SUMMARY and SUGGESTIONS

 

A. Purposes of Practicum

The purpose of this practicum is to develop the teaching competence of prospective Indonesian teachers through international teaching experience. One of the main focuses of this program is improving English proficiency, considering that English is still a foreign language in Indonesia. By joining the SEA Teacher Program, participants are given the opportunity to practice teaching and communicating in English in real classroom situations.

The Philippines was chosen as the host country because English is used as a second language. This condition provides a supportive environment for participants to improve their English skills, teaching confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.

B. Procedures of Practicum

The SEA Teacher Program begins with a selection process conducted by each home university. Students who pass the selection are then confirmed regarding their readiness and willingness to follow all program regulations. For third- and fourth-year students, this program can be converted into PLP, so participants do not need to take PLP separately. After passing the selection, participants are assigned to Southeast Asian countries and divided into teams.

However, in my case, the implementation process was slightly different. Participants from Universitas Jambi (UNJA), which included myself, arrived in the Philippines earlier, in November, while participants from Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (UMP) arrived later, in January. Even though the arrival schedules were different, all participants followed the same procedures and carried out the SEA Teacher Program according to the guidelines provided.

The program lasted for approximately one month. After completing the practicum, participants were required to create a blog as the final output. This blog serves as official documentation and proof of participation in the SEA Teacher Program, which is also required for certification from SEAMEO.

C. Outcomes of the Practicum

Through this practicum, I gained many valuable outcomes, including:

1. Improved English speaking and communication skills, especially in teaching contexts.

2. A deeper understanding of cultural, social, and educational differences between Indonesia and the Philippines.

3. New friendships and a supportive learning environment during the SEA Teacher activities.

4. Increased cultural awareness, enabling me to share experiences and motivate future SEA Teacher participants in Indonesia.

5. Opportunities to exchange information related to education, scholarships, academic subjects, and social life.

D. Challenges of Practicum

One of the main challenges I faced was language. As a student of Economics Education, English is not used intensively in daily lectures or learning materials. Therefore, teaching and communicating in English was quite challenging at the beginning. On the other hand, most Filipino people are fluent in English since it is their second language. Despite this difficulty, I found the experience enjoyable and motivating because it encouraged me to improve continuously.

Another challenge was related to food, especially finding halal food, since Muslims are a minority in the Philippines. Initially, this caused concern, but over time I learned that many packaged foods have halal labels. In addition, local friends always accompanied and helped us choose appropriate food. They showed great respect for our beliefs, which made us feel comfortable.

Issues related to currency exchange and cash withdrawal were minimized because PRMSU provided allowances directly in cash. This support made it easier for us to manage daily expenses without worrying about ATM availability or card compatibility, allowing us to focus more on the practicum activities.

E. Overall Impression

Overall, I was deeply impressed by the English proficiency of the Filipino people. Even tricycle drivers were able to communicate in English fluently, which was both surprising and admirable. I was also touched by the warm welcome and genuine hospitality from the entire PRMSU community.

First of all I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Universitas Jambi (UNJA) as my home university for giving me the opportunity and trust to participate in the SEA Teacher Program. This experience would not have been possible without the support and confidence provided by my university, and I am truly grateful to be able to represent UNJA in this international program.

My sincere gratitude goes to Ma’am Dewata, the dormitory owner, who always checked on our condition and ensured our comfort and well-being during our stay. I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to my mentor, Sir Reynor Dial, who patiently guided and supported me throughout the teaching practicum and helped me grow as a prospective teacher.

I am very thankful to the panelists during the final demo teaching, namely Ma’am Zenvi Ann Macalinao, Ma’am Baby Sarmiento Abagon, Sir Joven Ian Marquez, and Ma’am Helen Abadam Magno, for their valuable feedback, guidance, and encouragement, which became meaningful learning experiences for me.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Sir Santi Aranas Magtalas as the Campus Director of PRMSU Main Campus, and Ma’am Celeste A. Orge as the Director of International Linkages, for their support and attention throughout the SEA Teacher Program. My highest respect and gratitude are also addressed to Mr. Roy N. Villalobos, President of PRMSU, for the opportunity and support provided to all SEA Teacher participants.

Special thanks are also dedicated to Ma’am Lea, who kindly facilitated all of our activities, starting from the first airport pick-up, campus tours, daily coordination, until accompanying us back to the airport for our return to Indonesia. Her dedication and care greatly contributed to the smooth and memorable experience of this program.

My heartfelt thanks also go to my buddies Shan, who were almost with me 24 hours a day, assisting me in teaching activities, daily needs, and all aspects of this program. Your support and togetherness made this journey more meaningful and enjoyable.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to my DPL from Universitas Jambi, Sir Ahmad Rifki, for his guidance, support, and permission that enabled me to take part in this program. Thank you for your trust and for allowing me to experience this opportunity as part of my professional learning and growth as a future teacher.

I would also like to thank my students, especially the Grade 9 Junior High School students of PRMSU. Thank you for being my students during the SEA Teacher Program, for your enthusiasm, cooperation, and memorable classroom moments. Lastly, my sincere appreciation goes to the entire PRMSU family for their support, kindness, and hospitality throughout this program.

Lastly, I would like to express a very special thank you to my partner in this journey, Evelyn Asaria Parrona. Thank you for standing with me for one full month — through every situation, whether difficult or joyful. From facing the typhoon together, cooking side by side, exploring places, stressing over lesson plans, exchanging ideas before teaching, and sharing every moment — I truly could not imagine going through this program with anyone else.

What made this journey even more meaningful was the fact that it was just the two of us — only the two Indonesian students from our university, navigating everything far away from home. Knowing that I had you beside me made every challenge feel lighter, and every achievement feel bigger. At first, I thought we might never be close because we came from different study programs, but this experience proved me wrong. After everything we went through, I now believe that if it wasn’t with you, I might not have made it through this journey the way we did.

Thank you so much, for everything‼️

F. Suggestions for Future Improvement

For future SEA Teacher participants, it is important to maintain politeness and good etiquette wherever you are. Participants should prepare all important documents in advance and store them safely in a cloud drive. Bringing a travel adapter, preparing a local SIM card or roaming service, and surveying halal food options beforehand are also highly recommended. Using a Visa ATM card is suggested, as most ATMs in the Philippines support Visa.

In addition, participants should continuously practice their English skills, especially in teaching situations, manage their time effectively, and pay attention to hand-carry liquid regulations during international travel.