my students to learn. And after observing if they are already have the will to learn, that will be the time that I'm going to present my lesson. During the discussion, I always ask them if they understand what I am talking about. I also ask some examples for them to give and sometimes I let them to make and use it in a sentence. After the lesson, I always give them activities and seat works to apply the learning that they gained.Lastly is the evaluation part where I sometimes give quizzes or group works to measure if they truly learn something. Most of the time, I give assignments related to our next topic.

With regard in time management and organizing my activities in teaching, I always give my best to prepare and be ready before entering my class. I want to give my full effort to the students so they will not feel any unworthy feelings. I want them to see that they are one of my most priorities. But I realized that not all the time I did focus on my teaching especially during my stay in their country, because I really one to explore and at the same time to finish my mission which is my teaching. Yet, when I have my vacant time and free time especially every night I make sure that I will prepare and read my lesson the next day. I organize it by printing papers and my guide so I won’t have any problem in the process of my teaching. I also exert my effort and time in making presentations and lesson plans.

Concerning the problems that I’ve encountered during my teaching includes first, the language barrier. Not all the students can speak English Language. But I always thank them for being so nice. As I adjust learning some of their words in Indonesia and use the very simple words in English, they also do the adjustments so they can understand me. They try harder to learn and create a sentence in English Language so they can talk to me and try also to teach me some Bahasa Indonesia so we would be able to meet on the same line. Another problem that comes in my way is about the time management. I’m having a very hard time to manage my time because I’m always stuck between exploring the beauty of Indonesia and focusing on the lesson that I’ll teach the next day. But anyways, I learned to manage my time well and was able to do multitasking.

Upon managing all the classes that I’ve been handling, I can say that they didn’t bring me any stress and burden. They are all disciplined and responsible even they are too young. All the students in SMPN1 Madiun look up the teachers with higher authority. They value and treasure their teachers so much. Respect is practiced in every class. From the first time I enter their classroom until the end, I never had any difficulties in managing the classes. When I say and ask them something, they will do it straightaway. But then, sometimes the noisiness is still there but I am thankful that I was able to control them and I understand them because they are too young. Yet, when I give them my one look which means “to keep quiet”, you would see that silence will be there without delay.

All in all, I really had learned a lot. This amazing experience taught me so much about life and in my teaching career. I considered this success another step to reach my goals and dreams. Before I enter this program I am losing a lot of reasons and I can't find any motivation to continue what I have started. But as this journey near its end, I know that I have enough reason to go on. I already had my will to continue and pursue my career. I can now imagine myself being a teacher. I am so blessed that I would be able to share my experiences in this trip with a lot of beautiful and amazing people. Without them beside and behind me, I couldn't get so much learning that I will be forever kept.