Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU-CTE pre-service teachers join int’l exchange program in Indonesia

By Criztalene Victorio

To enhance their teaching skills, improve language proficiency, and promote cultural exchange, 13 pre-service students of the Mariano Marcos State University - College of Teacher Education (CTE) were deployed on September 2 for the month-long Southeast Asian (SEA) Teacher Student Exchange Project in Indonesia.

Fourth-year students Alyza Fe Cabebe, Zyren Mei Habab, Hyun Mae Maestrado, Maerhitonne Azzhlei Martillano, and Kimberly Ann Modesto were deployed to Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI) in Palembang; Maria Fatima Abiba, Trisha Zahmir Asuncion, and Crissa Janine Disu to Universitas Mulawarman (UNMUL) in Samarinda; while Allyza Mae Agustin, Ilay Louise Bulong, Mark Angelo Calano, Heaven Krysthel Bless Sacsac, and Vic Ranier Tamayo were assigned to Universitas PGRI (UPGRIS) Semarang in Semarang. 

Upon arrival, the students were warmly welcomed by their host universities through local food and tokens while being oriented for their respective itineraries. They are slated to conduct classroom observations and cultural visits throughout the student exchange. 

Calano, who was deployed in UPGRIS, described his engagement as both challenging and rewarding. “Adapting to a new environment brings challenges, but taking everyday teaching responsibilities is rewarding and a valuable learning experience,” he shared.

For her part, Abiba considered the SEA project an eye-opening journey that gave her an opportunity to share Filipino folklore with Indonesian pupils in an elementary school during her first week. “Our teachers have been letting us experience Indonesian culture while also allowing us to share our culture like local Filipino stories to their pupils,” she expressed. 

Meanwhile, Martillano shared that her experience has been greatly enriching, driving her to develop her teaching skills in a more professional environment. “We are truly grateful to MMSU for giving us the opportunity to join this program of SEAMEO, and we are equally grateful to UNSRI for accepting us as teaching interns here,” she added. 

Set to end on September 29, the SEA Teacher Student Exchange is an initiative of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat. It aims to offer pre-service student teachers from universities across Southeast Asia the opportunity to experience and observe the teaching practices of host foreign institutions, which can be beneficial to their academic and future professional careers.