1 MONTH OF EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATING IN SEA TEACHER PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS BATCH 9 AT BICOL UNIVERSITY, THE PHILIPPINES
Hello everyone! Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Najwa Trisaqina Yuan. I come from Lampung University, Faculty of Education, majoring in Pancasila and Civic Education. Currently, I'm in my 5th semester, or more precisely, in my third year. I'm also a student participating in the SEA Teacher Pre-Service Teacher Program 2023 at Bicol University, Philippines. I went through the university-level selection process and advanced to the interview stage with Bicol University, specifically in the field of Education. I had the opportunity to teach Social Studies in a Junior High School. It's an incredible honor to gain this enjoyable experience, getting to know a new environment with different customs, a lifestyle somewhat distinct from Indonesia, understanding the teaching methods in the Philippines, and much more.
Being a teacher is a noble calling. I am the second daughter in my family, and my father is a teacher by profession. I believe that great individuals in today's world are never detached from the role of a teacher as shapers of great generations. Sometimes, people even look up to their teachers as role models in life. Therefore, I think being a teacher requires a wealth of experience and knowledge, making them worthy of being role models for humanity. Although I don't have a clear picture of my future yet, I am at least preparing well for my current studies.
Bicol University is the premiere state
university in Bicol region founded on June 21, 1969 through the passage of RA
5521. As an institution promoting Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service
as it core values, BU has risen to SUC Level IV status.
Reflecting its culture of excellence, BU
is identified as Department of Education’s Teacher Training Center in the
Region and the base agency for Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development
and Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research
and Development.
BU has 19 academic units:
East Campus:
1. Institute of
Architecture
2. College of
Engineering
3. College of
Industrial Technology
Main Campus:
4. College of
Science
5. College of Arts
and Letters
6. College of
Nursing
7. College of Law
8. Graduate School
9. Institute of
Physical Sports and Recreation
10. Integrated
Laboratory School
11. Open University
12. College of
Education
13. College of
Medicine
14. Jesse M. Robredo
Institute of Governance and Development
Daraga Campus:
15. College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy
16. College of
Business Economics and Management
Guinobatan, Albay:
17. College of
Agriculture and Forestry
Tabaco City, Albay
18. Tabaco Campus
Polangui, Albay
19. Polangui Campus
Gubat, Sorsogon
20. Gubat Campus
With 7 campuses scattered across the
region, BU is home to top notchers in the fields of Accountancy, Engineering,
Midwifery, Nursing, Social Work and Education.
As a comprehensive university, it caters
to the needs of the society in the following fields:
21. Technology,
Engineering, Architecture and Sciences
22. Arts and Letters,
Culture, Recreation and Sports
23. Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries
24. Business and
Entrepreneurship
25. Health and
Medicine
26. Social Sciences
27. Education
BU Profile of Excellence
28. Center of
Excellence in Teacher Education
29. Center of
Development in Nursing Education
30. Center of
Development in Fisheries Education
31. Center for Higher
Education Research
32. One of the 22
Leading SUCs in the Philippines
33. SUC Level IV by
the DBM Standards
34. 3rd Level
Institutional Accreditation
35. One of the 20
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) included in the British
Council-CHED-University of Liverpool Trans- National Education Program
36. One of the 20
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) participating in CHED’s Program on
Fostering World-Class Education
37. Base Agency for
Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD)
38. Base Agency for
Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resource Research and
Development (BCAARRD)
39. No. of AACCUP Accredited
Programs: Level I – 20 Level III – 32 Level II – 27 Level IV (Qualified) – 3
The curriculum used in senior high school is the K-12 SHS Program, while the curriculum used in junior high school is Spiral Progression, and the curriculum used in elementary school is also Spiral Progression. In the BU area, there are also a health unit, a soccer field, a volleyball court, and a basketball court.
The teaching system used by Bicol University involves conducting classes in English. Students enjoy learning through interactive methods such as games, puzzles, and discussions. Bicol University also frequently organizes events like exhibitions, costume contests, music concerts, and competitions like Buwan Ng Wika (Language Month). The university provides students with the freedom to wear any attire during their learning activities, even though they have a uniform. For those who cannot afford or choose not to buy the uniform, they are allowed to wear regular clothing.
Bicol University is inclusive and recognizes LGBT individuals. However, there are guidelines in place regarding attire. Students are expected to dress according to their gender, and wearing clothing that contradicts their gender identity (e.g., males wearing skirts or dressing in a traditionally female manner) is not permitted.
Bicol University is a public educational institution that offers free education. Students are only required to pass the entrance exam, and the rest of their education is free. For students who live far from the university, there are dormitories or boarding houses available for accommodation.
For the academic years, the details are as follows: elementary school requires 6 years, junior high school takes 4 years, and senior high school takes 2 years. As for higher education levels, there are some differences. Students are required to work on their thesis in the third year and engage in practical experience in the fourth year, such as teaching practice.
Pedagogical Contents
I observed Sir Jericho conducting his teaching and learning activities using the Discovery with Teacher-Centered method. He consistently explained the material and provided formative assessment questions at the end. Sir Jericho utilized PowerPoint and an LCD projector to display sections of the material, photos, and relevant videos during the learning process. At Bicol University, the predominant approach involves using an LCD projector in combination with PowerPoint presentations.
The assessment method employed consists of giving 10 multiple-choice questions, and the students in each class are divided into 2 groups. Each group receives a plus point for correct answers and incurs a minus 2 points penalty for incorrect answers. This approach appears to be effective in motivating students to learn and engage actively in the learning process. They seem to be highly competitive to become the best-performing group because they pay close attention when the teacher explains to avoid answering questions incorrectly.
Teaching Plan
I have the opportunity to teach junior high school students in grade 8-Acacia and grade 8-Leadership. I will be using the Inquiry method, which involves asking questions and engaging in discussions with the students. I received this recommendation from Maam Lyra Ruth P. Nasayao, as this method is considered the most appropriate for delivering lessons on Social Studies. I will be teaching topics related to Culture and Norms, specifically focusing on Civic Knowledge.
I am using the Spiral Progressive approach in my teaching, which requires teachers to deliver lessons gradually, starting from simple concepts and progressing to more complex ones. In this approach, previously taught material resurfaces and integrates into new, more intricate topics. Teachers regularly conduct flashbacks to remind students of the previously covered material and connect it to the upcoming lessons. I believe this method makes it easier for students to understand and establish connections between different topics.
Here is the lesson plan that I have prepared for two class sessions on culture and norms, with each topic being completed in one session:
However, I cannot proceed to the additional activities stage due to preparations for hosting a concert event at the main campus.
Teaching Practice
When I conducted the demo teaching, I implemented it according to the carefully planned lesson plan. I am grateful that the students were very enthusiastic when I was about to teach them about the comparison of culture and norms in the Philippines and Indonesia. I started the session by checking the cleanliness of the classroom and taking attendance, followed by a 5-minute prayer. Afterward, I motivated the students by showing them photos and videos related to the topic and asked them what thoughts came to their minds after observing the visuals.
Next, I provided keywords to help students understand the topic we were going to learn together. Once they were able to guess the topic, I gave them a 15-minute overview related to the subject. Following this, I presented three questions for the students to define and categorize for another 15 minutes. I then corrected their work, and the students with the best answers had to explain their solutions to the class in a loud voice so that everyone could listen and pay attention.
Once I felt that every student understood and grasped the material, I divided them into several groups and asked them to discuss and solve problems based on the case I provided for about 20 minutes. Afterward, I reviewed their discussions, and each group explained their results to the class. I felt that the students truly understood the material based on the answers they provided and their problem-solving abilities.
I felt comfortable while conducting the teaching and learning activities in class 8 - Acacia, which was quite different from class 8 - Leadership, where there was more noise due to the larger number of students in one class. However, I managed to regain their attention by pointing out a few students who were chatting to refocus them.
During the demo teaching, I was assisted by Ma Khryzza and Stephanie Benitez. They helped me explain things again to the students using Tagalog because there were some words they didn't understand. Khryzza and Steph also helped me document the demo teaching session. I was happy to share my experience and some knowledge with them, and they provided me with new insights into the Philippines.
Teaching and learning activities in the Philippines, especially at Bicol University, felt quite similar to Indonesia, with the main difference being that they mostly use English as the language of instruction. I was impressed by the students' active participation and their courage in answering and responding during my demo teaching session.
Summary and Suggestions
I am experiencing some difficulties in implementing innovative learning due to the lack of adequate technology facilities at BUCE (Bicol University College and Education). We have only a few LCD screens, and there are no speakers available. Luckily, my mentor teacher, Sir Jericho, lent his personal speaker, which has been a great help in playing videos that require loud sound for all the students to hear. My suggestion is to improve the facilities that support teaching and learning activities so that we can maximize the learning experience and capture the interest of the students.
I also feel that each class should not have too many students, such as having 44 students in one class. This can reduce the effectiveness of the students' learning experience as they tend to engage in conversations, which can be challenging for a single teacher to manage, especially when there are no communication tools like microphones. However, BUCE has amazing students. They are truly courageous in answering and responding to questions, they are intelligent, and they easily adapt to new teachers. They also show great respect for every teacher who teaches them.
I am very happy to have had the opportunity to teach classes 8-Acacia and 8-Leadership, and I hope to meet them again someday. I hope their courage and warmth in showing appreciation continue to be upheld.
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