EPC 4909

Practicum 4b
Reflection
Course teacher: Dr. Pauline Keith
Student’s name: Asmaa Yousef
ID: H00298047
TP experience:

Over the course of the last four years in the education department I was lucky enough to have the

chance to experience teaching practice in different international and government schools in the

UAE. My teaching experiences in these schools were incredible and I have absolutely learned as

much from the student as the student learned from me. I also had the opportunity to meet different

MST’s who taught me a lot about teaching and dealing with young learners.

Some of the schools that I’ve been to were very good, and the teachers in it were very collaborative

and others were just not as good as the others. My previous and last teaching practice took place in

Al Salama kindergarten, which is the only modern kindergarten in the area. The school follow the

MOE curriculum which focuses on the speaking skill in the English subject. This fact is considered a

disadvantage because the intelligent students, who have the ability of the writing, lost the skill

somehow. Other than this fact the school was great and I had very good experience in it.

Government and international schools benefits:

All the government and international schools that I’ve been to were very good in respecting young

student and caring about their learning and progress. Each school has different curriculum and

different perspective but they all have an agreement in building skills that help the student

academically and in real life as well. This is great because children need to be smart and able to deal

with real life situations.

The comparison of government and international schools:

Government and international schools are widely different in some aspects, yet they still have some

similarities. One of the differences that I have observed is the parent’s communication. Parent’s

involvement is very important as it help with improved behaviour and positive attitudes. Being

involved show the child that we care about their education which helps the child to understand that

what they do has a purpose.

Unfortunately the government schools have a lack of parents meeting and communication. I have

been in government school in my last teaching practice for 8 weeks and there wasn’t even one

meeting. All what they do is basically contacting them on “what’s up” which is absolutely not

enough, especially as the parents involvement help in the student progression and development.

Another difference between those schools which I prefer calling it disadvantage is the buildings. In

general the international schools have extensive buildings while the public schools have cramped

ones. And as I mentioned in my teaching philosophy, one of the things that I would love to have in

my future job as teacher is extensive classroom.

Timing is another difference between the government and international schools. In the government

schools they finish at 12:30 which earlier than the international schools which doesn’t finish earlier

than 1:30.

The curriculums are obviously different in both types of schools. The ministry of education (MOE)

curriculum which is applied in the public schools focus on the speaking skill in the second language

“English”, while the international school which follows different curriculum like: IB, American and,

British curriculum teach their student heavy English.

School I would love to teach in?

During the journey of experience teaching in different local and private schools in the UAE, I went to

incredible schools that I would love to visit again and get a job in. but on the other hand, Since I

joined the education program in 2014 and studied about “Maria Montessori” and “Rudolf Steiner” I

felt deeply in love with the curriculum that they have created. Everything about their curriculums is

what I truly believe in, and what I look for in a classroom. Everyone who knows me well knows how

much I love these two schools and these two curriculums.

I would also be very comfortable and satisfied sending my own children to these schools. What I love

about these schools is how much they care about the student and their learning process. And how

confident, smart, and independent a child could ended up be in these schools.

recommendation for the new student teachers:

As I experienced teaching practice for 8 times in different public and private schools in the UAE, I

think I can give the new student teachers some advices of how they should act in the schools during

teaching practice. The first thing that they have to care of is showing good impression of their selves

in every school that they go to, which is by building good relationship with the principle, MST and

the student as well. Student teachers should also be very helpful with the MST by asking her if she

need any help at any time, even if it’s not our job to do during TP.

Collaborative, creative and being patients are very important feature that student teacher should

have.

Among all the school that I’ve been to, the best school was Al Salama kindergarten. Everything about

this school was great staring from the principle, administration staff, the teachers, and the student. I

felt comfortable in this school the minute I walked into the classroom. I seriously couldn’t ask for

better school. So I would absolutely advise the new student teacher to visit this school for teaching

practice.