The Road Not Taken: The Story of a SEA-TEACHER

It was my first time to celebrate the independence day of Indonesia, I’m so lucky to participate and witnessed how solemn they are in celebrating their Independence Day. It is such an honored and at the same time feel blessed for me to celebrate this once in a lifetime experienced. You cannot see a student’s not participating in their celebration. The students were very disciplined and trained and you can see that during their flag ceremony wherein students as well as the teachers are much focused and you can see that they’re not doing these because it is a part of their requirements but because they love what they are doing and you can see that in their actions.

As a student teacher from the Philippines I am proud to say that I wore Barong which is the traditional clothes for men from the Philippines during their celebration of Independence Day. I was able to bring the culture and tradition of my country, to represent and show its identity to my Indonesian friends and students.

Their celebration of Independence Day started to August 15 to 17, wherein in the first day of their celebration were only games, the students were very happy, enjoying every moments. Watching the students playing in the playground realized me the true essence of Independence. Each students were actively participating in the different activities, cheering their classmates, laughing each other and building new experiences. Celebrating their Independence feel like I wanted also to celebrate the Independence of the Philippines. It is very different celebrating the Independence in Indonesia and the Philippines wherein here in Indonesia they need to attend to the school to celebrate their independence while in the Philippines there’s no class.

A picture showing SEA-TEACHER participant together with the students.

The picture showing the different games participating by the students. They are all active and happy celebrating their independence day.

A pictures together with the teachers and the students.

I, wearing the traditional “barong” together with  the students in SMP Negeri 1 Banjarmasin.

This time I help my students to put the chili plants in the tube wherein the water was continuously moving which is powered by an electricity. This is one of the things that I amazed about SMP Negeri 1 Banjarmasin, wherein they come up with idea that plants can have a water even without watering the plants since the tube which was powered by an electricity was continuously flowing, at the same time the water was not wasted. It was also easy for them to put nutrients or vitamins which they can mixed it to the water and all of the plants can get enough nutrients. According to Mr. Sunardi, the plant need 3-4 weeks to grow and after that it can ready to transfer to other container and put to the place that there is enough sunlight and he also added that after we transferred the plant, proper care should be maintain.

The students are putting the cup with a plants in the tube. They are happily helping each other so that the activity will accomplish faster.

A picture showing the SEA-TEACHER participant putting the cup in the tube.

August 14, 2018 at 2:00 pm, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat welcomes SEA-TEACHER from the Philippines. The SEA-TEACHER participants were composed of 6 students from different schools in the Philippines, there are 2 participants from Saint Louis University located at Baguio, 1 participant from Benguet State University, Pangasinan State University, ISAT-U and I from Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology.

The Vice Rector of UNLAM welcomes us as being part of the 6^th batch of SEA-TEACHER because the rector of UNLAM was busy that time. He gave an inspirational messages to us and told us to introduce ourselves and how our stayed here is in Indonesia for almost 2 weeks. I introduced myself to everyone and I was so happy to share my experiences here in Indonesia for almost 2 weeks. I told that people here are very kind, very welcoming, friendly and very hospitable. Also I share my experiences about the food, it is a little bit different since the food here was spicy but despite that I still love the food here in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan Indonesia.

 

A picture together with the President, Vice- President, International Coordinator Mr. Arief Budiman and others SEA-TEACHER and SEA T-VET participants from different school in the Philippines.

A picture together with the coordinator of Universitas Lambung Mangkurat Mr. Edwar Saputra.

A picture showing the SEA-TEACHER participants and SEA-TVET welcome by the president of ULM.

A picture together with Mia Quitalig from ISAT-U with the background of their traditional market here in Banjarmasin.

Another day, another teaching assistance I made with Mr. Sunardi. This time we prepared again the materials need in the activity, after that he gave instruction to his students.

 

A picture showing a students and teacher where they cutting the rockwood wherein they can plant chili seeds

A picture showing the SEA-Teacher participant planting seeds in the rockwood

My day begun with positivity and excitement with a thought of having another day of learning and experiences with Indonesian Teachers and students. My observation week is done and now it is time to assist and learn on how they prepared and executed the lesson properly and also the activities.

I assisted the class of Mr. Sunardi for the whole week. We prepared all the materials needed in the activity like the soil, polyethylene, chili seeds and of course the water. After he gave some instructions to his students in Grade IX-F about the activity for today, the students conduct their activity in the basketball court which is the only space wherein they can plant seeds.

The teacher give instruction to his students

The students are planting chili seeds while the teacher helping them in the proper way of planting.

Aside from teaching Indonesian students and learning from their educational system including their rich culture, another objective I have in mind is to enjoy; and one way to enjoy the beauty of a Thousand Rivers we are currently residing in is to actually experience and discover every place in it. Doing this is even more enjoyable if you are with your friends, making experience, laughing and eating together, new but bonding that you can create will last forever.

(Picture together with buddies and friends)

When I hear the place ‘Banjarmasin’ before, I can’t help but be excited because many people are saying that it’s such a beautiful place. A floating market, where buyers and sellers meet each other using boats and is considered one of city’s identity. The Sabilah Muhtadin Mosque, located along the Martapura riverfront, is a major landmark in the city where built in 1979 and can accommodates thousands of worshippers.

In our first week, our new Indonesian friends accompanied us to a floating market. We experienced to bought some foods, as we walked through we saw different kinds of products that can only be found here in Banjarmasin. While were looking for the different products suddenly the water up because of the wave created by the other boat resulted to drench our shoes.

We also went to the top of the, I was really amazed because of the scenery and the fresh air was hitting us that truly gave us a fully charge energy again.

A picture showing the SEA-TEACHER participants celebrate the Festival Persona Borneo 2.

A picture showing the  SEA-TEACHER participant went to the town of Banjarmasin.

SEA-TEACHER participant went also to the traditional market together with other participants and buddies.

SEA-TEACHER participant also tasted the traditional foods in Banjarmasin  like “Soto Banjar”

Traditional Instrument in Banjarmasin

The SEA-TEACHER participant went also to the museum in Banjamasin wherein we find the different things like the wedding dress and different products that Banjarmasin was proud of.

 

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Another day to face and I am ready for it. I woke up late today that’s why I’m in a hurry to take a bath and to prepare all the things that I need. It’s already 6:50 am when I woke up that’s why I have no chance to prepare for my breakfast.

The van took me in the school and I waved goodbye to my co-student teachers. After I arrived at the school I went to the teachers’ room to stay because my class observation started at 10:05 am.

I observed the class of Ma’am Diah in grade 7, I like the way he taught the class because he gave many example first before he introduced the topic by that the student learned on how to guess the topic because sometimes as a teacher we should always remember that we need to develop the critical thinking of our students. Don’t always put into them the answered, let them discovered by themselves. The teacher was roaming around to checked the student if they have any problems by that she can monitor the student’s problems and progress. Just what like in the seven principle of teaching, encourages contact between students and faculty. Building rapport with students was very important to the student success. Just what Ma’am Diah did, she encourage her students to present their views and participate in the class discussion.

A picture showing the students who are very attentive in the class discussion.

 

Groupie with some of the students in Grade 7.

A picture together with my Coordinating Teacher, Ma’am Diah.

Together with grade 7

I also observed the class of Sir Eddy Faridal, he started the class by checking of attendance and follow the previous lesson. In this observation, he encourage active learning I saw that learning is an active process because the students were not only sitting in classes listening to teachers and memorizing the lesson because they were very active answering the question of their teacher and some of them relate it in real life situations. By the way the topic was all about unit and measurement, the teachers gave real life example on how the students are going to apply this in their everyday life.

The student are answering the question in the board.

A picture together with students and teacher, Mr Eddy Faridal.

My day begun with the bow of my students as they saw me walking along the hall, their shining smiles greeted me and shouts respect, love and happiness.

Syifa, Feyzar and I went to the class of VII-F, I observed and saw the way of teaching of Sir Eddy Faridal. The teacher started the class by a checking of attendance and he asked the students about the previous topic if they have any questions and clarifications. After that he introduced the new topic the Unit and Measurement, he gave many example that’s why the students understand the lesson. As I continued my observation of different classes, I tend to understand deeply how Indonesian students behave, learn and communicate; and having adequate knowledge about these will help me in planning my lesson plan and on how our class will go.

A picture showing the teacher discussing to his students, he use an instrument to easily understand by his students.

The students while conducting their activity.

The teacher explaining the activity while the students are actively listening to him.

It was already 12:20pm when I went back to the teachers’ room to have my lunch, I was happy and at the same time feel blessed because the food was free, it was very delicious and you can be able to identify their own food because of its uniqueness and spiciness.

Another observation I conducted to grade IX-E, this time the teacher used another method in teaching wherein he group the class into two, the first half take the exam and the another half went to the library to make some research and vice versa after 30 minutes.

The teacher and the students while discussing the topic about the plants.

I just observed that the method of the teacher was not good because I think it’s unfair for the other student and given also the fact that the other students can extend their review while the other were taking their examination. So I’ve got plan when I will give an examination for my students I will make sure that they have an equal length of time to review the topics.

After I observed I went to the library to saw other students and after that I choose the lesson that I am going to discuss ad it was about the Pollination. My buddies and I decided to have snack, we went to their canteen. I enjoyed every food I am eating here because they are new to my taste. I also had a chance to buy some of their traditional food here in their canteen and they really taste good. By just eating there at the canteen, I observed and I am really fascinated of how Indonesian are caring and hospitable to other people. As I entered the canteen, smiles from the cook and as well as from the students embraced me. Given the fact that many of them can’t understand want I am saying, they still communicate with me through bowing their heads and hand gestures.