Dilemma (Reflection 10)

Teaching deals with this one: dilemma. Many things do, but how do they relate? In order to improve students’ ability, we must select the best method which could build the most effective way of teaching. However, based on my experience in teaching micro class and junior class, picking the best method was not easy. I was always faced with dilemma. For example, when I chose an A method instead of B method for such lesson, in the end of the lesson I would regret my choice because the class condition was more appropriate to be handled with the B method. I realized that this kind of thing happened because so far I was always faced with new class, or in other words, the class I hadn’t known before. My not knowing to this class brought me to the speculation about the most effective method which should be implemented in certain class.

One of my experiences below could probably bring a better picture about this dilemma I meant. When I prepared my final test in micro teaching class, I was confused with this problem: in 30 minutes, should I give the students the materials which are based on all of the indicators which – actually – should be given in 60 minutes? What if my students could not finish all the material? Should I write all the materials in my lesson plan, or should I reduce them? I chose to give the students all the materials because in my opinion, my material would not be too difficult for them. I was a bit surprised then, to see that my class reacted differently. Most of my friends pretended to be beginner learners. They misspelled many words and most of my time was finally used to correct their misspelling words. Because of this, I could not finish all the materials. This situation showed that my prediction was not correct. But at least, that lesson taught me something: improvisation is really important in class. Yes, that day my friends gave me something to learn: improvisation. If I kept continuing finish all the material, I don’t think the students would understand the material because the lesson would be delivered fast. However, I’m not that successful in doing improvisation. I didn’t recognize that actually my students could not catch my delivery well because I spoke English to them. Just like what Mr. Prass said, I should have considered using Bahasa if most of the students did not understand English well.