6. SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS

 6.1 - Purposes of Practicum 

        - One of the vital purposes of having teaching practicum is to provide student-teachers an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop new skills in a classroom setting. It is the best way to mold student-teachers in a holistic view of teaching. Furthermore, the student-teachers learn as they receive feedback and instructions from their supervisors and critic teachers in order to help them enhance their teaching abilities, improve their and assume their roles with poise and confidence, as well as determine their real passion in teaching. 

          Regarding with this, SEA TEACHER Program was intended to enable the aspiring student-teachers to have a broader array of knowledge and enhance their teaching skills in a new learning environment, specifically in dealing with students with diverse culture, principles and mode of learning. Their perseverance and dedication in teaching will be tested based on their performance in terms of making well-established and constructed lesson plans and creative instructional materials, their performances in practicum teaching, how they handled their students and how they present themselves in front.

6.2 - Procedures of Practicum 

(Photos taken during my final teaching demonstration) 

        - The demo-teaching process begins with greetings, seconded by introducing the name of the student-teacher if he/she just met the students for the first time, followed by having an energizer as a preliminary of motivating the learners, presenting the lesson, discussing new ideas and concepts about the particular lesson, conduct group activities, application, and assessing the learners by their learning in the form of evaluation sheets (worksheets, etc.), giving home works for further expansion of learning, and the bidding of goodbyes. 

6.3 - Outcomes of Practicum 

      - At the end of my teaching practicum at Future Primary School, I can say that I improve a lot. I learned how to manage my time effectively and spent it in a less cramming basis. I also learned how to make a conceptualize lesson plan and make a creative instructional material with the use of technology, letting myself be inspired of different techniques and strategies, as suggested by my critic teacher and supervisor. It is also a nice experience dealing with the Vietnamese students, instilling every young mind with the knowledge they need to learn and ideas that need to be shared. Likewise, I learned some Vietnamese words that are incredibly useful to connect with my students even in a simple greeting or showing of gratitude. I was also given an opportunity to explore out of my comfort zone, adjust with a new environment in just a short span of time, socialize with different people with diverse culture and perspectives than mine, and I've been motivated to strive harder and embrace my love into teaching. 

6.4 - The Challenges of Practicum 

        - The language barrier must be a little hassle, but it doesn't stop me from doing my best in communicating with my students, most especially with the help of my Vietnamese Teacher-Assistants who never leave my side during my practicum process. They help me in managing my class and preparing my visuals in front, and of course, special thanks to my Grade 2 students who are all indeed active listeners and participative during our discussions. They really made a big impact on my part as a Sea Teacher exchange student participant. 

6.5 - Overall Impression 

        - As my practicum teaching comes to an end, I felt so happy that at last, I did well in performing my duties as a Sea Teacher exchange student and at the same time, sad, in a manner that I will leave Vietnam in a very short notice but I also made sure that I created a lot of meaningful memories, got memorable experiences, established harmonious relationships with my Vietnamese mentors and buddies and learn something in my Sea Teacher journey. I just hope that may all of my discussions were really understand by my students and they learn something from me, which is my real purpose of joining this program. 

6.6 - Suggestions for Future Improvement

        - I have no further suggestions for a reason that both of the school and the program are already has a satisfying quality service and well-established by the management. It is nice serving you, Dong Thap University and Future Primary School! 

Documentaries 

(Me with Ma'am Joan Arciga, my co-student teacher together with our critic teacher and supervisor, MS. Ana Lagrosa and Ms. Thao Vo)

(Me together with my CapSU co-student teachers together with our Vietnamese buddy celebrating the birthday of one of our students)

(Our first day having a tour inside Dong Thap University Campus, in the office of Foreign Language Faculty)

(Our first tour outside the campus, at Cao Lanh)

(Together with our Vietnamese buddies and co-student teachers from ISAT-U)

(Praying for healing and prosperity during our first tour at Than Pho, Cao Lanh) 

(Our dinner bond with our critic teacher, Ms. Ana together with Future Primary School teachers)

(Having our Filipino-inspired lunch dishes together with our DThU mentors, Mr. Tien and Ms. Mai)

(In frame: Me together with Ms. Joan and Mr. Tien during our tour at Lotus Fields)

(Our last tour in Vietnam, tasting the ever-delicious rice noodles in Sa Dec)

(Continuation of our trip to Sa Dec)

(Our first ever cultural exchange night, at B.O.B hotel)

(Savoring one of the best coffee shakes at Vincom-Highlands Coffee)

(Our first lunch meeting with our DThU mentors)