I found so many differences about the educational here in Thailand and in Indonesia. First of all, I’m fascinated that students here is very discipline and they have a big respect to teacher. I wonder about how teacher here educate their student and how their parents bring up their child to be such a very civilized children. After I come to the class for the first time, I see that teacher here bring a long stick to discipline their students whenever they are going to be noisy or do something impolite. Usually, teacher will hit student’s palm. I’m amazed that teacher in kindergarten will do the same. I thought it’s only for prathomsuksa or matayom. I’m impressed with parents here that they trust the teacher to educate their children. So I think that’s why student’s here is very discipline and have a big respect to their teacher and parent. It will be dangerous if we apply this method in Indonesia eventhough teacher do that for a reason (discipline students or something like that, not for harm purposes) because parents would be angry and protest to school with the reason that teacher has been hurt their child.
The curriculum used in this school is understandable for me as a student teacher exchange, because they use national early childhood curriculum thats written in english. Also for the lesson plan, it is more simple than I usually make in Indonesia even it is only a task not for real teaching.
The procedurs of practicum is not really different, the teaching step even almost same. However teaching is not always easy and as good as we expected to be. Language barrier is very challenged me, even less at the first day. Not all thai teacher and students at school can speak and understand english, so it’s need more effort for me to communicate with them, but it’s not prevent me to try to talk with them, sometimes we just using body language or google translate in my phone, it’s interesting but also challenging.
It’s still unbelievable for me that I already finish my pre-service teaching through the SEA-Teacher Programme by SEAMO. I’m very thankfull to my lecturer that give me this chances. Also, VRU is great, I think they treat us very well and send us to a very nice school. I have a little problem about my invitation letter before I go to Thailand and I’m glad that VRU quickly responds my mail so I can prepared well for this programme.
Moreover, I couldn’t ask for more to Watpangiw School. The school director, teacher, student even helper there is very nice and very welcome to us. They remind us when we accidentaly do something impolite. I’m so thankful about that, it’s mean that they take care of us.
Last but not least, I hope this blog will be helpfull for the next student who want to join SEA-TEACHER programme especially those who placed in Watpangiw School and VRU as their host university.
THANK YOU SEAMEO
The #STB7 Report of Fannisa 