The Experience of My Teaching Practice

 

Hi fellow reader and friends! 💃

Hahaha, it's been a long time since I stopped by this blog. Funny sometimes that I think I would stop by again, teehee! As you can see from the title, I will talk about my experience over teaching, so this is not regarding literature things (although I kinda miss publishing a story). But anyway, that's enough of intermezzo 😍 

So, regarding my teaching practice experience. I started teaching around February (after the lunar Chinese new year holiday), which was still a shock to me. Still, my very early teaching experience is in January for an Entrance Screening Exam Try Out Class. I am teaching their English Class. I am still confused since it's been a long time to teach someone. To be honest, I am a little discouraged because I felt that my classmates were better at teaching than me (I mean, they got a ton of experience to try a lot of things). That made me tense for the learning.

Did it go well?

I don't think so, hehe.

Since whenever I start teaching, sometimes my laptop screen goes blank. But I can still hear the student's voices; they can also hear my voices. Indeed, this made me tenser in the class. But I tried to resolve it calmly (glad it's back to normal). IT IS INDEED SCARY.

Maybe I am not teaching high school teenagers, or young learner kids like my friends did. But I teach at an Institution called Universitas Internasional Batam. Face-to-face handling the university students and resolving their problems. But I kinda like the adrenaline when teaching. Funny things, I want to see myself in my own confusion.

How can I handle this? Oh, maybe this?

How can I resolve this silence in this class? Ah, maybe I can kick them out?

Oh, someone is late… maybe they just got home from a date? Just kidding~

And somehow, I kinda get used to the teaching. Even Miss Leil as my supervisor, and Sir Hendra, my cooperative teacher, gave me a class to handle. If I can count, I have taught once in the 2PUMA class and three times (I think it will be more) in the Try Out English Class. Also, the current ongoing class that I handle is the 2TUMB Class, the 2VUME class, and the 8GAMA Public Speaking class. That's not as much as my classmates who teach 10 courses with different subjects. But I know, from my point of view… I am so cool.

Did I struggle?

Wow, I would love to say. I am struggling, but I love to see how the students are working back. I struggle when no one answers my questions, but I like to smile through that and randomly call a name. So if you are a student (who read this), silent treatment towards your teacher is not appropriate if I can state my opinion. But you know what? It's OK to try. I know you are struggling in answering the question, maybe because you are afraid to be judged by your friends or stranger that you even didn't know. Even if you feel tired to answer and don't want to speak at all because you are stuttering. It's OK to take your time, also if you're going to only just type inside your chatbox. It's also OK, 😁.

For teacher? I learn a lot from my students. What can I say is, be open-minded towards their opinion? Don't limit yourself from interacting with your students. But sometimes, I know professionalism is also a part of your responsibilities. Still, if we see it from either side… everyone has their own definition of what they want to think of. Although, I know sometimes your students are annoying. But I like to sometimes laugh at my struggle and their struggle to understand the subject.

I found a new strategy to use for my classroom management. I called it a Realization Classroom Report (RCR). So before the class, I made an estimated time that I would be teaching. After that, I gave them 20-25 minutes to discuss the topics being talked about with their teammates. Then I will ask them to send the answer to the chatbox. Continue to explain the following material or do a skill test section. Next, I will ask them to do an assignment individually for a certain amount of time.

Well, this might be too strict for others… but this is how I cope with my materials. So this is my opinion, and it doesn't mean you must force yourself to try this, haha…

2TUMB Class Activities: General Travel
18.00 - 18.20	LO + Vocabulary + Vocabulary correlated with the pictures
18.20 - 18.40	Discussion (with breakout room) then send the answer at the chatbox (write your name and your friend's name)
18.40 - 19.20	simple future tense explanation + ask them to write 3 sentences in the chatbox + presence list via emojis within the chatbox

 

2TUMB Class Activities: Dining Out
18.00 - 18.20	LO + Warm Up + Vocabulary
18.20 - 18.40	Discussion (with breakout room) asks them to record themselves inside the room and answer individually about Liz and Ben.
18.40 - 19.20	listening section, expression, and explaining comparatives and superlatives (Ask them to write a paragraph about comparing something?)

 

Other than handling class, what did I do?

I am also handling an English Club Conversation 3.0 Program as a facilitator there. This program is made by the English Club UIB Student Activities as a place for those who want to improve their English. We do a discussion every Saturday from 7.30 PM until 8.30 PM. Every week, the forum has several natives, Sir Ver, Ms Melody, Ms Anna, and Ms Flora. We talked a lot regarding general topics like travelling, food, playing some games until a deep talk conversation regarding life.

Well, to be honest, I still have a lot of stories to tell, but I think that's enough for now, right? I hope you enjoyed my long blabbering experience! I do learn a lot, including how to cope myself, so for now! Don’t overwork yourself and please stay safe, healthy and get some rest! Adios~