Numinous Teaching Experience

There is beauty in diversity. It is the differences that makes every moment wonderful. I am overwhelmed with the fact that I am in a place that is really foreign to me. A place where is the opposite of what I am used to be. The girls are wearing hijab and they covered themselves like a precious stone to be kept. I am tasked to attend to eleven different classes from Grade III, IV and V. Different classes yet I felt the same welcoming environment. Just like from any places, kids are all the same because they are all eager to learn something new. The pupils from Indonesia are just like my pupils in Philippines! It feels like home.

The first week of my stay at Athirah was purely observation of the things that took place in the classroom. I observed how the learner and the facilitator interact with each other. I must say that it is a bit challenging for me to listen to them because I cannot understand them because they are using Bahasa. I found out similarities and differences which are evident from my country, Philippines and here in Indonesia. Well it is true that classrooms in Athirah are more conducive when it comes to learning because it is well equipped and well ventilated but, I must say that the classroom set up is the same in Philippines because it is learner centered.

My supportive cooperating teacher Mrs. Dewi Purnama Sutji S. Pd. She is an English teacher of Grade III, IV and V. I have to attend all of her eleven different classes. I asked her insight about the curriculum of Indonesia and she told me that they cater the needs of diverse learners. She also shared some of her experience as an English teacher and I found out that English language and even English as a subject is foreign to them. My cooperating teacher guided me all throughout my stay in Athirah. I am so blessed to meet great woman like her.

I also observed that there are three teachers inside the classroom. The adviser, assistant teacher and the shadow teacher. Adviser is the one who is in charge with the class in the whole day including the arrangement of the classroom as a whole. The assistant teacher who helps for the preparation and assist all the learners if they need something. The shadow teacher who stays in the classroom the whole day to assist only one learner who has special needs.

My second week in Athirah was fun and exciting. I facilitated games and activities for the learners which they clearly enjoyed. We cannot get away with the language barrier but I am trying my best to be the visual aid by putting words into action like in body language.

The children always ask me to facilitate games for them because they had a fun and exciting experience.

Tired yet satisfied! My co- Pre Service Teachers. The experience we had was so rewarding that we will not trade it to anything