ESSAY: Report for Practicum (2nd Essay)

Report for Practicum

About Mr. Yem Phally

     The students majoring in English Literature for Education in Teaching in Room 406 of Phnom Penh International University are required to perform their teaching practicum based on the lecturer assigns to work. Basically, they have completed their study in such a compulsory subject for two semesters. This is the last term for them. Mr. Yem Phally amongst those conducted his teaching practicum in the class at 2:15-2:40 PM on 13^th Saturday, July 2013. Exactly, it was the second round of teaching performance but it was his first time to apply his teaching in practice because he was absent in the first teaching practicum process. He was responsible for listening skill at that time. His focused topic—“Getting Better When You Got a Cold” is very interesting because it sends good messages to his audiences to better their schema of getting a cold if they, someday, get a cold since life is not easy these days. He worked hard before he took his practicum class because he had downloaded it from the Internet through VOA’s English Program. Naturally, Phally is an outgoing but serious man, but at the time of teaching, he was so funny since he smiled all times to greet his students in the whole class. He seemed to become a hero for his students then. It was not believable that he could do that.               

     He wrote date on the left-top of whiteboard corner and the word “Listening” in capital letters below it. Then he turned back to say “hello” to all students in the class. His smiling made most of them laugh at him. He also laughed at them to get what their reaction to him. He was very flexible at that moment. He went on one another polite question, “How are you?”. They seemed to be happy with him. “Yes, fine. Thanks and you?” said the students. “Today I’m very well and happy to take your class; ok, do not delay the time, go directly to the listening right now”, he said. They responded, “Ok, let’s go, teacher”. He smiled with a bit laughing and went on to prepare listening task for them. He had two speakers on the desk connected to a used laptop. He scrolled his laptop’s mouse to find his focused listening topic. After finding it and being ready to click on it for them listening, he moved himself to the in front part of the class before them with his paper in one hand  and a marker in one another and explained, “Now you are required to listen to the speaker once without filling the gaps, listen to me! Just listen! Ok, let’s go!”                                                                                                                                 

     After listening, he immediately told the students to listen to the recorder again. This time they had to note down and to fill the gaps with words provided in the box. In fact, there are ten words in the box, which are fitting with ten missing spaces in the paper. He said, “One, two, three, listen!” While they were listening, he monitored his students by walking around the class and his ears also focused on the recorder. After the second listening, he allowed them a few minutes to be ready to answer. It was the time that he checked the answers as the whole class. He said, “Are you ready?” “Yes”, said the students. He furthered, “Are you sure your answers are right?” “Yeah, No, Yes, No…,” they said with uncertain words. He smiled and added, “Do not worry! I help you”.  Then he cooperated with them to go through the listening text. He told them to correct the incorrect answers. It was so funny in the class at that time. He smiled to welcome their responses. They were cooperative with him enjoyably.            

    After checking the answers and twice listening, he told the students to listen again whether they corrected answers were acceptable or not. He and all students listened for the last one before ending the class. After that, he set a piece of homework by letting them to check up the definitions of new words at home and copy them in a piece of paper for him in the next session. He thanked them and said, “Goodbye see you next session!”      

     As we have seen, Mr. Yem Phally was a good teacher at that time even though his pronunciation was a bit difficult to catch up. He did a good job because he could manage his time well. He selected a good listening text for the students. Moreover, he made the class lively with his smiling face and funny words. The students liked him and enjoyed studying with him. He will be a better teacher in the future. 

Written by Mr. Muong Rithea, PPIU Student