Sam's Journey

Generalist Teacher must know all the subjects because you’ll never know what destiny might give to you.

I’m a person who’s not good both with arts and music, but as a future teacher I’m learning to get into it. I’m so nervous when they say I will assist Mr. Fathur because it’s a music and arts class that I will be handling. So I’m so glad that the students and Mr. Fathur was so nice to me that I forgot about my nervousness. I help Mr. Fathur facilitating the class during their activity in painting the puppets. I also share to the students what are the Do’s and Don’t’s in painting that they should not be messy in doing it. When the students activity was on going Mr. Fathur brought up his guitar and sing a song for me and after that we also have a duet to entertain the students while doing their paintings. On the third song the whole class also joined in singing “Can’t help falling inlove”. After the sing along back to work I also monitor the students because some of them were so active and misbehaved so I talk to them and said focus on their work. Mr Fathur needs to leave the room earlier, so I was the one who guided the students in the end. I let them put all their works outside so that it will dry. I also instructed them to clean all their mess on the floor and I also helped them. After the cleaning I let them get their work and have a picture all together.

One thing I learned from this is that when you are a teacher you gotta love all the subjects even if you’re not good at it.

A day full of happiness. Food is Happiness for everyone. I never thought I would be able to try Indonesian Food in just one room. Indonesian delicacies have many variety at the same time palatable. I was so lucky to be assigned in class 3G , because the children gave me a wonderful experience assisting them and letting me experience Indonesian delicacies.

My second assisting day, I assisted ma’am Rina during their SBP time. Their topic is about Indonesian Foods the children bought different kinds of food. Ma’am Rina and I take pictures each group before the children started their activity. The children prayed first before the actual activity. The activity was they will sell their product ma’am Rina gave them play money for buying and selling. It is nice to have and actual activity like this because the children learn how to count their money and they will know how is it like to be an entrepreneur, while showcasing their unique product. During the activity the children was so active and kinda noisy because they are advertising their product just like in the market. There was also one student who cried because she can’t sell her product so I take action by comforting her and encouraging that her product is good and I convinced pupils to buy her product too. I really like the strategy of ma’am Rina and I will do this also when I will be a teacher because I can see how the students enjoy it at the same time they learn a lot.

Sometimes we need a break from all the school works. We need to have breather after a week of adjusting here in Indonesia.

We decided to explore Taman Mini. Taman Mini is a famous Park here in Indonesia. It is like a combination of a theme park and cultural attraction. Taman Mini is like a Indonesian version of Nayong Pilipino in the Philippines. It showcase all the province of Indonesia. It is a very huge park and I think you can’t explore it in just one day.

I learned a lot of things about Indonesia with the Escapade in Taman Mini though we just explored few featured provinces. In Taman Mini I saw the richness of diverse culture of Indonesia from their history to their ways of living.I felt like I explored a lot of places in Indonesia by just going to Taman Mini.

Little MONAS

Replica where the Asian Games was held

It’s nice that we don’t have scheduled activity for Saturday, so that we can have time to make our lesson plans for the rest of the week

My First classroom exposure at class 4H.

The teacher prepared the materials that are needed like the lesson ahead of time. The teacher also used materials that are available in the room or what is convenient for her to use in class.

They always starts the day with a prayer before the actual discussion. The teacher and students prays together and there were student who will lead. After that the teacher give a test base on their previous lesson. After the test the teacher instructed the student to bring out their books and let them read it on their own their lesson for the day and she also instruct them to answer the activity. Then she ask question about what they read. Then they checked their works the teacher didn’t gave immediately the answer she let the students reason out why they say that it has parallel or perpendicular line and while explaining the teacher used ruler as a material so that the students can understand it better. When the students already have an idea about the topic, the teacher wrote what it parallel lines and what is perpendicular line. The teacher also prepared a hands on activity, she invited students in front and then they formed different lines according to what the teacher has instructed. The students have fun and very cooperative. So after the activity to support it the teacher also let the students imitate what was in their book and then the teacher also ask some students to draw at the board. The discussion focuses on the students the teacher always ask questions during the class.

When ma’am Nurhikmat handed our schedule we immediately went to every class that we will handle. While we are arranging our subject and time there little bit problem but we fixed it immediately through the help of ma’am Nur. After we fix our schedules me and Jessa had an observation at class 5H.

Indonesians are really Generous while we are at the canteen we met Aunt Emmie one of the vendor and she gave us food called grandma’s hair.

I also introduced my self in the 3G class

Observation#1: English class

We observed ma’am Mitta teaching the 5H about past simple tense.She started the class with a prayer. Then they have a review about their previous lesson. After the review Ma’am Mita gave them a pretest. And after the pretest is the discussion proper. Ma’am Mita integrated real life situation as an examples so that the pupils can relate easily and they comprehend the lesson well. She also integrates technology by using PowerPoint presentation during the discussion also. After the discussion ma’am Mita always gave them another exercises for mastery.

We finally saw a glimpse SOEDIRMAN it will be our training ground. We officially met the Principal of the school and Mrs. Nur Tour as to the school. We also have interaction with some of the students in the school.After the school tour we had a bonding with Dinda and Sir Cahya. And in the afternoon Dinda help us to learn how to commute from UHAMKA to Soedirman then we roam around Cijantong .

During breakfast we tried Bogor it is just like a porridge with chicken and other topings.

SOEDIRMAN has 3 accelerative class and 2 bilingual section each grade

After the quick school tour Mr. Cahya treated us at McDonald’s, where we ate with bare hands and it was my first time to eat bare hands at a fast food restaurant.

In the afternoon Dinda with her friend Pabel taught us how to commute from UHAMKA to SOEDIRMAN. It was a fun experience we rode 2 different Ankhot just to reach Soedirman. I find it so hard to cross road here in Indonesia because car won’t stop and let you pass unless you’ll give signal for them. It’s kinda tiring but it was fun learning new things like commuting here in East Jakarta.

When we reached Soedirman we went to the nearest mall which is Cijantong and we ate at a Japanese restaurant for our dinner.

What I look forward in every trip is meeting new people and be friends with them. As usual our coordinator Mr. Cahya Komara picked us at the hostel because we need to be transferred at the dorm. We had lunch together with our co SEA Teacher from PNU Kim and Ralph and we meet already our buddy Dinda and she’s very kind and patient. And at the afternoon Dinda introduced 2 of her friends Tasha at Chachum and they are also kind and jolly they guide and help us to roam around the stalls near UHAMKA. We want to eat seafood but because it was raining Dinda and friends help us to order online and they will just deliver it. We really enjoyed our food and we will try again next time.

Finally it’s hello Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Hamka. From our hostel Sir. Cayah Komara fetch us to finally see our host School. And we found out that UHAMKA has 7 campuses and scattered at the different part of Jakarta. Together with our fellow SEA teacher students from Philippine Normal University (PNU) with their coordinator Dr. Ma. Jhona Acuña we are warm welcomed by some directors of the Faculty of Education in UHAMAKA. We also had our school tour with Sir Komara and their school facilities were awesome very accessible for students and they have very up to date facilities. And the Faculty members the teachers are very nice, friendly and hospitable. Me at the beautiful front view of the A building of UHAMKA. And that concludes our school tour at UHAMKA FKPI. We seized the day by trying the Nasi Padang for dinner. It is a little bit spicy but it was so good.

“Just to travel is rather boring but to travel with a purpose is educational and exciting”- Sargent Shriver

Leaving my home is quite difficult for me but I need to for my dreams. I felt so nervous but my dreams are the things that keep pushing me to accept all the challenges and changes for my my own improvement.

At exactly 10:15 pm Philippine time we leave Laoag through a sleepers bus and it was also my first time to ride a bus like this.

It was a smooth 8 hours travel from Laoag to Manila and when we reached the bus terminal at 6:15 pm we immediately went to Ninoy Aquino International airport .

Our flight is 8:35 in the evening,so we need to wait for almost 12 hours in the airport. It was our first time in NAIA we roam around to entertain ourselves and to release our nervous.

At 8:35 pm one of my dreams came true. All my nervousness turns into excitement.Yes it was my first time to be in a plane and to ride a plane,and it’s sentimental for me. Though our flight was delayed by 1 and half hour it was all part of the experience.

With 4 hours travel we finally reached our destination JAKARTA, INDONESIA. We were fetch at the Soekarna Hatta International Airport by our coordinator Sir. Cahya Komara. The travel was quite tiring but worth it. The moment that I stepped out of the plane I realized this is it, and I’m not just dreaming. This is the start of a new adventure for me.