Teaching Across Borders
"Where Learning Meets Inspiration"
Purposes of Practicum
I was chosen to be one of the participants of The SEA Teacher Project or the “Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia,” which is a project that aims to provide an opportunity for pre-service student teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia. It is an honor to have an opportunity to experience the teaching and learning process in other countries, learn from their education system, and meet new students.
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This Exchange Student Program significantly impacted my chosen field since I was exposed to and learning from other countries about their education system, how their teachers teach, and how the students are here. It was a great experience to improve my knowledge about elementary education, especially handling children, learning classroom management, and teaching strategies. This could also be an opportunity to show what I can do and apply what I have learned in my past years as a pre-service teacher. Also, I met new people I can learn from and be inspired by their stories and experiences as teachers here. I got to experience the difference in the educational system in other countries from the Philippines, which could be good skills in teaching that I can use in the future.
Overall, this experience is not only for academic development but also for social and personal development as a teacher since I get to collaborate with other pioneers of education and future teachers who will bring bright futures for our children. Therefore, this is my greatest opportunity as I take my education beyond borders, conquering cultural differences and perspectives in the field of teaching.
Procedures of Practicum
1. All participants of the Student Teacher Exchange had an orientation week at the host university, Dong Thap University, and the deployed School, Future Primary School.
2. On the second-third week, all pre-service teachers had teaching observations, lesson planning, and teaching demos in their assigned grade levels and classes.
3. On our last week, we had our farewell meeting and cultural night to celebrate the success of our internship and teaching experiences.
Outcomes of Practicum
I completed four lesson plans and teaching demos, my most significant teaching experience at Future Primary School in Vietnam. My first teaching experience in a foreign country was a culture shock. It was a humbling experience to step into a classroom where my students' backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences were vastly different from my own. Learning about their traditions, values, and customs enriched my teaching and broadened my worldview.
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Moreover, teaching at Future Primary School also pushed me to become a more innovative educator. I had to adapt my teaching methods to cater to different learning styles and their educational system. This adaptability led me to explore new teaching techniques and technologies I might not have considered otherwise. The best thing I did was collaborate with Vietnamese teachers, especially my college supervisor. Hence, sharing pedagogical insights was a valuable part of my journey. It broadened my understanding of teaching methodologies and inspired me to incorporate diverse teaching strategies into my repertoire.
Obstacles Encountered
As I leave my country, I encountered obstacles and challenges as we take education beyond borders. One of the challenges I face was language barrier because of the cultural differences. The accent of Vietnamese people is different from us Filipinos, and sometimes, there are words I cannot understand when they speak English. We need to use Google Translate and type what we want to say when buying food or drinks outside since almost of the locals here do not speak in English.
Every country has its unique educational system and curriculum; adapting to these systems was another significant obstacle I faced. It required me to reevaluate my teaching methods and modify my lesson plans to align with the local curriculum. This transition was challenging, as I had to balance my teaching philosophies and the expectations of the new educational environment.
OVERALL IMPRESSION/ RECOMMENDATIONS
Through these experiences, I learned that teaching abroad is not just about imparting knowledge but a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and resilience. These obstacles, while challenging, ultimately strengthened my passion for teaching and broadened my understanding of the world. Teaching abroad is not only about the students you educate but also about the teacher you become in the process.
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It is about how dedicated you are as a teacher to your students. It is about the understanding for a deeper appreciation for the challenges that language learners face, leading to more empathetic and supportive teaching practices. With that, these enhanced communication skills and empathy positively impact my teaching experiences both abroad and at home.
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My recommendation for this project is that the SEAMEO Project could last more than one month, at least for the pre-service teachers to grasp more teaching experiences and improve their teaching practices. Also, It would have been better if the schedule had been well-prepared before we conducted our teaching demos and prepared more cultural tours to experience the rich culture of Vietnam. Overall, it was a great experience to teach across borders, meet new people, and share our cultural differences
