FOURTH WEEK

3^rd WEEK IN SATIT DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL

        Finally, it is now my time to demonstrate. I am really excited because I wanted to know how the students will react with the approach that I am going to use with them. At my first demonstration, the students were a little bit passive because they can’t understand me because I was too fast in talking, but after a little adjustments, I was able to know the right pace that I should use in order for them to understand. 

Luckily, I was given two demonstrations so I was able to redeem myself and provided them with the wonderful discussion. It was really worthwhile because it was a totally new experience for me. I was able to showcase my ability in teaching and learn a lot from the students as well. Teaching in the school is what I will truly miss in my whole experience in Thailand, for after all, teaching is my passion.

          The students are really interested with the topic that we had since it is about exploring the Safari. Little did I know, most of them have already gone to a Safari that’s why they are very eager to answer the questions that I ask them? I will surely miss the students that I had in SATIT. And I hope that everyone will accomplish the dreams and aspirations that they want in life.

MY MENTOR

      I would like to use this page to thank my mentor, Dr. Put. Thank you so much for letting me into your life. Thank you for sharing your experiences and views in life. I am truly grateful to have known a woman like you. Thank you for inspiring me to do better, to be the best that I can be. Words cannot express how lucky I am to have known your Dr. Put. Thank you so much. I will truly miss you. Thank you my mentor.

THE PRESIDENT

        Having to meet the president truly signifies that our program is over. In this picture, we were presented by the faculty of education to the president to share our experiences that we have in SATIT Demonstration School, Songkhla Rajabaht University. 

I will surely miss Songkhla and its people. I will surely treasure every experiences and moments that I had in Songkhla.

MY LAST PICTURE IN THAILAND

        Until we meet again Songkhla, Thailand.

-        Charles Martin Joseph E. Balahadia

(Cebu City, Philippines)

Third Week

Third Week

2^nd WEEK IN SATIT – DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL

            I was given the opportunity to observe the classes and be one of the assistant teachers for the day. When I was assigned to the class of Teacher Jira, there was a student-teacher who is doing her demonstration for her finals. I was really impressed with the student-teacher’s teaching materials because you could see the time and effort that she put in just to make those materials because of its grandeur.  

The student-teacher was able to effectively deliver the lesson because she can switch her mode of instruction from English to Thai. However, it would be best if she kept on speaking in English to make sure that the students will be trained to use language. But overall, considering that it was her first time demonstrating, I could say that it was one of the best that I have seen in Thailand. The experience that I had was also great because I was able to gauge the student’s ability to comprehend and their current level with regards to the English language. Furthermore, I was given the chance to interact with the students and to get to know them more with their study habits and learning styles.

            I was also given the opportunity to witness their monthly exercises which the students are gathered to participate in their dance exercise. It was good to see that they are incorporating the importance of health various activities.

 I have witnessed how they train the students to think like a businessman. As a matter of fact, the school set-up a mini market for the students to sell their goods with the fair amount of price. It was really nice to see that at a very young age, they are already training their students to be independent.

STUDENT TEACHERS

        I am extremely happy with my co-student teachers because all of them are helpful, polite, accommodating and most of all, they are very friendly. They made our life in SATIT easier because they always ask us if there is anything that they can help us with. Apart from that, they are also very outgoing that they even invited us to have dinner at a nearby café. And with that, I am truly grateful.

KING RAMA IX

            In commemoration of his Highness King Rama IX, the staff in the faculty of education invited us to witness the amazing display of the talents of College of Arts and Sciences of Songkhla Rajabaht University. In the pictures below, you can see the director and us taking a selfie.  Also, we had our pictures taken in the venue and outside, I was able to take a picture with the portrait of the late King.

Second Week

WEEK 2

First Week (SATIT – Demonstration School)

We had our short tour in satit demonstration school and I was amazed at how they take care of everything—shiny tables, well arranged books, children taking off their shoes inside the gyms and classrooms. Also during this week, we received our schedule from our vibrant vice director Teacher Jira. 

She is really accommodating and always make sure that everything is provided for us. In return, we also make sure that we will not disappoint them by doing our tasks as a student-teachers.

 *Students during their P.E class

*Library
*Playground for the Anuban students (Kindergarten students)
*SATIT Clinic

First Meeting

            I am very happy that I was able to meet the students in SATIT. At first, I thought that they will be shy because they don’t know who I was, and where I came from. But to my surprise, they were excited to have their pictures taken and more inquisitive to know who I was, and where I came from. After the bell rung, it signalled their lunch time. I thought that it would be the same chaotic scene that I usually see in schools because children will be racing towards the cashier to buy their food and play after they’ve eaten. Surprisingly, they all fell in line to get their portion of their food because it was already prepared by the school. On top of that, they are tasked to bring their own utensils such as: spoon, fork, and cup for their on sanitation. I thought that after they’ve eaten their lunch, they will immediately put the used utensils to the washing area to be washed by the staffs but instead, they were the ones who washed their own utensils. Imagine that as young as 6 years old, they are given the responsibility to clean after themselves. It is nothing short of amazing!!

Konsulat Indonesia

(Indonesia Consulate)

After one of our class, the teacher informed us to get ready at half past 15:00 because we will meet the consulate of indonesia. There, we were given the opportunity to know more about songkhla with regards to their agricultural prowess and land mass. The consul also asked us to learn more about songkhla and maybe, share it to our professor so that they will be able to know what is with Thailand that you really want to go back after you visited the place. The consul also asked as about the experiences that we had and what it felt like to be living in a foreign country. They are very accommodating and they really wanted everyone to feel welcome that my even I, from the Philippines, was welcomed and felt the sincere welcome of the Indonesians.

My First Week  (SATIT – DEMONSTARTION SCHOOL)

The first time that I went inside the campus, I was at awe at how everything was organized. From the playground that was kept cleaned, to the classrooms which was readily available for learning. The time when I was observing the class, I noticed how the Thai students did their best to comprehend what the teacher is saying, however, they are having a hard time communicating using the English language most likely because they rarely use the English as a medium of instruction. Then came lunch time, at first, I thought it would be chaotic because the number of students outnumbers the staffs in the canteen roughly into 1(staff): 10 (students). To my surprise, it was probably the most organized lunch break that I have ever seen since all of the students were so well disciplined that they lined-up right before each other and waited for their turns to have their meal. After eating their lunch, they carry their plates to the washing area and then proceeded in cleaning their utensils on their own. The bell rung again and it signaled that they should go back to their own classrooms and then my observation resumed.

            The observation that I had was pretty much the same as the ones that I had in the Philippines. Maybe the only difference is that the students’ materials and lesson depends on the books that were issued to them and the content is focused on authentic setting and examples while using the grammar rules in English.

First Week

Week 1

After the very long tiring flights that I had, I was given the opportunity to witness the Teacher’s Appreciation day wherein the students were lining up to give their thanks to their teachers who guided them and inspired them. But before we went there, Dr. Narong brought us to the canteen so that we would know where to eat during our stay there. I was mesmerized because of how their canteen was set-up. The dining hall and the stall are divided for Muslims and for Buddhists. Facing the entrance of the canteen, the right part of the dining hall is for Halal foods for Muslims and another one for the Buddhist. You might think that it is bizarre because they shouldn’t, in a way, promote division with one another, but the truth is, it is for the convenience of everyone else, and most importantly, it is not promoting division but instead, it is their way of respecting each and everyone’s culture and religion. 

After we had our bountiful meal, we went immediately to the cultural hall where the Teacher’s Day was being held. At first, I was in awe when I was the gargantuan hall that they have. And to think that it is only one of the many halls that they have amazes me. When the program ended, I was astonished with their gestures because they were kneeling while they approached to their teachers and after reaching them, they bowed down to show their deep gratitude. After the ceremony, we then proceeded to their buffet. I was astounded because it was my first time seeing a platter full of half-cooked veggies with chili sauce, fish that is covered with curry like color but despite those, the food was still delicious.

THE MEETING

After the lunch that we had, we then proceeded in the Language Arts building where we met Dr. Keng for the official introduction and welcome. There we were shown clippings of how songkhla started and how for so many years, withstood the challenges that the university faces. We were also introduced to the different teachers with different nationalities that we can have as a contact person if ever we will need something from them.

  

REPRESENTING

There is no greater honor than representing your country in a foreign land. The vigor that you feel in donning the flag will always be the best feeling of all. In picture on the upper right, starting on the left is I, Ilham, Dr. Keng, Ulfa, Anna, Laras and Desi, All of which are Indonesians except for Dr. Keng which is Thai, and I which is a Filipino.

OFFICIAL WELCOME DINNER

We were officially introduced to our mentors in our welcome dinner with the top brass in Songkhla Rajahbat University (Faculty of Education) I was assigned to the lovely Dr. Put which picture is on the lower left. In this event, I was able to sing a native song from my hometown in Cebu City in which I proudly sang. 

The vice director also gave us flowers and souvenirs together with the letter with the picture of His Highness King Rama IX. I also had the opportunity to have a picture with the beautiful Dr. May which picture is on the upper right. I really thank the staff and the faculty members for the warm welcome.

FOLKLORE MUSEUM

Together with Dr. Narong, and with the help of the School’s transportation, they brought us to the Folklore Arts Museum in Thailand wherein we saw how the Thai people live during the olden times. We saw a lot of traditional tools that was used in making Sugar Cane juice, weaving clothes and so much more. As a matter of fact, there are other traditional tools that is still being used today such as the tools for weaving clothes. When I was invited by Dr. Put to go the oldest clothing store in Thailand, the sales lady told me that up until this day, the Malong that they are selling was weaved using the traditional tools. In the museum, they are also artifacts for the religions that have dominated the southern province of Thailand, they have the Muslim section or rooms for Islamic religion, and they also have the Buddhist section for Buddhism religion.

In this picture you can see the Buddhist temple, together with the monk portrait which signifies the influence of Buddhism Southern Thai. In the same picture, you can also see the influence of the Islamic religion through the artifacts and porcelain plates with Arabic markings. Also, you can see a Qur’an in the top most right section of the picture.

Day 00

Before D-Day

"The day that I decided that nothing grows inside my comfort zone."

"The SEA Teacher Project or the “Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia” is a project that aims to provide opportunity for pre-service student teachers from universities in Southeast Asia to have teaching experiences (practicum) in schools in other countries in Southeast Asia.

Based on the SEAMEO seven priority areas for the eleven SEAMEO Member countries to work together to improve the quality of education in Southeast Asia, “Revitalizing Teacher Education” is one of the priority areas in building and strengthening capacity of teachers in the region.

The project is for the pre-service student teachers whose major are in math, science, English and pre-school. The practicum period is for one month. The students’ roles and responsibilities are assigned weekly during the one month period (observe, assist in teaching, teach and reflect). The host universities will provide mentors to supervise and monitor the students throughout the practicum period. The project uses the mechanism of cost sharing basis."

So here is the beginning of my travel towards Thailand for the student exchange program for SEA Teacher project.

This is me while I first arrived in Manila International Airport from Mactan Cebu International Airport. The other photos were while I was waiting for my flight going to Kualalumpur.

Malaysia

I didn’t take a lot of photos because I was really tired. Instead, I went to the nearest bathroom to brush my teeth and went on to my next flight.