OUTCOMES OF PRACTICUM

Perceiving the essence of the teaching profession from a lens of accomplishment and fulfilment allows individuals to place a greater emphasis on working in a collaborative effort in order to achieve a continuous success in the academic pursuit and remain steadfast amidst the problems in this fast-changing environment. As a Filipina Ignacian-Marian pre-service teacher who was fortunate enough, given the opportunity to represent my university and my country in the 7th Batch of SEAMEO SEA-Teacher Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia, I was taken into several new circumstances which have been one’s continuous guide in taking the path towards becoming the kind of educator that the society needs. An educator who commits oneself to achieving effective and lifelong learning, integrating differentiated methodologies and approaches in order to cater learners’ multiple intelligences, and advocating quality education and youth empowerment.

This journey made a number of probable things came into existence. A summary of the outcomes of this month-long journey is stated below:

Development of Teaching Skills

The intellectual aspect of a person, especially a teacher, is often considered as a topmost consideration for many. However, it has been made known that the teaching profession is not about the cognitive aspect alone. A teacher’s capacity is also measured in terms of one’s psychomotor skills and another important aspects, values and attitude. Back then in my university, I was thinking that the series of tough and rigid trainings we had were already beyond my limits. We were exposed to both private and public schools, experienced lots of field studies, demonstration teachings, excursions, and the like. It was way beyond enough, as I thought. But, as I came in VRU Thailand, the way I perceive myself as an ordinary individual and as a future educator definitely changed. I have learned different strategies and methodologies applicable to even foreign students. During my classes, I have learned to make myself more animated due to the absence of a PowerPoint presentation, I made use of any available objects inside the classroom as my materials, exaggerated my facial expressions and gestures to help my students understand my lesson, placed the most consideration to students’ needs and differences, formulated my own ways of managing the class, and exercised better ways of controlling temper.

International Understanding and Cultural Appreciation

I never thought that I would be able too such kind of beauty within diversity. It made me think about the chaos and conflicts that arise because of such differences in the these aspects. With the experience, I was taught and learned within myself that we are of great differences because each of our race, culture, and origin has its own purpose to serve in areas such as in the government, public health and safety, tourism, economy, and education. Diversity is not something to new to us Filipinos because the Philippines itself is made up of different ethnic groups having different customs, dialect, ancestral origin, and beliefs. However, people tend to look at it as something that is not worthy to be understood, thus, often neglected. This journey opened my mind to acknowledge the fact that teachers have the great capacity to work for this cause. This is an opportunity that needs to be grabbed by individuals, especially those who are in the educational pursuit. Each teacher has the voice, in which if collectively utilized gains an enough amount of effort to make use of such diversity to unite people and make better developments for the good of our children, of our country, and our world itself.

Better Understanding of What Friendship Really Is

Promises are given to people who deserve it. It was only a month but the friendship that we had especially with Jean, Marian, Eve, Jinn, Al, Cathy, Roxanne, Eke, Eni, Jhuly, Karina, Cicha, Hindun, Yuly, and Sima was definitely incomparable. Upon meeting them, I have realized the most genuine people aren’t really necessary the ones we had for the longest time. They can also be those whom we met for a short while but treasured every moment and didn’t let distance the in between to hinder friendship. Though we speak of different languages and came from different places, our hearts speak in common. There was no purpose of looking down unto someone. There was no purpose of being dominant. We came together, shared the most beautiful and painful stories, and kept the memories that we still continue to live day by day.

Self-Appreciation and Self-discovery

People would always commend me for my accomplishments and capacity. Other think I am too blessed and that I am already contented of everything that I have. However, deep within, I know that I am the first person who doubts myself. All these years, I am living yet believing that I will never be enough for any opportunity or for somebody. I am the kind of person who thinks that the world is against me and that I’m not capable of doing anything. But, all this time I am wrong. I’ve discovered that I’m one of the strongest persons someone will ever know. I turned out to become the strong independent woman that I wish I could be. I now acknowledge and appreciate every single flaw that I have, holding the idea that there’s must be something that I should need to fulfill that’s why I was made like this. I’ve learned that I can stand for myself and for the rest of the people who believe in me. I know and I believe that this opportunity is for me and I am tasked to concretize every single information and lesson that I’ve learned. I now understand that everything I went through prepared me for this journey and now I am even more ready to take on what’s still ahead of me. I am glad that I am now the first person appreciating myself, along with my desirable strengths and weaknesses. I am a Filipina. I am a future educator. I am a SEA-Teacher. I am appreciated.