Monday morning greeted me as sun’s rays struck me, it was my first day to meet the lovely students and kindful teachers of SMP Negeri 1 Banjarmasin. This day is so special for me for it is the start of my observation week here in Indonesia.

The van took me in the school together with other co-student teachers from different school in the Philippines. I attended the school’s flag ceremony. I observed the way they do their flag ceremonies, they were serious and solemn while they salute in their flags. It’s very different from the Philippines since the way we respect our flag was putting our hands in our chest while them, they salute to it. Seeing other cultures makes me appreciate their cultures and beliefs too. Also it was the day when I and my co-student teacher introduced us in front of the students and teachers. I was really happy seeing all of them smiling with us proving that they were really excited to become part of their family.

           A picture showing their flag ceremony

After the flag ceremony, I went to the Teachers room. We met the three Vice Principal there, we talked about their school, also my school which is MinSCAT and after that we arranged my schedule. I was very happy to hear some information about their culture and how great their school was, even though the school was not big, they were the top school in Banjarmasin and I was amazed and at the same time felt nervous because it was a challenge for me but I need to show them that MinSCAT can also provide quality education that produce globally competitive individuals in their own fields.

I was excited when Syifa, Feyzar (my buddies) and I went to the class of Grade IX-C. I was given a chance to introduce myself, my school and also the Philippines and they were really happy to saw like me talking with them. They actually used google translator to communicate with me using tagalog and I was amazed seeing them talking Filipino language.

the students are actively participating in the lesson

The topic that I observed was about The Cell Cycle, it’s about the mitosis and meiosis wherein the students are the receiver of information while the teacher are the sources of information but there are a little interaction between the students and the teacher because the teacher also asked related questions to his or her students.

 

A picture of grade 9 students