KangGURU Magazine for December 2003

The latest Kang Guru Radio English (KGRE) December 2003 magazine is out now! It provides interesting information on a wide variety of topics including Australian culture, lifestyle and language. The work of AusAID is featured in each edition along with other development activities from ACIAR, the Australia Indonesia Institute (AII) and various NGOs in both Australia and Indonesia.

Would you like a FREE KGRE magazine sent to you each April, August and December?  Please send a letter or e-mail to KGRE. Your letter or e-mail should be between 75 and 100 words in length.  Tell KGRE about YOURSELF! Maybe even about your school, your family or your town. Our postal address is -  PO Box 3095, Denpasar  80030 Bali, Indonesia

What is in the December 2003 magazine?

For 2004 we have several new ideas already underway. The development of a new KGRE Teacher's Package has begun and we hope that this new package of classroom activities will be ready in early 2004. The first Teacher Package was based on KGRE Series 28. The new Teacher Package will be made up of 8 - 10 topic areas. Content for this new styled package will be taken from stories used in the magazine, on the radio programs and on the website over the past three years. It will be called 'KGRE Teacher Package Two - The Best of KGRE 2000 - 2003'.

opics will include regular segments such as Idioms Inggris, AusAID in Indonesia, Postcards from Australia, The World Around Us, A Slice of Life and Listeners' Letters. But there will also be topics related to both countries including Music, Culture and Customs, Education and Tourism. We will increase the range of student activities contained within the package and double the music content with some of the latest music from both nations.

The continuing support of AusAID, the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program and the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation, has been fantastic during 2003. This support has not only been of a financial nature. It has also included the provision of latest technological facilities, new ideas and ongoing encouragement. The direct involvement of staff from individual AusAID related projects has provided considerable impetus for continued growth and development.

So, from all of us here at KGRE we would like to wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and we are sure that 2004 in Indonesia will be better than ever. Remember - 'Good Neighbours Make Good Friends' so be a good neighbour and enjoy your life, your friends and of course KGRE.

Click on the titles below and read selected articles from Kang Guru's December 2003 magazine. Of course there is a lot more information in the magazine plus loads of photographs, competitions and news.

We just can't fit everything into one magazine so as promised in the December magazine, here are even  more stories to read from KGRE - Front Cover Story  ACCESS in Sumba - Click Here For even more on ACCESS (Australian Community Development and Civil Society Strengthening Scheme) OZ Indo Connections Page Coconut Oil Cocoa Shrimps Ducks Fire Research in Sumba and IDPs AusAID Pages HMHB Rubbish Collection with BEJIS MTTP and SMK 4 Makassar COREMAP Selayar and Maumere AVIs in Flores Other Pages of Interest Prince and Princess of the Environment

Idioms Inggris

Achmad Tibyani from Brebes sent a letter to KGRE asking about the meaning of came across and came into. The first one can be used if we want to say that we have discovered something, or found something, unexpectedly.

"I was looking through some old magazines at my house and I came across a fantastic photograph of REOG in Ponorogo. It showed the dancers in fantastic costumes. It was the first time I had seen such a great photograph. I have to visit Ponorogo next year to see the activities for myself.'

The second idiom has an unusual meaning. Came into can be used if we are talking about good fortune. It can often refer to money. It is a way to say we received something a little unexpectedly.

"Yes that is true, I did have a holiday in Singapore last month. I came into some money. My aunt died and left me some money in her will.'

came across - tanpa sengaja menemukan sesuatu
came into - tiba-tiba mendapat sesuatu

Idioms using the word win are quite common. If you start to use them then people will really be surprised and impressed. The first one is stands to win. We use this idiom when there is strong possibility that if you do something then you will surely be successful. It sometimes refers to rewards but not always.

"Tell your friend to enter the music competition. It is easy and if he does he stands to win some fantastic prizes from KGRE including some brand new CDs".

The second one is to win hands down. This idiom can be used to describe how someone, or something, has won a contest or competition very easily and with hardly any effort at all.

"She won the contest hands down. She knew all the answers to the questions and the other contestants were just not quick enough".

stands to win - punya kesempatan untuk menang
to win hands down - menang mutlak

For more idioms from KGRE - Click Here

Listeners' Letters

Getting PenPals

Dear Kang Guru,
One thing I want to share with the other readers are about the advantages of Listeners Forum Page on your website. I joined that Forum early this year and I've got many pen-pals from many countries (Indonesia, Canada, Turkey and many from Australia). All of them are very friendly and interesting. We can exchange information, knowledge about our own countries and even we can exchange souvenirs. One of my pen-pals from Melbourne came here last July and wants to be here again next year with her family. Next November my friend from Turkey will come here too to have his holiday. It's nice we can get many advantages by having many pen-pals from different countries. The most important thing is we can practise our English both in writing and speaking if we meet each other. So don't wait too long, visit the website and join the Listener Forum now. Good Luck!!!

Dinna Wahyuningsih
Madiun - EAST JAVA

It is so nice to hear that the FORUM Page has helped you to practise your English and to meet people. The Forum Page is very popular you know? Thousands of people look at the page but not so many leave messages. After reading your letter perhaps more people will leave messages. I hope so!

Tourism in Australia

Hi KGRE!
Thank God, finally I got your wonderful magazine. It's so informative and entertaining. How are you doing? Hopefully, everything is great and all of you are blessed by God. I graduated from Polytechnic Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java in November 2002. Maybe that's all about myself. Back to your original place Kang Guru. It's Australia. I have read about Queensland. It's in the North area, isn't it? I read that in Queensland there are some tourism spots like Babinda Boulders, Atherton Tableland, Port Douglas, Mareeba and Cairns. I'm so surprised with all of those places. I do want to know about Halloween Party in Australia. Do the teenagers celebrate it like in USA? And also I wanna know about some working places in Australia. How many percent job seekers have a chance to get a good job? OK, that is all KG. Bye bye...

Miena
Pasuruan - EAST JAVA

The April 2004 magazine will have a Tourism theme. We will be telling you a lot about tourist destinations in Australia and also here in Indonesia. Check out page 12 in this magazine. As for Halloween - listen to KG radio in October 2004.

Awesome AusAID

Hi bud. Thanks 'big time' for sending me the awesome magazine. I love to read it. I really wanna master English and the KGRE magazine has done much in helping me. I am surprised knowing so many awesome programs done by KGRE and AusAID to help my beloved country. It would be a wonderful experience if I could be a part of it. Knowing what KGRE and AusAID has been doing for Indonesia and Indonesian people makes me very proud of you and also sad. We will never thank you enough for that. I know KGRE magazine since I was studying at university in Yogya and now I am working as receptionist in Wonosobo, Central Java. See ya.

Nurul
Wonosobo - CENTRAL JAVA

Thanks for your letter. I am sure AusAID appreciates your thanks. It is all a part of our motto - 'Good Neighbours Make Good Friends'.

Moving Forward

I have graduated from Institution of Management Informatics Dipanegara in Makassar. I am interested in learning everything related to English. My English is terrible but I am teaching English to children privately at my home. Especially for the poor who can't afford to study in a school but are very interested in learning English. To encourage my pupils, I told them that although you cannot study in a school but you know how to speak English, it would make you proud of yourself. Many great experiences have been achieved with my terrible English. For example I have been selected to participate in FASID Fieldwork Program Japan in Indonesia. This gives me the opportunity to interact with people from other countries who have different disciplines of study and culture from mine. You should know you are a great teacher. While you were teaching us in English Teacher Workshop in Makassar, I learnt many things related to teaching from you.

Mantasia
Makassar - SOUTH SULAWESI

It seems to me as though your English is pretty good. Your activities sound fantastic too and I am sure you have helped many people. Keep moving forward and be sure to keep in touch.

Hello from Sumba

Hi Mr Kevin? How are you? Are you fine? I'm fine too. The letter comes to you because I want better study English and I want introduce myself. My full name is Bernadine Isabela L. Bula. My nickname is Dini. I was born on May 20th, 1990. I have one brother no sister. My hobby is playing volley ball. My message is I want you to send me some English books because I want study English. For helping me I say thank you. From your friend

Bernadine Isabela Bula
Waingapu – NTT

Thanks for your letter Dini. I remember you and your friends from my visit to your school in Waingapu last October. Please say thank you to them for all their letters too. We are happy to send you the KGRE magazine of course. If you would like to have other things such as English novels, t-shirts and even radios, be sure to enter some of the many competitions we have on KGRE. I believe that there may be a new KGRE radio station in Waingapu soon. There is already a new station in Waikabubak - Radio Pelita Kasih. RRI Ende is also new for KGRE. Be sure to tune in and enjoy KGRE every week.

From Darwin

Hallo Radio Kang Guru. This is Roy. I'm exchange student. Now I'm in Darwin. I came from Ambon. I just got the Kang Guru Radio English magazine edition December 2002 from a teacher who teaches me at Darwin High School. I read the magazine and I'm interested to be a Kang Guru Radio English follower. Maybe you can give the explanation on how I can join with Kang Guru Radio English. And I want to get the magazine every edition. Thank you.

Roy Pentury
Darwin – AUSTRALIA

What a great surprise to get your email all the way from Darwin. I hope that you write again soon and tell me all about your life in Darwin.

To Practice English

I never send a letter in English to anyone until this one. After meeting you at Master English Course here in Jambi and you suggested that we may send a letter to KGRE to get magazine. I write this letter not only to get magazine but also to practice my English writing. I hope I can get KGRE magazine regularly.

Raja Muda Harahap
Sipin – JAMBI

Your magazines will be sent to you in 2004 and we hope you enjoy them. Thanks for your letter and Happy Reading.

Study Tips

What do you think of these tips?

Piyu from PADI loves to read biographies about important and creative people such as politicians and activists. He has read about the life of George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars and Martin Luther King, the famous American Civil Rights leader. Piyu also listens to English language songs and writes down the lyrics. He loves listening to songs and he told KGRE that he gets a lot of help with pronunciation and meaning from the lyrics.

Ari from PADI spends a lot of time with his dictionary. He says, "And now I always bring my electronic dictionary in my bag because I think we must learn English now because that is very important. Because right now PADI traveling a lot of places at Singapore, in Australia also but my, our English is very bad, ha ha ha".

Andien says her English is not that good but KGRE disagrees with her on that point. She also says that she has to practise everyday. She often does this with music especially with the lyrics just like Piyu does. The grammar in songs isn't always quite right but Andien understands this and is careful of it. She reads lots of books and watches movies on television without the Indonesian sub-titles on the screen.

Widi from AB Three told KGRE, "Well, sometimes I just have to force myself to do that because it's not that easy you know to read English magazine or things like that. Sometimes we don't get the meaning of it though we understand what the writing says, but sometimes you just have to read again and again and then you get the meaning".

 Cultural Activities in Indonesia and Australia

Sydney Festival
The Sydney Festival brings together all of Sydney's energy and splendour into a three week celebration. This multi-cultural festival includes dance, theatre, visual arts, opera, and music from the classics to hip hop. It was held for the first time in 1976. The New South Wales State Government and the City of Sydney developed the Festival as a celebration of the city with the aim of bringing Sydney-siders into the central business district. Over the past years the Festival has grown into a truly international arts event.

Tarek Pukat - Aceh
This dance is performed in accordance with the life of the fishermen along the coast of Aceh. Their activities of making nets, rowing boats and catching fish are described in the dance 'Tarek Oukat' - pulling the nets. The dance expresses hard work which is done cheerfully and dynamically in the hope that they have a good catch.
By Ninda Elika in Lampriet, Banda Aceh

Henley on Todd
This has got to be one of the most unusual races in Australia, if not the world. The Todd River in Alice Springs is dry for most of the year and is almost always dry in September. That is when this famous boat race is held on the Todd River. Boats and no water in the river? How can this be? Teams of around 12 people actually carry their boats around the race track. The race track is on the dry, sandy river bed. The boats have no bottoms in them and the team is actually inside the boat and standing up on the sand. They run as fast as they can and the first boat across the line WINS!

Tiwi Islands Football - far north Australia

Australian Rules football holds a special position in the lives of all Tiwis. About 500 people, or 20% of all Tiwis play in regular football competitions. These matches are arranged for boys and girls and men and women on both Melville and Bathurst Islands. These islands are to the east of Darwin. The Tiwi Islands Football League (TIFL) Grand Finals are held on the last Sunday in March each year. More than 1500 visitors and football identities attend the football matches at the Stanley Tipiloura Oval in Nguiu.

AusAID in Indonesia

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB)

HMHB has been working together with staff at the Dinas Kesehatan, SULTRA since 1998. These hard-working people, including HMHB’s Gillian Lang and Ronni Tomasowa, have been conducting training and development activities in the Buton and Kendari areas. The technical support (bantuan teknis) provided by HMHB helps to increase the capacity and capability of the Dinas Kesehatan. It provides them with the skills and the ability to better develop and conduct training activities for health workers in SULTRA.

Over the past five years, HMHB has been involved in the development of participatory processes (melibatkan masyarakat) of health education and training. One of the most dynamic activities involved staff from the Posyandu and Puskesmas working together with mothers and health workers. They discussed the problems they had by joining together in a series of discussion and learning activities. This participatory process involved active discussion about health problems and the best ways to overcome them. These learning activities recognized that community health workers, such as kader posyandu and dukun bayi, definitely have a special relationship with communities. They were able to develop clearer roles for the kader and dukun bayi. These newly defined roles made it easier to provide mothers and their families with important health information. Certain puskesmas staff acted as facilitators to:

Develop a village level health education team. The team was made up of the bidan, kader Posyandu and dukun bayi. One of their responsibilities is to provide health information at the Posyandu and in the home. The team was given communication materials and taught how to use participatory learning activities (PLA) by HMHB and the Dinas staff. Encourage the dukun bayi and bidan to work as partners. This is very important because they provide the care to mothers during pregnancy, delivery, and in the post-natal period. This was done using PLA in the form of a Commitment Map (Peta Janji Kemitraan).

In preparation for these activities, Pak Slamet Ryadi, HMHB’s Social Mobilisation and Communication Coordinator and his creative designer Pak Agus Putra Jaya, prepared the materials. Pak Alfis and Pak Sudin from Dinas Kesehatan were also a part of the design team.

These materials included drawings, stickers, flyers, a series of radio programs, songs, banners, comic books, short films, cartoons, posters and diagrams of processes. These HMHB communication and training packages are designed to give motivation, confidence and skills to all stakeholders (parents, children, Puskesmas and Posyandu staff, etc.). They are then better able to conduct the health education necessary in their local communities. HMHB started working in the Kendari district in 1998. Attendance by trained midwives at births was then around 36%. By 2003 this figure rose significantly to 56%.

Competency based training together with the training of kader to use communication materials plus the participatory learning and action process used in the workshops have all worked together to have this significant impact at the local community level. Ronni and Gillian have worked tirelessly with their counterparts in the Dinas to design the training packages and then provide training for the Master Trainers. The 30 Dinas Kesehatan Master Trainers then trained around 90 puskesmas trainers who carry out the training at the local level.

More news about AusAID in Indonesia and the work of HMHB  - Click Here

Makassar Tourism Training Program (MTTP)

Pak Mustafa (pictured below with his students) works at SMK 4 Makassar as the Head of Department for Travel and Tourism. In 1991 discussions were held with the Makassar Tourism and Training Project (MTTP). Decisions were made and since then SMK 4 has undergone wonderful changes. It has been re-organized and recharged. The first changes were in school management. Secondly, improvements in the quality of teachers was begun by upgrading teacher skills. MTTP guided them through this process by providing relevant information, ideas and equipment. They also facilitated the opportunity for teachers to visit industry and to work with tourism industry people. The project helped SMK 4 to create a new paradigm in education in South Sulawesi.

Some specific changes include lessons that last for a full 60 minute hour. For example school begins at 7.15am and finishes around 4.30pm. Another major change is that teachers get paid for preparation time. This last change was not accepted immediately but the Principal of SMK 4 simply told his staff that the idea would be put on trial for one semester. It was a success. The teachers are now refreshed because they now have time to research and plan their lessons and activities.

Mutalib has been teaching for seven years in SMK 4 Makassar. He agrees that the new preparation time each Saturday is a great idea. All teachers get together and plan their work for the following week. Everyone knows what each other is doing and they can help each other.

Each year the Principal of SMK 4, Pak Anwar, invites every parent to the school. During three hours of discussion they talk about what the children will do, the system within the school, the administration plus the rights and responsibilities of the parents and the students. The responsibilities and the rights of the school are also discussed.

Warren Whittaker from MTTP adds, ‘The most significant change is that SMK 4 has been working in a team. With a progressive principal and teachers who wanted to change because they knew the world changes, they formed a team. They sit in one staff room together and that has been their success. They talk to each other. They share resources. They re-structured their school to fit with CBT (Competency Based Training). CBT doesn’t fit the old system so it meant restructure. If you don’t have a principal who wants to change it won’t change. And so yeah, this school is very unique I think in Indonesia. The key thing is working as a team. Timetabling is also critical for CBT to work, and also general administration because you have to record competency as the year proceeds rather than by semester tests'.

MTTP is an IAPSD (AusAID) activity in Indonesia

Oceans and Incomes with COREMAP
Selayar
Fadhli is a member of the COREMAP team based in Bonerate, Selayar, South Sulawesi. He is a Database Operator at the Monitoring and Controlling Surveillance (MCS) and began working with the project in February 2002. Phase One of the project worked in the Bonerate National Park. Phase Two begins in 2004 and will conduct activities in areas away from Bonerate. The main focus of COREMAP is the environment and in particular maritime resource management of Indonesia’s coral reefs. The reefs are a major productive and ecological asset and are a priority for the Government of Indonesia. 

Their protection and sustainable management is important for fisheries, tourism, natural heritage and shoreline protection. MCS has a very important role to play in Bonerate. Did you know that Bonerate is the third largest coral atoll in the world? Well it is and it needs protecting. Their role is basically to guard the reefs of the area against people who are destroying the reefs and the coral by using bombs and poison for fishing. With assistance and support from stakeholders they are cruising the ocean waters looking for fishermen who apparently have little concern for the well being of valuable coral habitats. COREMAP is also facilitating training programs for income generating activities to help communities. For more news about Fadhli in Selayar - Click Here

Coconuts and Coconut Oil
Indonesia has millions and millions of coconut trees. There are coconut trees everywhere. It would be impossible to even begin counting them. In South Sulawesi 40% of coconuts are not used. The potential for these coconuts to be used as an income generating (peningkatan pendapatan) resource is quite fantastic. COREMAP, in conjunction with Kokonut Pacific, recently conducted a very interesting training activity in Makassar with members of communities from Selayar and Maumere. With the help and guidance of Chris Maina from Australia and Kanta Prasad from Fiji, the participants were trained in a new and innovative process of obtaining coconut oil from coconuts. 

The process is called DME (Direct Micro Expelling) and was invented in Australia. The process is quite a simple one. During the process coconuts are opened and the white flesh is grated. All moisture is taken out by drying the grated coconut. It is then 'cold pressed'. The 90 minute process creates pure, virgin coconut oil. This pure oil is immediately suitable for cooking, skin and massage lotion (fragrance can be added) and making coconut butter. Coconut oil has zero cholesterol level. It can be kept indefinitely. It will not go off (tengik). Under the guidance of Robert Kingham from COREMAP Jakarta, the team in Makassar even made excellent kecap manis from the coconut water. With very limited additives it can be used for diesel fuel and making soap. The de-fatted grated coconut left over from cold pressing is excellent for making both biscuits and cakes and for stock and fish food.

Cocoa in South Sulawesi
Do you enjoy eating chocolate? Maybe your favourite is chocolate flavoured ice-cream or a TOP or Dairy Queen chocolate bar? Did you know that chocolate is made from cocoa beans. These are grown on small trees inside pods (polong). These small trees originated (berasal) in the Upper Amazon region of South America. Did you also know that there are over 400,000 farmers in Sulawesi producing cocoa? Their hard work makes Sulawesi the third largest exporter of cocoa in the world. Growing cocoa in Sulawesi began in the 1980s. Growing cocoa was very successful in the early years but lately there have been problems.

They have collected nearly 50 cocoa pods from throughout Indonesia, the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute in Jember and even some from Malaysia. They are testing them and their resistance to pod-borer and other cocoa diseases. Indonesian farmers are very important to their research process. The farmers are helping to find disease resistant cocoa trees within their own plantations. These trees are then used to develop better strains of cocoa trees through grafting. Then farmers are encouraged to copy what the researchers have done so successfully in field trials. In doing so they will be working together to produce better quality disease resistant cocoa trees (and pods) and reduce crop losses in the future. The pod-borer problem has to be solved and KGRE is sure that it will be soon.

The Indonesian Department of Agriculture and their researchers, together with ACIAR, is working hard to get Indonesia’s cocoa plants free of disease. Read more about ACIAR, field trials, pod-borers and other cocoa tree diseases, and the work of people like Suhardi and Suntoro, by checking out these websites for yourself.

ACIAR In Indonesia

Indonesian and Culture
As in other countries, regular celebrations are part of Indonesian culture. Every region has its own way of celebrating their culture. The following are some well-known cultural celebrations in Indonesia.

Minu Ae Pettu
Living here in Ende - Flores, there is never a dull moment; there are always invitation to weddings, first communions, birthdays, christenings, funerals. Life exists around these events and celebrations are something that the people here treasure. They love a good time - with the exception of funerals of course - but even they have their lighter moments. Just the other day an invitation arrived from my neighbours across the road - this time to 'minum air panas' or 'Minu Ae Pettu' (bahasa Ende/Leo). I discovered that the host's son is to be married - the funds raised through the 'minum air panas' (everyone who attends to 'minum air panas' donates a small amount of money) goes towards the wedding ceremony. That same evening, as the 'drink the hot water' occasion was still going on over the road - another invite arrived to 'minum air panas'. Thinking it must be the wedding season I came inside, read the invite and realised this 'minum air panas' event was to help build a mosque! 'Minum air panas' is really a form of gotong royong - the community gather together and work or give toward a cause. So here's to drinking hot water, or as the locals would say - here's to 'Minu Ae Pettu'!

by Ginny Edwards, AVI, Ende – Flores

Maras Taun in Belitung
Maras Taun is traditional Belitung culture. It is held in every village every year after harvesting. Villagers thank God for the harvest and pray for the safety of the village. Celebrations include traditional food and entertainment such as singing and dancing called Campak. That is accompanied by violins, drums (gendang) and gongs.

By Rimbawan in Belitung

Panjat Pinang in Jember
This contest is held in my village every 17 August and commemorates Indonesia's Independence. Groups of ten people must climb a Pinang tree. The smooth tree has been rubbed with oil so it is very slippery. They must take the Indonesian flag to the top of the tree. Spectators support their favourite groups. It is very funny because sometimes the shorts worn by the climbers fall off.

By Eggar Almanta Alam in Jember

Note: Panjat Pinang is usually held in many other cities and towns in Indonesia. It is a tradition to celebrate Indonesia's Independence Day.

Lego Lego in Alor
Lego Lego is a kind of dance from Alor, NTT. It is danced by adults or teenagers to celebrate engagements, thanksgivings, weddings and sometimes for welcoming visitors. The dance is a symbol of unity and thanks to God. Men wear sarongs, a belt made of bark and a unique crown called a 'kur'. Women wear sarongs too but their special crown is called a 'tusuk konde'. Usually dancers do not wear shoes. Lego Lego is also accompanied by poems. In the dance there are often special positions for the participants. The outer circle is for men. The second circle is for the people reciting the poems. The third circle is for women and the inner circle is for the musicians.

By Erny Ratu in Kupang

AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS INTERNATIONAL
Teachers and students in about 20 schools in Flores will never forget Sharon, Ginny, Duncan and Jo. These teachers began working in Ende, Maumere and Bajawa in early 2002. They left in December 2003 to return home to Australia. They worked side by side with English teachers mainly in junior high schools. Their schools included government schools, Catholic schools and Islamic junior high schools. They all worked together with local English teachers developing active and motivated English language classrooms. In some classes they team-taught. With assistance from the Dinas Pendidikan a regular schedule of teacher workshops were made possible. They were based on having fun with English. These made it possible, in a real and practical way, for local teachers to improve their skills and methods. The teachers learnt English songs, games and fun activities for use in the classroom. Their roles and positions were part of a program organised by Australian Volunteers International (AVI) in cooperation with AusAID and Dinas Pendidikan NTT. During their 2 years in Flores they developed strong relationships with both teachers and students in their respective schools and communities.

For Jo Keating her most rewarding work was teaching in schools out of Maumere. The teachers were so pleased to have the opportunity to talk to Jo, a native speaker teacher. Discussing methodology was of particular interest to them. One of her young teachers commented to Jo that she has taught him how to teach English rather than teach English books. Jo lived in Maumere with her husband and three daughters. Her children attended local schools and you can hear the girls talk about their experiences in Maumere on KGRE radio in 2004.

Sharon Kidman is from the Northern Territory and she worked in Ende. One popular game that Sharon introduced is a game in Australian schools called 'Simon Says'. With assistance from AusAID and IALF Bali, volunteers were able to introduce sets of story books into these schools. The most popular book in these sets is called 'Miss Wiz'. The students love these books and have read them all.

Indonesian Music

It was surprising to hear during their wild and wonderful performance that many of the songs were sung in English, including the raunchy 'Lady Marmalade' from the movie Moulin Rouge. In the interview, which you can hear on KGRE's radio program, I asked them about this. Widi, who recently completed her English Diploma at the University of Indonesia, said they have many English language songs on their albums and even more in their repertoire. When they travel overseas they perform Indonesian songs of course but they also like to, and need to, sing in English. If AB Three want to perform and be popular overseas, then English is very important. Widi, Cynthia and Nola all spoke English during the interview. Did you know that Nola is the dancing member of AB Three? She is responsible for many of their dance routines. Cynthia admitted that she loves to eat and both Widi and Nola said that was absolutely true. You can hear AB Three on KGRE radio in late 2003 and early 2004.

An Australian Wedding

Haryianto from Tual wrote to KGRE with his question - 
Can you tell me about weddings in Australia please? Are they like weddings in Indonesia?

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