Ai Thi

I. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS I HAVE LEARNT FROM THE PRACTICUM

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Analytical/Assessment skills:

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The preparation period was a lesson in itself as I worked to scrutinize every activity and slide to ensure that our teaching was not just theoretically sound but engaging. This analytical approach was further refined during the post-teaching discussion with our supervisor, which was a critical yet constructive learning moment. Instead of judging technical failures, the assessment focused on the ability to recover and the possible solutions if such issues are encountered again in real classes.

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Planning skills:

 

My planning skills were developed through three months of working alongside talented and responsible peers and rehearsing for our seminar. During the field trip, I had to exercise real-time planning when a laptop connection failure cost us ten minutes of instructional time. I managed to deliver 80% of the planned material by making the decision to omit some parts of the lesson and focusing on core delivery rather than technical perfection.

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Communication skills:

 

I learned how to better communicate with others by engaging in informal conversations with my lecturers at the Naval Academy, which shifted my understanding of the "teacher-student" relationship. During the research seminar, I also successfully interacted with the audience, maintaining the engagement of the naval cadets. Seeing the look of satisfaction on my supervisor’s face during the presentation was a motivating indicator of effective communication.

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Cultural competency skills:

 

The trip provided significant insights into teaching and learning English in a local, specialized context. I learned about the expected transformation from English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) within the Naval Academy. Furthermore, I gained a new perspective on intercultural awareness by witnessing the deep awareness of learning English and the fluency of non-English majors, which was an eye-opening experience.

 

Leadership skills:

 

I demonstrated adaptability when the technical fears I had before the trip came true. Initially feeling down, I realized I had to pick myself up to support my team and stay focused on the students. My sense of responsibility was also strengthened as I began to view my career not just as a personal professional path, but as a mission on a national level for my country’s development.

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II. CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR AND PERCEPTION

 

Before the trip, I had felt a sense of frustration due to our team’s teaching flow and technical problems, but the practicum changed my behavior from focusing on these fears to taking action during a crisis. When the laptop failure occurred, I prioritized supporting my team and ensuring the students remained engaged over my own initial frustration. Receiving inspirational feedback that focused on recovery rather than failure has strengthened my bonds with my peers and motivated me to continue growing as both a teacher and a researcher in the future.