Never be afraid to start a journey because life is so tedious if you are stuck in your comfort zone.
Find many paths. Be a wanderer.
Name : Made Septi Dwi Indrayani
Major : English Language Education
Home University : Ganesha University of Education
Receiving University : Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah
Blog : https://mdseptidwiindrayani.blogspot.com/
Name of School : Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah
Hi everyone! I have successfully finished doing teaching practice at Politekik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah, Malaysia. This would not happen without hands of my beloved university. Thank you to Ganesha University of Education that gives me this beautiful opportunity to go abroad exploring different vibes, people’s perspective, and culture. It was such an honor representing Undiksha to the international level, meeting new people from Thailand, Filipina, Brunei, and Malaysia. This was beyond my expectation; truly amazing. This journey had been ended, but the memories and experiences will never die. Doing a program and giving a report after that is inseparable. So, here are the reports when I did teaching practice at Politekik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah, Malaysia.
1. General Information
1.1. School Profile
Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah (PTSB), formerly known as the Kulim Polytechnic, is the 16th polytechnic under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. In the state of Kedah, the Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah Polytechnic (PTSB) is the second polytechnic after the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Polytechnic in Jitra.
PTSB began operations on March 1, 2002 at a temporary campus in Seberang Perai Polytechnic, Penang and relocated to its 100-acre campus at Kulim High Technology Park on March 3, 2003. On June 9, 2003, PTSB began recruiting its first cohort of 507 students. The number of students now exceeds 4,500. After operating for 5 years, on March 27, 2007, the PTSB was proclaimed by His Highness Al Sultan AlMu’tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku AlHaj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni the late Sultan Badlishah, Sultan of Kedah Darul Aman.
PTSB is headed by a Director and assisted by two (2) Deputy Directors along with six (6) Head of Departments. With high enthusiasm and commitment from the front line and all staff, PTSB is always striving to be one of the best polytechnics in Malaysia.
At PTSB, students may choose to pursue diploma programs or certificates offered by four (4) academic departments, the Department of Civil Engineering, the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Commerce. In addition, PTSB also offers a Lifelong Learning Program through Part-Time Courses held every weekend.
1.2. Academic Facilities
There are four faculties located in different buildings at Politekik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah which are Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Commerce. There are six dorms, V1 until V6, where the students can stay during their study with affordable price yet comfortable room. V1 until V3 are for girls and the rest are for boys. For the students who are staying at the dorm, they are allowed to go out until 7 P.M. There will be a consequence if they ignore the rule. There is also quarter, a place for lecturers to stay. They can stay there with their family. Besides for the students and lecturers, there is also hostel for with great facility for guests. Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah is supported by some sports building where the students can do sports activities; 1 football field, 2 volleyball courts, 1 basketball court, 2 netball courts, 1 outdoor futsal court, 1 indoor futsal court, 2 badminton courts, 4 tennis courts, 1 gym, 1 squash court, 1 rugby court, and 1 softball court. This polytechnic is surrounded by green and the building looked well-organized. For the buildings where the students can have food and drink, PTSB has 1 cafeteria (8 A.M – 11 P.M), 1 canteen (8 A.M – 5 P.M), 1 mini store (8 A.M – 6 P.M), 2 mini stands, and some stands owned and organized by entrepreneur students. PTSB also has lecture halls, meeting room, seminar room, library, and computer laboratory. For transportation, there are three buses that can be used for supporting the students’ activity. The parking area of PTSB is large so it can accommodate all vehicles of lecturers and students.
Volley Court
Meeting Room
Lecture Hall
Classroom
Bus
Cafeteria
Dorm
Basketball Court
1.3. Teaching System
As the polytechnic in general, PTSB is divided into several departments where the students will spend 3 years to study there. The learning process of each major starts from 08.00 A.M to 05.00 P.M on Sunday to Thursday. In Kedah, their holiday is on Friday and Saturday. For the English subject, different departments will get English in different semester. The Department of Civil Engineering, the Department of Electrical Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Commerce will get English in first and third semester, while the Department of Commerce will learn English in first, second and third semester. The English lecturer will teach them according to their major, or commonly known as English for Specific Purpose.
2. Pedagogical Contents
2.1. Teaching Method
The teaching method applied in PTSB is mixed, both of Student-Centered and Teacher-Centered Learning. It depends on the lecturer, the subject and the material, but mainly Student-Centered. For the approach, the English lecturers use communicative approach since they teach Communicative English.
2.2. Source of Learning
The class will use two books as the source of learning. The first book is called students’ book containing the material and guidance. The second one is the workbook. Workbook contains of many questions that the students’ need to answer it. Students answer the question in the classroom or given as an assignment from the teacher.
2.3. Authentic Assessment
Test, midterm and final are used as the assessment used in this school. The teacher will give a unit test for the students for each unit. There is also midterm test conducted in the middle semester and final test conducted at the end of the semester. For the additional points, the students can gain it by answering some questions given by the teacher. These additional points will help the students for their final grade or if they are failed in midterm or unit test, they can use the additional points to fix the score.
3. Teaching Plan
3.1. Curriculum
The curriculum is designed by Curriculum Division of Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE). So, all of the polytechnics in Malaysia will use the same curriculum.
3.2. Lesson Plan
PTSB does not make a lesson plan for each meeting. However, they do Course Teaching Plan (CTP) once per semester and it is online.
4. Teaching Practice
4.1. Teaching procedures in the classroom
The teaching procedures in Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah is similar to teaching procedures in Indonesia. There are three core parts in teaching procedures where both Malaysia and Indonesia use it. Namely opening, core activity, and closure. I use these three core parts to teach in the classroom. The following procedures as follows:
· Opening
I came to the class and greet the students. After the greeting, I did the present list to know who is absent in the classroom. After that, I did brainstorm to relate the material by asking some questions to the students.
· Core Activity
To make the class climate fun, I did game. Game is not only for fun, but at the end the students and I discussed it together along with the material. Game made the students excited and they were encouraged to be actively participated.
· Closure
In this part, I concluded the material before I ended the material by asking to the students “What material that we learn today?”. I let the students to emphasize the materials that we have learnt. I just clarified it.
4.2. Time Management and Activities for Each Meeting
In Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah, the students will get 1 meeting a week but different amount of hour. It depends on what semester they are.
4.3. Problem Solving
Since I did many variations in core activity especially variation of game, I felt a bit difficult arranging the table and chair. It took much time because the students were not familiar moving their table and chair. They actually just sit and stand up without moving the position of the table and chair. When they were asked to move their table and chair, they were bit confused and surprised so the rhyme of teaching didn’t run smoothly.
4.4. Others
The students and I
Presenting their works
Giving reward is a must
5. Summary and Suggestions
5.1. Purpose of the teaching practice
Here are some of the purposes of teaching practice: (1) It develops our understanding, attitudes, and skills in teaching as they apply the knowledge/competencies we have learnt and apply it into the real teaching situation; (2) It enables us to gain useful experiences as a result of interacting with the students and teachers; (3) We are able to interact with officials of the school to know more about the school program, the environment of the school; (4) It gives us opportunity to increase out professionality to be a competent teacher.
5.2. Outcomes of the Practice
· Having experience new experiences to teach foreign students.
· Having the competence to compete in the era of Globalization and Industrial 4.0
· Becoming an ambassador of Ganesha University of Education in education and cultural field abroad.
5.3. Challenges of the Practice
In terms of teaching, there was no big problem. The students got the information well, even they showed great enthusiasm; actively participated. The language that I used was easily understood as they were familiar with English. However, there was a bit difficulty in preparing tools, for instance speaker and LCD, because the tools were not available in the classroom so I had to ask permission first.
5.4. Overall Impression
No words can describe how amazing this program is. All the time, money, effort is totally worth it. This program teaches me how to be easily adapted with the new environment because life is not always be the same, many places and new people are waiting ahead. We, as a human being, have to be ready for them. Having a good relation with people abroad is totally wonderful. We can make something big in the future, and do collaboration. Having this program teaches me how to be independent, strong, and passionate, even in a short time, it was still beautiful. I learnt that I shouldn’t be tripped in my own thought, perspective, and feeling. World is wide. I need to go abroad, open my mind, look at another chance, life, and adventure since I realize that I am sort of debris who is small which I have to explore myself to be bigger and Undiksha helps me to reach what myself needs.
5.5. Suggestion for Future Improvement
For the next candidate of teaching practice, don’t think that the environment will be same. You might be surprised by certain different condition. You might face many stairs, walk to school on foot, and feel exhausted due to the weather. Please make yourself well prepared mentally and physically because it is not easy like what you thought. You need to deal with people which have different culture and mindset. You will learn the education system that is different from your own country. Next, you need to be able to socialize with people; partners, teachers, staff in the school, students, and society. For the last is a team working is very useful. Preparing yourself well is good but you don’t need to be afraid and think too much. Wonderful moment is waiting for you. You will have limited time, so please enjoy every single moment. Time will flow so fast. If you spend your time just to be afraid, you will lose the precious one. Mistakes done is normal. Everyone does. Don’t take it seriously until you feel sad for a week. Realize it, put your head up, and learn from it. Making mistake is kind of upgrade. You also will face many problems, be ready and be wise. The way you solve the problem is being tested. Make friends as many as you can. Be a good example of Undksha, Bali, and Indonesia because people are watching you. Put God first in everything you do. Good Luck!
