International Teaching Practice at Xavier Learning Community, Thailand
On November 24 until December 17, 2022, eight students from English Language Education Study Program and English Education Master’s Program were doing an Overseas Teaching Practicum in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Specifically, they were doing it in Xavier Learning Community, a Jesuit school in Thailand that focuses on teaching young people in Northern Thailand to achieve their full potential based on the Jesuit tradition.
They are Brigitta Rosemarie, Ayu Ratri, Rachelina Larasati, Alfonsa Vina Kanasya, Yoannes Yuka Krisdianata, Abel Yohanis Romrome (from English Education Master’s Program), Zelza Adiningsih, and Natalia Desi (from English Language Education Study Program).
A couple of classes were being taught by the delegates, such as Reading and Writing for Communication, Listening and Speaking for Communication, Structure, Pronunciation, Conversation, Oral Drills, and Linguistics. The delegates were doing coordination with the teaching staff in XLC to prepare the teaching materials for the following week.
During their four-week stay in XLC, not only did the delegates do their teaching practice, but they also join the activities in the community. One of the activities is English Activity. The delegates made activities with the XLC students when Mr. Kuswandono and Mr. Ouda, Sanata Dharma lecturers, were giving a seminar to the XLC teaching staff.
The XLC staff also once invited the delegates along with Mr. Kus and Mr. Ouda to a dinner on the Mekong Riverbank.
The delegates also contributed to the Cultural Night, an event where all the students and staff performed something according to their ancestry. At the event, the delegates made Sate Ayam to be shared with everyone.
In the following week, XLC conducted English Camp at Ban San Thaat School, an elementary school located about a five-minute drive from XLC. The delegates were assisted by the freshman students as well to help them to communicate with the elementary school students. During the English Camp, the delegates and freshmen conducted an outbound-like activity for the students.
“It was just three weeks that we spent at Xavier Learning Community, Thailand, but it felt so close and intimate, as if we’re a part of the family. The time we spent together with my teammates was priceless,” said Yoannes Yuka, one of the delegates from the master’s program
“The first thing that I felt, even until I went back to Indonesia is gratefulness. There are a lot of experiences and lessons that I got even before I got there, including the teaching preparation, and the teaching itself which was very challenging because it was my first time. The language barrier and the adaptation to a new environment were also challenging.” said Zelza Adiningsih, an undergrad delegate.
(AVK)
