WEEK 1: The Beginning of a Start

DAY 1 

31 July 2023

Today, July 31, 2023, I was all set to embark on my very first day as a practicum teacher. Anticipation had been building up for this day, but we hadn't received any official word from JPNWPKL about our starting date. Yet, as my lecturers advised, the key was to stay prepared. So, mentally and physically, I prepared myself to dive headfirst into the world of teaching. Determined to be equipped for the journey ahead, I ventured out with friends to gather the necessary supplies for a teacher, and, of course, I couldn't resist stocking up on a mountain of candy for future student rewards—and when I say a lot, believe me, it's an understatement! 😉 I was genuinely thrilled to meet my students and make a positive impact.

LATEST UPDATE!

Then, as the evening approached, a sudden announcement from Miss Nabira sent a jolt of surprise and excitement through me—we would begin our practicum tomorrow! It felt like a whirlwind of emotions—a mix of nerves and elation that's hard to put into words. The thought of starting immediately, while my friends in Selangor had already begun their journey, was both thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking.

As I wrap up this post, I'm feeling a rush of enthusiasm and a bit of trepidation about what lies ahead. But I take comfort in the fact that I've made sure to prepare myself, and I've got all the necessary tools at my disposal. So, for now, it's time to say goodbye, and I'm eager to take that first step into the classroom, knowing that this journey is sure to be filled with adventure, learning, and incredible moments. Wish me luck! 🍀

DAY 2

1 August 2023

Good morning, world! Today marks the start of a thrilling new journey for me as I step into the shoes of a practicum teacher. Rising early, I wrestled with sleepiness, as it had been ages since I woke up at such an early hour. My housemates, fellow practicum teachers, and I embarked on our adventure, driving to SMK Taman Maluri, which sits right next to SMK Datok Lokman, our destination for the day. The moment I set foot on the school grounds, my initial thought was, "Wow, this school is huge."

Me waiting for Aiimee and Zulfa

I eagerly waited for my friends, Zulfa and Aiimee, on a bench near the school gate. The highlight of my day? I had an unexpected yet delightful encounter with one of the students who approached me with a warm smile. To finally be acknowledged as a teacher was an overwhelming experience. When my friends arrived, we set out to explore, asking for directions. However, we did find ourselves a bit lost at some point, until a kind lab assistant came to our rescue, offering to show us around. His help was a boon as he guided us through the school's nooks and crannies.

Our first picture together at SMKDL

Our next stop was the school office, where we had the opportunity to meet the person in charge of our group. Given that the school currently doesn't have a principal, the GPK has taken on the role of "pemangku pengetua" temporarily. He provided us with valuable insights about the school and its unique challenges. Notably, many of the students come from B40 families, and he expressed hope that we could contribute to improving their learning experience. After the briefing, he asked us to complete the details for our teaching permit, a necessary step in our journey.

With not much to do during the first day, we stayed at our respective spots, getting our teaching permit forms ready and securing his signature for the next steps. As the day came to a close, it was time to say goodbye, and I couldn't help but feel excited about the adventures and learning opportunities that await in the coming days. Until next time, hehe. 😊

DAY 3

2 August 2023

It was the second day of school! There is still nothing much to do, but I got my first relief class. But first things first, here's a picture of me in front of the SMKDL sign.

Just me in front of the sign hehe

Now, let's continue our journey. With the start of exam week, my role shifted to invigilating the examination sessions in the classroom. It was a first-time experience for me, and it got me thinking: Is this how teachers felt when students discreetly shielded their answers from prying eyes as they walked by? I vividly recalled my high school self, believing that teachers would meticulously read every word I wrote on my exam paper. It turns out that the reality was quite different. Invigilating the exams was a fascinating experience, from collecting and distributing the papers to reading the instructions and ensuring a fair testing environment.

One exciting part of the day was supervising the students during the listening test. Initially, it was a bit of a juggling act to manage three classes simultaneously, but as time went on, I adapted to the rhythm, and it turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable experience. The challenge of maintaining order and focus in the classrooms was a valuable learning experience.

Supervising the exams and listening test

After school, our adventures continued as we headed to the printing shop to get all the necessary documents ready for JPNWPKL. Our plan to visit the JPN (Education Department) had to be shelved due to time constraints, so we decided to make the most of the day and went shopping at Mr. DIY for school supplies and materials. The day turned out to be packed with activities, and I had the chance to make new friends among the teachers at the school.

It's shopping time!

Overall, it was an eventful day filled with new experiences, from invigilating exams to exploring the local shops. Each day in this journey brings its own set of surprises and learning opportunities, and I'm eager to see what tomorrow holds. Until then, goodbye for now! 😊

DAY 4 

3 August 2023

Nothing much happened today, as it's only the third day of examinations. I supervised so many exams today because there were a lot of absent teachers. Everything went well for just an hour, as today is such a bad day for me. I went to school early in the morning, and I wore my housemate's shoes because she asked me to try them since she didn't fit them. So when I tried it and it fit, I wore it without thinking much. However, at 7.45 am, while walking to class, I noticed something was not right with the shoe. I don't know how to describe it, but here's the condition of my shoe at that time.

😭😭😭

the pink slippers Zulfa borrowed for me ><

When that happened, I just continued my walk to the class and distributed the exam papers to the students. Then I tried to staple the shoe, but it didn't work. Thankfully, Zulfa saved me by giving me a pair of slippers that she borrowed from the school's mosque. I ended up wearing the slippers for the whole day. I even went to JPNWPKL with that slipper later that day to submit our teaching permit. It was a tough process, but luckily everything went well, and we just need to wait for 14 working days to receive our teaching permit. It was a really embarrassing moment for me, and I probably will never forget this moment, as it was only my third day at the school. That's all for today!

 

p/s: Wish me luck on telling my housemate about her shoes.

DAY 5

4 August 2023

It's finally Friday! It has been a really eventful week, and this whole week makes me wonder how my life would be as a teacher one day. Today was just a normal day as I just entered relief classes as we have to wait for our permit to be done first, and then we can only teach the students. On Friday, the canteen sponsored food for the teachers, and my pantai timur heart was screaming when I saw nasi kerabu was on the menu. After we were done with the classes, the GPK Hem gave us the school map for us to memorise the school better, as we always get lost during this week. I also got the chance to enjoy the amazing scenery of the school while walking around the school block. The scenery was so beautiful, especially from the top building. I didn't remember to take pictures, though. I will provide the view from the top in the next entry. Overall, it was an amazing week. Happy weekend, guys!

The school map of SMKDL

SWOT Analysis of the week