TEACHING PRACTICE

I was truly nervous as my first teaching practice began at 7 a.m. Despite the initial nervousness, I was pleasantly surprised by the students' warmth and cooperation. I must say the students in my first class were not only responsive but also incredibly welcoming. Every time I asked them if they understood the topic or if they had any questions, they immediately responded, which was great because I could immediately understand and explain the parts they were confused about. Their willingness to engage and listen to me was genuinely heartwarming, and I couldn't help but feel appreciative of their efforts in making me feel at ease during my first day of teaching.

A significant part of my teaching experience was when my cooperating teacher—Ibu Indri gave me some really good advice. After my first class, she told me to connect more with the students and give them activities that make them think. This was a turning point for me because it made me realize that teaching is not just about sharing knowledge; it's about connecting with your students and helping them learn in a fun and engaging way. That is why, I immediately changed some part of my lesson plan and added some activities that will make my students enjoy listening in my class. I started my class with a short energizer, and then I always include in my class an individual work and group work so that it would enhance their skills in thinking and communicating with their classmates.

On top of that, The highlight of my practice teaching was the observation scheduled on Friday, October 6, 2023, where our mentor, Prof. Emi Emilia, assessed our teaching methods in the classroom. In preparation for the observation, I dedicated time and effort to ready my materials and lesson plan. I wanted to make sure that everything was well-organized and that I was fully prepared to teach effectively. However, during the first class, there was a slight change of plans. Prof. Emi Emilia was unable to observe due to personal reasons, but she managed to observe Ms. Hannah, my co-SEA Teacher, who was teaching a Grade 11 regular class.

Even though the original plan was for Prof. Emi Emilia to observe my class, however, the fact that Hannah and I had been working together in Grade 11 meant that we were both observed on how we taught the class. After the classes were over, we had a valuable discussion with Prof. Emi Emilia and Ibu Indri about our teaching methods and how to enhance our lesson plans.

The feedback and insights provided by Prof. Emi Emilia were incredibly valuable because she emphasized the importance of actively engaging the entire class while teaching, which means walking around the classroom, and ensuring that every student is participating is a must so that no one is left behind. Thus, the students' engagement and understanding are the top priorities. In terms of lesson planning, Prof. Emi Emilia stressed that there should be clear objectives for each lesson, and these objectives should align with the activities. Every part of the lesson plan should contribute to the learning objectives, making the teaching process more effective and meaningful. After that discussion, since Prof. Emi wasn't able to observe my class, I was instructed to send a video of myself teaching a class alone so that she can also comment and guide me in preparation for my evaluation, which took place next week on October 13, 2023, Friday.

The most important event of my practice teaching was my evaluation, a moment of both excitement and nervousness. Prof. Emi Emilia was not physically present, so we were instructed to record our class discussions and send them via email. I was given 70 minutes of teaching time, and within those minutes, I created a lesson that would help the students learn and stay engaged. The topic of our lesson could be seen in their book, allowing them to keep track of the topic. I included an energizer, a motivational activity, a group activity, board work, and more. Despite thorough preparation, nervousness loomed as I wondered if the students would find my teaching engaging and valuable. To my relief, the class went well. I incorporated group work and activities that kept everyone engaged, and I was pleased to see my students attentively participating. While they were busy with the activities, I also facilitated and moved around the class, and I could see in their faces how willing they were to join and understand the topic.