The teaching program in the Philippines significantly broadened my perspectives and deepened my knowledge in the field of education. The SEA Teacher Program provided an invaluable opportunity to develop my professional skills through direct classroom observation and teaching experience in another country. Experiencing an educational environment with different cultures, traditions, and social backgrounds allowed me to gain a wider understanding of how teaching practices can vary across contexts. Although these differences initially presented challenges, they encouraged me to adapt, reflect, and continuously improve my teaching strategies. This experience not only strengthened the educational relationship between Indonesia and the Philippines but also opened my eyes to broader opportunities and professional experiences that contribute to my growth as a future English teacher. During my teaching practice at the University of Northern Philippines, I gained many valuable insights, particu...

Besides academic activities, participation in Dalliasat also became an important part of the experience. The program aims to enrich the one-month immersion of SEA Teacher participants at the University of Northern Philippines by introducing the life, culture, and language of the Ilocano people. Through this program, SEA Teacher participants gain deeper understanding of how environment, beliefs, traditions, and language shape Ilocano identity and daily life. As part of the program, visits were organized to several cultural and natural attractions in Ilocos Norte. First destination, Bacarra Bell Tower is often referred to as the "Domeless Bell Tower in Asia" due to its missing top, giving it a unique and photogenic look. The tower was founded in 1830. Located close to Bacarra Church. Being one of the famous historical tourist attractions in Ilocos Norte, it is often visited in a series of cultural trips. One of the destinations was the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, a remark...

On February 6th, Women’s Day was celebrated with teachers and friends at the University of Northern Philippines. The event highlighted women’s empowerment and the important contributions women have made to society. From the Philippines, the story of Gabriela Silang was presented. Gabriela Silang is recognized as a national heroine who fought against Spanish colonial rule. As a Filipino military leader, Gabriela Silang became widely known for leading the Ilocano independence movement after the assassination of husband Diego Silang in 1763. Leadership of the resistance continued for four months before capture and execution by the Spanish colonial government. From Indonesia, the presentation highlighted Raden Ajeng Kartini, a prominent national heroine who advocated women’s rights during the Dutch colonial era. Born into a Javanese noble family in the Dutch East Indies, Kartini strongly supported women’s education and equal opportunities. Attendance at a Dutch-language elementary school...

On the final day of the teaching practice, the lesson focused on grammar, particularly the use of gerunds. As part of the classroom routine, the teacher began the session with a short game to refresh the students’ focus and re-energize the class. Such warm-up activities are commonly used to create a positive learning atmosphere and to prepare students mentally and physically for the lesson. The learning objectives of this meeting were designed to strengthen students’ understanding and application of gerunds in sentence construction. By the end of the lesson, students were expected to: (1) identify gerunds used in sentences, (2) analyze the grammatical functions of gerunds within sentence structures, and (3) construct their own sentences using gerunds correctly. Through these activities, students were encouraged to develop greater grammatical awareness and apply their knowledge in meaningful contexts. This session also served as the final demonstration teaching. During this stage, t...

After class observation, in the third week is the time of teaching practice. The lesson plans and instructional materials should be submitted before the day of teaching practice. Here are the following of procedure: Review:  In this stage teachers are recalling the students’ background of knowledge or related the materials with their previous knowledge. This preliminary step is important to linked students’ memories with the new material. Motivation: Teachers motivate students with little activities as “Warm Up” for students to begin the material. Presentation:  The stages where teachers present the learning objectives of the meeting. Through this stage, students know the scope of what they are learning in that day. Discussion:  This is the main stage, teachers deliver the materials to the students about particular topic. Encourage students to be critical and analytical by raising questions, actively participating, and discussing certain problem. Generalization: Th e part...

The University of Northern Philippines Laboratory School (UNP-LS) is a school that runs under the auspices of the university. This school provides educational levels ranging from early childhood education, elementary school, junior high school, to senior high school. In its division, each level is divided into several parts: Kindergarten: Education for early childhood. Elementary school: provides basic education for students the age of 6-12 years old. Secondary school: lower secondary education (Grade 7-10) and upper secondary education (Grade 11-12). The period given for class observation is approximately two weeks. The purpose of this observation is to get to know the characteristics of students and understand the teachers’ steps in teaching. In its teaching system, UNP LabSchool uses the MATATAG curriculum, which is the local Philippine curriculum. The term MATATAG, which means "tough" or "strong" in Filipino, reflects the purpose of the curriculum to p...

The SEA TEACHER Program is a regional initiative organized by SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) that provides pre-service teachers in Southeast Asia with opportunities to gain international teaching experience. This program aims to enhance pedagogical competence, intercultural understanding, and professional growth. In 2026, five UNESA (State University of Surabaya) students from different majors were selected to join SEA TEACHER Batch 11 at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP). University of Northern Philippines (UNP) is the first and oldest state university in Northern Luzon. This university established in 1965, located in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and also has changed its name many times. The university has four campuses, with the main campus still being located in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan, and the others closely situated in other parts of Ilocos Sur province. UNP provides education start from early childhood until higher education....