I went to look for a teaching job at primary schools through the campus website, Google, and asked my friends who were already working as teachers. I took the chance to apply to one private primary school in Jakarta, although at first, I was hesitant because my parents objected to me leaving the city (I lived in Klaten, Central Java).
People say a university major whose graduates can quickly get a job is teacher education. This may be true since the work path for its graduates is pretty obvious and directed: becoming a teacher. But working as a teacher is not merely to earn money. Professional teachers must be able to hold good values and principles. I am still trying to apply all of those to date.
In my initial journey as a teacher, I never applied for a job. A school approached me instead. How's the story? Hear the story of my journey in becoming a teacher!
Despite being a new teacher, I offer inputs to the school principal, which unfortunately receive a minimal response. Do I get upset? I do, but I am determined to stay motivated.
Teaching Grade 1 takes extra energy and a louder voice because the children are at the age of playing and are new to the formal education atmosphere. Some of them cannot yet read or write.
Based on my experience as a primary teacher in the past two months, I believe I still have much to learn to become a good teacher. I need to collect my hours to reach the destination.
I used to think that a teacher’s job was only giving instructions. However, after being a teacher myself, I realised that a teacher has to do so many tasks. Every day I have to prepare lesson plans, syllabus, and daily tests; make corrections on students' work; and put their scores in report cards. Corrections take a long time because I have quite a large number of students, 37 of them.
Becoming a teacher has always been my greatest motivation. My process of becoming a teacher began from a long journey I started in college, both during my undergraduate study as well as teacher training. My devotion as a beginning teacher started from nothing to today, when I can stand proudly as a teacher.
My interactions with my fellow teachers are quite good, although I tend to be more reserved at this new school. I am still adapting to the work environment and getting to know my colleagues’ characters. Based on my observations, the teachers in this school have not been a unit. It’s evident from every activity at the school, where the teachers do not help each other.
In carrying out my teaching duties, I am of course guided by the learning tools. The tools are my ammunition to facilitate student learning systematically and seamlessly. I also use fun learning media to provoke students to be more enthusiastic in following the lessons I convey.