My Teaching Journey in Indonesia: Embracing Culture, Challenges, and Growth

  What Did I Observe? On my first day, I was shocked to find that the school was divided into two sections, separated by gender, which was very different from the Philippines. The class sizes were also smaller, with 20-25 students per section, compared to the larger classes in the Philippines. Each classroom was equipped with air conditioning, adequate ventilation, well-lit environments, and sturdy chairs, ensuring the safety and comfort of the learners. The facilities were designed to support the students' learning needs and progress. FACILITIES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO LEARNERS Credits to:  SMP UMP Meeting Room Prayer Room (Masjid) Computer Laboratory CLASS HOURS In terms of class hours, every subject for every grade level always took them for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Consuming for a given timeframe was enough to cover at least one lesson for a day. Teachers use the following days to review and master the contents for the students to retain the essential information need...

  Sekolah Menengah Pertama Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (SMP UMP) Sekolah Menengah Pertama Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (SMP UMP) is a private middle school in Purwokerto, Central Java, Indonesia. This institution offers education with a focus in Religion, and wide variation of subjects.   Its program incorporates with memorization in the Quran. Students with a strong interest in and aptitude for the field of tahfidz will receive specialized internal guidance.  Learning is conducted in English, Arabic, and Indonesian. The English language instruction is implemented in collaboration with Cambridge University Press.  Science education is designed to help students grasp scientific concepts in a more creative and enjoyable way. The learning approach encourages students to engage in hands-on experiments and apply scientific principles to everyday life. SCHOOL VISION In accordance with Law Number 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System Articl...

  WHAT IS SEA TEACHER PROGRAM?  The SEA Teacher Program, also known as the "Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia", organized by Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), offers pre-service student teachers from Southeast Asian universities the chance to gain a one-of-a-kind teaching experience in schools across other Southeast Asian countries.  In line with SEAMEO's vision to improve education quality in Southeast Asia through seven key focus areas, the SEA Teacher Project specifically prioritizes "Revitalizing Teacher Education." Through collaboration, the eleven SEAMEO member countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam) aim to enhance and strengthen the capabilities of teachers across the region, fostering a more promising future for education. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM To enable pre-service student teachers to develop their teaching skills a...

  When I arrived at our dormitory, I was warmly welcomed by our student buddies! They had come all the way from Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto (UMP) and also from the English Language Department. They were so friendly and kind, treating us like siblings. We had a nice little chit-chat, and I discovered that we shared some similarities, such as our taste in music, food preferences and favorite places to go to. I felt so happy and content at that moment. Afterward, we proceeded with our main agenda: the campus tour! The distance from the dormitory to the campus took us only about 3 minutes using a motorcycle. They introduced their facilities, various buildings designated for each program, attraction spots, and the faculty of UMP. It is such an honor to visit this university and learn more about their vibrant community. A wonderful experience that everyone would be dreamed of! It is beautiful, isn't it?  Of course, they didn’t miss the opportunity to introduce their delicaci...

Before my first day at SMP UMP, I was so nervous and start to overthink things, I guess it is normal for someone who is still adapting to a new environment. But guess what? It is opposite from what I am thinking! The students and staff were incredibly welcoming, and their warmth made me feel like I'm just at their home. I realized that my worries were unnecessary as I began to enjoy the lively atmosphere and genuine interactions. Every day at SMP UMP has become an opportunity to learn, grow, and build meaningful connections, reminding me that stepping out of my comfort zone was the best decision I could have made. FLAG CEREMONY  Before I start my journey in teaching, I attended their Flag Ceremony and started their pledge to the flag. During the ceremony, there was a flag bearer, the leaders in every group for a particular day, the students, the faculty and staff, and Quran. They always show their patriotism for the country and their never-ending faith in th...

My first overseas teaching activity was also my first travel experience riding an airplane! Still in disbelief that I got a chance to participate in this program. The turbulence while you are seating inside the airplane is terrifying yet exciting—feels like you are in an amusement park! This trip took us 3 lay-over destinations and almost 2 days travel from Philippines ( Ninoy Aquino International Airport ) to Singapore ( Changi Airport ) and 2 airports of Indonesia ( Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Adi Soemarmo Airport ). This was our first lay-over ( Changi Airport ) and we stay there for about 8 hours to wait for our second airplane. Before arriving at this famous airport, I am excited because aside from its beautiful facilities and interior designs, Changi Airport was known for their famous attraction spot, which is the Jewel , but due to the time constraints, we couldn't have the opportunity to go there. So instead, we took a lot of pictures for the memories and took ...