"Teaching: A Noblest Profession"

Observation/Actual Teaching

What makes teaching a noble profession?

Teachers are the living earth angels. It is a calling that calls for passion and dedication. It gives a hand, enlightens the mind and touches the heart, making it a noblest profession. I, you and the future generation can be the living earth angel around the globe.

I learned a lot during the observation down to the actual teaching all throughout the internship; starting from making the objectives of the topic, planning the resource materials to be used, creating a strategy to involve the students in learning and assessing the students learning through activities. Of course, you need to establish connection to inspire them and gain their interest. All throughout the observation process, the teacher exhibited the skills and mastery of the lesson including the resource materials like visual aids and the textbooks or worksheets for the students to answer. I only observed three times, but that was enough to know how to manage the class. My cooperative teacher informed me to focus more on activities and spend less on lecture but making sure that I hit the main point of the lesson.

With the expertise and feedback of my mentor, I learned to keep my pace with the student needs. I was able to maintain my composure in front of the class and ask questions repeatedly in a simpler way. Also, I can have my class finished on a given time and gave group or individual activities to know if they really understood the lesson. The worksheets and problem solving on the board had helped me evaluate the pacing of the child and how they interact with it. I observed that when it comes to group activities, they had better performance. They were all active and competitive. But there were students who just depend on their classmates. So far, I could say that it was indeed a good training for me to adjust on the students and focus on the needs of the children and not just the subject to be taught.

Monday morning, 21th day of January, was not an ordinary day. I will be starting my actual teaching, but since my first period had a test, I resumed it on the third period at 10:10-11:00 a.m. room 2/6 (grade 8). First meeting was not an easy because I do not know how to interact with them. English is not a common language used as a medium of instruction, so I really had to put a lot of efforts. To be honest, I panicked but luckily, Aj. Am, a Science intern was there to help me. I asked him to translate what I was saying. So, we did that for 30 minutes since we started late. I was glad that one of my student volunteered to answer the given problem on the board about the distance of an object from the mirror, since I was teaching light reflection in Physics. I finished with a smile and call it a day. I only had one class. I went back to English room and think of the best way to have an interactive class. My mentor was not there to observe me, but we communicate through the line. I asked her about the strategy on how can I handle the class well and make it more interactive. Then, she advised me to show concrete materials and allow them to manipulate then ask a questions.

January 22, Tuesday at 10:10-11:00 a.m. room 2/4 first period. Since they had the same subject, I had to teach the same lesson. I already prepared activities such as board work problems and worksheet. I had to be animated and speak slowly to make them understand the lesson. This time I did not ask help from Aj. Am to translate the lesson. I showed more illustrations so that they can visualize it and gave board work activities for them to learn actively while doing the task. I asked randomly the students to go in front and show the solution for each item. I was glad that I’m starting to have a well-organized and interactive class. I went back to the quarter to prepare the necessary materials for my next class. I observe the other class to know more about the students and techniques used by the teachers in the afternoon and jotted down the important information and things to do for my actual teaching.

On Wednesday, January 23, supposedly I had double period for Science subject in grade 11, but since we had to attend the Math Camp, they had to excuse us in our class every Wednesday as requested by the respected officials from Satit Building, Primary School. At 11:00 a.m. we left the VRU and drove to the partner school of VRU, Samkhok School with the other Sea Teacher assigned both in Primary and Secondary Department.

Thursday, January 24, I had two classes. My first class started at 9:20-11:00 at room 2/2 since it was a double period. Aj. Am helped me with the technical preparations before I started the lesson. My mentor was not there to observe, only Aj. Am. I did the same routine in teaching. Being animated in front of the students, speaking slowly and asking questions repeatedly if they do not understand. Also, I gave them activities to be answered by group. We finished the task just before the time. So, I collected the worksheets and bid goodbye to the students. In the afternoon, my cooperative teacher excused me from my next class to discuss about the preparation for my final demonstration on Monday. We spent 1 hour discussing about my LP and the topic to be discussed. After, I went back to the quarter to rest for a while.

25th day of January, Friday, I only had one class in the morning but double period. It was in the 2/5 room at 9:20-11:00 a.m. Teacher Phan was there to observe how I manage the class. She was a Science Teacher. I admired her because she was approachable and eager to talk to me even if she can’t really talk in English. I was amazed because instead of avoiding me, she asked me if I needed some help. That day, Aj. Am informed me that they will be using the whole period for finishing their topic and for the test. I was seated at the back, observing Aj. Am while facilitating the class. I and Teacher Phan talked together. When it’s already time, I thanked and bid goodbye to the both of them. I went immediately to the quarter to have my lunch and take a rest.