An unforgettable experience to be able to get the opportunity to teach overseas. not an easy thing for me to teach, especially beyond the country, the Philippines. besides I have to understand the circumstances and their learning culture, I also have to be able to adjust the language they use, and the way of pronunciation. because apparently, even though we are speaking English, each country has a different pronunciation. All praises are to Allah, teaching foreign languages is not the first thing for me. Before, when I was in high school I was the chief of Branch Language Improvement (BLI) and taught new vocabs English and Arabic every day.

formerly, I did teach in a foreign language, but non-formal. so, don’t need a great lesson plan before teaching. because now I have to teach formally, so I have to prepare everything carefully, starting from the material, lesson plans, methods, procedures, time management, etc. From experience, I learned a lot, I learned things that I had never known and gotten before.

In making lesson plans, many things we need to notice. the main is the goals/objectives. Usually the learning objectives are have been written in the curriculum. here, I teach grade 5 elementary school with “coordinating conjunction” material. so, learning objectives are taken from the goals that have been arranged in the curriculum by the Department of Education.

Further, we explain the subject matter. which consist of topics that we will discuss, references or sources of material and information. subject references here must be taken from a minimum of three books, internet, YouTube, etc. then what kind of media we will use is also explained in the lesson plan. because I implement active learning and want to foster team building, I try to apply learning with paper cut games, where I also need audiovisual equipment, prepare power points to help make it easier to explain the material, the card that I cut myself, and worksheets on coordinating conjunction to test the extent of student understanding.

making lesson plans is not easy, yesterday I made it within a week. after making, my teacher asked to be printed and he corrected. after getting corrections, I revised after 2-3 days. finalizing the concepts and methods of teaching to be precise within 40 minutes, we can complete our teaching procedures. starting from praying, pre-activity, drill or review of yesterday’s lesson, motivation, that is warming up on the topic to be discussed that day, explaining the material, generalization in the form of a few questions that cover the entire discussion on that day. application is a more specific question about the topic of learning. Evaluate the coordinating conjunction where I give assignments to do exercises from books, as well as small quizzes before leaving class. all that must be done for 40 minutes. Isn’t that not an easy matter to manage class conditions and manage time well? although Ma’am Trance as a teacher in the class has told and taught me a lot, but I still need a lot of knowledge and experience to teach. so students can easily catch what I’m explaining. making lesson plans is not easy, yesterday I made it within a week. after making, my teacher asked to be printed and she corrected it. after getting corrections, I revised after 2-3 days. finalizing the concepts and methods of teaching to be precise within 40 minutes, we can complete our teaching procedures. starting from praying, Pre-activity, drill or review about lesson yesterday, a motivation that is warming up on the topic to be discussed that day, the procedure is explaining the material, generalization in the form of a few questions that cover the entire discussion on that day. application is a more specific question about the topic of learning. Evaluate the coordinating conjunction where I give assignments to do exercises from books, as well as small quizzes before leaving class. all that must be done for 40 minutes. Isn’t that an easy matter to manage class conditions and manage time well? although Ma’am Trance as a teacher in the class has told and taught me a lot, I still need a lot of knowledge and experience to teach. so that, students can easily catch what I’m explaining.

Today is our second day to observation in Central Philippine University. Yesterday, we have observation around the campus and the school. But today, we observe about situation in the class. I am so glad to meet them here. Now, I am a student teacher at Central Philippine University.

Ma’am Janet as principal of elementary school asks to us about what subject we want to teach. But, it’s only between grade 5 and 6. So, I believe in myself that I can teach English. Then, start from today I observe an English class V-Humility in Elementary school building room 203. I accompany Ms. Ruth Marie B. Trance to teach here.

The class start from 7.30 till 04.00 PM. It’s full enough for me to study during a day. Because, I easy to feel bored. I guess it’s not too far with Indonesia students, because they also easy to bored. At 09.00 a.m. we have to rest, so Ma’am Trance explain me about the schedule what will we do tomorrow.

This week we have “Christ Emphasis Week” (CWE) then, every students must to go to the Rose Memorial Auditorium to pray. It’s hold on 2.30-4.00 PM. students are always happy and cheerful even though it is late afternoon. Because I am a Moslem and I have to pray. Then, usually I ask permission to back to the dormitory to take a little rest and do the Ashar prayer.

At the night at 7pm we are invited to have a dinner together with Central Philippine University crew at Festive Walk Mega world. We met in elementary school and went there by car. the distance from the CPU to the Festive walk is not too far. It is a beautiful place which has a light water fountain. So, they treat us to have a dinner at Kuya J Restaurant. We try a variety of typical Filipino foods. Because we are a moslem, and they know forbid to us to eat pork, then, they order a lot of food which has no pork. Like a noodles, chicken, egg with eggplant inside, fish.

We are so glad to have them. At last, they introduce us to eat “halo-halo”. It’s one of typical Filipino foods which made of ice, milk, ice cream, taro, banana, bubble etc. it’s taste is sweet like me, hehehe :D. After having a dinner together we take a picture together and walk around festive walk to see the beautiful of Iloilo city.

This is my next story after I invite you to tour around Central Philippine University. Yesterday, I told about the CPU in my blog and also in my Youtube channel. Here, I will tell you about how to teach in the Philippines.

My first week I was at CPUES it could be said to be an experience where I adapted. Starting from adapting the new environment, culture and educational environment there. In my opinion, there are significant differences between primary schools in Indonesia and the Philippines. Normally, the state of the class in the Philippines, especially the school where I teach, is included as a good school. Each class has adequate lighting, a fan, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a small library, CPU mottoes, a picket schedule, etc. The number of students in each class is also normal around 30-35 students. Besides, CPU-ES also has a CCTV in each room which always monitored by the principal (Ma’am Jaco) from her room.

I did the observe around the school, teaching and learning activities in the classroom. I got an allocation in grade 5 humility English subject. Ma’am Ruth Marie B. Trance is the main teacher in this class. In my case, she always applies a lot of learning methods, depends on the goals that she will achieve. But, she more often applies active learning. She is a great teacher for me. She taught me a lot of things, including how to manage the class. It is not an easy thing for me to manage the class. Moreover, children of their age are very active and like to play so much. Usually, she has her own way of quieting the children, by saying “left hand, zip!” immediately all the children are silent and pay attention. Actually, all teachers have their own ways to control the class.

Many things are got from joining this program. Especially from Ma’am Trance who taught me a lot both from words and actions related to education. She always prepares many things before entering class. Starting from ice breaking, dances, games until a movie that she connects with the lesson she will teach that day. She always has a great idea and new ways to make the students excited and feel not bored with learning. In preparing before teaching, she arranges the various innovations that she will apply every day. She always took from many sources of learning material, such as a minimum three books, internet and YouTube.  She said that “books and the internet are very helpful, you can combine them and make your style worksheet”. Because this a digital era makes us be able to access many learning resources easily.

After making the preparation starting from the material, objectives, strategies, methods have been implemented well, the teacher must and need to know the level of understanding of the material delivered from each student. Then how to measure it? The tricks are to give the exercise and quiz at the end of the lesson. In addition, every at the end of the week there will be a little exam in which their mark will be entered into the school record. If the students who gain a score above 70 with a percentage of more than 50% then learning in the class can be declared successful. Meanwhile, if students who achieve a score above 70 only one, two, three students, then learning cannot be continued, or the teacher must override learning. So how if there are only a few students who get scores below 60? Then, who gets the grade below the average must follow remedial from the teacher. The aim of this remedial test is to strengthen students’ understanding and grade of the lesson. This remedial test is mandatory, but students do not need to worry because this test is free of charge.

Here the student test is divided into two test; formative and summative. The formative test is carried out immediately after learning without entering student grades into school records. While the summative test is a weekly test, usually held on Friday, where the value will be entered into the school record. Here is the way to teach in the Philippines especially in Central Philippine University-Elementary School.

Central Philippine University, Golden Lions

By: Ikke Pradima Sari

Do you know? Learning is fun. By meeting with friends, good teachers and engrossed school environment this is what makes students in CPU (Central Philippine University) very enthusiastic in learning. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to visit the CPU in Lopez Jaena, St., Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. This school was discovered since 1905 by missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. The extents of 24 hectares because in it there are many levels of school ranging from kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, senior high school to universities. Central Philippine University also consist of many faculties such as college of agriculture, resource and environmental sciences, collage of arts and sciences, college of business and accountancy, collage of computer studies, college of education, college of engineering, college of hospitality management, college of medical laboratory science, college of nursing, college of pharmacy, college of law, college medicine, college of theology, moreover there are a variety of facilities that support students both academically and non-academically.

Here, I was given the opportunity to find out more about CPUES (CPU-Elementary School). From teacher, staff, principals to parents play role in supporting the academic and non-academic success of students. This can be seen from the various facilities available in CPUES. Starting from student shelves, stage, library, computer lab, robotics room, field, gymnasium and so on. Because from these facilities, children are able to get, think and express their ideas. The development of children in school is not entirely the responsibility of the teacher, parents also play an important role in monitoring the development of the children in school. Therefore, every month there is a day where some parents follow up what their children have done during school, and the teacher provide encouragement and motivation to parents so that they are aligned relationship with the child’s development. Thus, a child not only gets motivation for school, but he also gets motivation from his parents at home.

All about the educational system are administrated and overseen by Department of Education. As well as at CPUES, here the elementary school starting class at 7.30 AM until 4.30 PM. Even though they spend a lot of time in class, but they always look cheerful, happy and not bored and tired. When I ask why, it’s because they enjoy and passionate about learning, they love meeting friends and fun teachers. “They also are young so it has plenty of power” said Ma’am Trance one of the teachers of grade 5 elementary school. Most of them like sports and become a young Athletes in their respective fields, they are very active and not ashamed to join the competition.

The way to teach in Philippines are based on the education department. Each school develops a curriculum based on guidance from the Department of Education (DepEd). After completing the curriculum, a syllabus was born which was used as the basic for making lesson plans. In the curriculum, there are skill targets that must be achieved by students during learning. This target will be paid in installments targets to be implemented by each teacher to create a lesson plan.

I am happy and proud to be able to go to a CPU in the Philippines where I met friendly and kind people. I hope I can go there again sometime.

وما توفيقى الا با الله , عليه توكلت و اليه أنيب

and my success can only come from Allah in him I trust, and into him I return

Today is our first observation at Central Philippine University. What a beautiful day, Today’s weather is so sunny. We start our journey at 8.00 AM.  After Subuh prayer, we take our bath and prepare to start the observe. I with my friend Dinda and Wening cook food by our self before going for observation.

Here we live in a dormitory that has been prepared by the CPU with a variety of facilities available, from air conditioners, refrigerators, kitchens, bathrooms, magic com, washing places, and clothesline, to the Wi-fi to facilitate the needs of people today. Of course, we don’t live alone here. there are students from China also following the exchange program for a month.

When we are ready, mam Joy comes to pick us up to leave observation around the CPU. the area of ​​this school reaches 24 hectares. it includes elementary schools, secondary schools, high schools and universities with various faculties in them such as nursing faculty, education, engineering, economics, and business. so it’s not surprising that the CPU is very wide. CPU also has eight gates to enter, a special boarding house for boys and girls separated by Greenland, church, auditorium rose memorial, swimming pool, gymnastic room, library and many other facilities in it.

We were invited to tour the faculty of education. So, we also surround the entire room in elementary school. But, we only enter the class of grade 5 and 6, because we will be teaching there. once again when we enter their class, they greet us warmly and friendly. elementary school at CPU provides many facilities such as robotics room, computer lab, clinic, library and more. after surrounding elementary school of CPU, we sharing stories with ma’am Janet as principal of Elementary School at CPU and with students teacher who will go to Brawijaya University, Indonesia which also participated in the exchange program. They are Dave Keith, Mae Rose, Rhe Jean and the other one are Ashleigh.

I am so glad to meet and know them. We are discussing Philippine and Indonesia. Starting from culture, food, weather, currency until tourism place. We also have to share and discussing what should we do and we don’t do in another country. Today I feel so happy, even I feel so tired. Alhamdulillah

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