6.4 The challenges of practicum

The challenges of practicum

The challenges of this program are:

This marks my inaugural journey abroad, during which I traveled alone from Jambi to Jakarta, then from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur, and finally from Kuala Lumpur to Manila. Prior to my departure, I experienced a sense of anxiety, as I was uncertain about what to expect while traveling solo. Nevertheless, I maintained a positive mindset, believing in my ability to navigate the experience independently. I reassured myself that I could seek assistance from others and keep my belongings secure. The people of Indonesia encouraged me, expressing their confidence in my capabilities and offering their unwavering support as I embarked on this international adventure.

Upon my arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I was greeted by Professor Jandy from Philippine Normal University North Luzon, along with two friends from De La Salle University who came to welcome me. I consider myself fortunate to have friends in the Philippines, as they consistently provide me with support and motivation, inspiring me to perform at my best during my time in their country.

At Ninoy Aquino International Airport

At Bus station

I am demonstrating resilience as both a young woman and a dedicated student, as I am the sole representative from Indonesia participating in an internship at PNU North Luzon.

Opening Ceremony

Ying (Thailand), Visi (Indonesia), June (Thailand)

I have to adjust to this country because we have different cultures, religions, food, and etc. I have to explain to all people that I’m Muslim, so I need a prayer room, I can’t touch with man, I only eat halal food and product that has a halal sticker and etc. The first time, I thought I can’t do this, I can’t eat, I want to go back to Indonesia. But, I should enjoy and be thankful that I can do that here in the Philippines.

Traditional dancers

The director of PNU NL 

I was assigned to observe five classes in one day at Alicia National High School. Initially, I believed this was an excessive number of classes, yet I found the experience enjoyable. I was taken aback when my supervisor informed me that I would need to teach earlier than anticipated. My official teaching practice is scheduled for January 28, but I was required to teach on January 22, 2019. My supervisor has been a source of encouragement, instilling in me the confidence that I am capable of succeeding. I diligently prepared my lesson plan and studied thoroughly to ensure a successful performance. During my first teaching experience with ninth-grade students, I felt extremely nervous and doubted my abilities; my mind, body, and voice seemed to betray me in that moment. However, the support from my supervisor and the student intern was invaluable. The following day, I was tasked with teaching two sections, and I found the experience enjoyable and felt more confident in my teaching abilities.

On my first day of teaching

On January 28, the Dean of Academics at Philippine Normal University North Luzon visited the guest house. She informed us that two Thai students and I were scheduled to conduct our final teaching demonstration on January 30, 2019, as we needed to travel to Philippine Normal University Manila, located in the capital of the Philippines. This announcement took all of us by surprise. We promptly made the necessary preparations and notified our friends, supervisors, and the critic teacher about the rescheduled final demonstration.

With the Dean of Academics of PNU NL

On January 31, 2019, we traveled by airplane from Cauayan City to Manila. Upon our arrival, a teacher from the Philippine Normal University greeted us. We then met with the assistant director, who informed us that we would need to conduct a teaching demonstration once more. This news was unexpected. The following day, I met with my supervisor, who assigned me to teach Chemistry to grade 10 students at the Institute of Teaching and Learning. I expressed my concern, as my major is Physics, and I was uncertain about my ability to teach Chemistry. However, he reassured me that the subject had similarities to Physics, and I agreed to take on the challenge. He instructed me to prepare a detailed lesson plan, with my teaching practice scheduled for February 8. I inquired about the possibility of observing his class beforehand, but he advised me to focus on completing my lesson plan, emphasizing that he wanted to assess my confidence, skills, and knowledge. This was surprising, as I felt unprepared to teach without first observing the classroom dynamics. Nevertheless, on the day of my teaching practice, I successfully completed the task, and my supervisor expressed pride in my performance.

At PNU ITL

Grade 10 of PNU ITL