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KangGURU Magazine for March 2007

Front Cover:
One of 2000 SMP schools being built by AusAID, in Ayuang South Kalimantan.

Education Snippets
Welcome Letter from Kevin
Listeners' Letters
Idioms Inggris
Quick Fix with Cheryl
Education in Australia
Latest Trends in Education
The Joeys Club
The Australia Indonesia Partnership
University Page
Oz-Indo Connections
Kang Guru Connection Clubs
Kang Guru in the Classroom
Entertainment
Different Pond Different Fish
KGRE News Room
Into the Future

Education Snippets

Slip! Slop! Slap!

What on earth does that mean? Ask any Australian and they will tell you it is all about skin cancer prevention. Australians have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. In the 1980’s the government, in a campaign to make people more aware of the dangers of too much sun, began an advertising campaign called Slip, slop, slap. It means to slip on a shirt, slop on the sun cream and slap on a hat and sunglasses. This is the core message of The Cancer Council’s ‘SunSmart’ education program which began in 1998. Many schools say, ‘no hat, no play’ meaning that if students do not have a hat they cannot play outside. Baseball caps, which are popular in Indonesia, are not recommended because they do not provide enough protection from the sun. Teachers are encouraged to be good role models and wear hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.


 

Snacks at School

"Hi, my name is Steven. I'm at school in Australia. It’s recess. I’m going to the tuck-shop to buy an apple and milk. Then I’m going to the quad to meet my friends before our morning assembly."

Recess is break-time between periods or lessons. The tuck-shop is a small canteen which sells drinks and snacks, and quad is short for quadrangle, the open square space between the school buildings also common in Indonesian schools. Where do you buy snacks at school? What sort of things do you buy? Would you like to buy different things?

TASK 1. Email or write to us at KGRE and tell us about the snacks which are sold at your school that you like and don’t like. Maybe your letter will be in KGRE's December magazine - the theme is FOOD!

Acronyms

An acronym is an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in the name of something. It is often pronounced as a word. For example: acquired immune deficiency syndrome = AIDS

If you want to include acronyms in your writing there is a simple rule to follow. The first time you mention the name you write it in full with the acronym in brackets, for example Kang Guru Radio English (KGRE). Next time you want to mention it you can use KGRE as the reader already knows what you mean.

Here are some acronyms about education you often see in the KGRE magazine.

ADS: Australian Development Scholarship
AEC: Australian Education Centre
ALA: Australian Leadership Award
AIYEP: Australian Indonesian Youth Exchange Program
EAP: English for Academic Purposes
ELT: English Language Teaching
ESOS: Education Services For Overseas Students
HSC: High School Certificate
IALF: Indonesia Australia Language Foundation
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
TAFE: Technical and Further Education
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language

TASK 2. How many of them can you find in articles in this magazine? Email or write to KGRE saying which of these acronyms you found and which are missing.

 

Say NO To Drugs

Recently a group of Indonesians on an Indonesia Australia Specialised Training Project (IASTP) course underwent 12 weeks of English language training at IALF Bali. All the students are involved in drug education in Indonesia. There were teachers, civil servants, members of non-governmental organisations and even a policeman. Before they left the IALF they held a poster exhibition to alert students and visitors to IALF about the dangers of drugs. They are in Australia now visiting rehabilitation centers and hospitals, and attending lectures. When they return to Indonesia they hope to tell others about their experiences and help other groups with anti drugs campaigns in Indonesia.

Body builder Adi Rai is also involved in the anti drugs campaign in Indonesia and told KGRE he "promotes a healthy lifestyle in schools, in sports clubs for sure, at the malls, public areas yes, of course. And I also work with …'Badan Narkotika Nasional' and 'Badan Narkotika Provinsi' to promote and tell about drugs for the young generation." He believes, "when you get sick you take drugs but if you’re healthy you don’t need drugs." What great advice.

On your bike!

Cycling is popular in Australia, not only as a sport but as a way to travel to work or school. Many states have ‘Bike Ed’ programs to train students how to cycle safely. For example, all cyclists must wear a fastened helmet and follow the same rules of the road as other road users. Their bicycle should have at least one working brake, a red rear reflector, and front and rear lights, which must be lit at night. Through this program it is hoped to reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists and especially lower the number of head injuries. Another type of education!

 

Welcome Letter from Kevin

Welcome to 2007! Already the year is well underway. I hope that this year is looking good for you. I also hope it is your best year ever. I know that here at KGRE we are all looking forward to a great year.

During 2006 KGRE received many questions about education both here in Indonesia and in Australia. As a result, this magazine has an education theme. In January 2007, KGRE received emails all the way from Matauli near Sibolga in far North Sumatra. They were from a young senior high school student, Jaya Setiawan. Here is a little of what Jaya said in his emails.

‘I am very pleased now because I successfully passed my Semester Exam. I got good marks in every subject. My English result is also fantastic. My English teacher, Mr. Iswahyudi, told me to always study English hard and I am active as Kang Guru member. I said that Kang Guru is my best connection to help me developing my English. That’s why I never give up to get the best. Thanks Kang Guru’.

On behalf of all the staff here at KGRE, we want to thank Jaya, and thousands of students just like him across Indonesia, who use and enjoy KGRE in their study of English. That is one of the big reasons KGRE is here in Indonesia – to help you and your teachers with English. We all know that education is very important, don’t we? It gives people the power to grow and develop, to think and understand.

Kevin Dalton

 

KGRE's June 2007 Magazine

Education is very important, right? Culture is also important. Learning about culture, and the culture of others, is very important in today’s modern world. Culture is not something only from the past. Culture is an aspect of today’s world as well.

In the June 2007 magazine, KGRE will look at culture. As usual this will be in respect to both Indonesia and Australia But will also touch on other countries. You are invited to contribute to that magazine by writing to us, either by mail or email, telling us about an aspect of culture that you think is very important or interesting. It may be information from your own local culture or maybe news from another culture that you have learnt about. Maybe you have a question for KGRE to answer? Be sure to send your letters or emails before the beginning of May 2007.

 

Listeners' Letters

A Good Life Experience

In December the local government of Semarang held an ‘English Debate Competition’ for vocational high schools. My two friends and I were in the delegation from my school. Every day before the competition started I studied hard. I took everything with me that is connected with my English studies including my Kang Guru magazine, a dictionary and note books . But finally, we were not the winner. We were sad but this was the best experience in my life. So, special thanks to my teacher, Mr Kurniawan Setyo K. You are my best teacher. And don’t forget KGRE, thank you very much guys!
Budiono
Demak - CENTRAL JAVA

Dear Budiono,
We all want to win, but the most valuable lessons are learned from participating. It’s important that people learning a language get opportunities to use it in a real situation. Studying is not enough. So, activities such as debates are a very good way to use what you’ve been learning. I hope you continue to enter debates and find other ways to use your English too.

A First Letter in English

This is my first letter to KGRE. My name is Siti Rodiyah. I am 25 years old and I am a housemaid. I want to say thanks to KGRE because you help me to practise English speaking. I have been trying to talk English with some presenters in the radio stations in my town. They also gave me some Kang Guru magazines. I took work in another country and spoke English for four years with my employer. But when I came back to Indonesia I stopped speaking English. So, thank you very much KGRE. You are my best friend in English.
Siti Rodiyah
Banyuwangi - EAST JAVA

Hello Siti,
It’s great to get letters from people in different occupations, including housemaids. It must have been very interesting working in a country where you could practise English. I can see that you are trying hard to improve your English skills – listening to the radio, reading the KGRE magazine and writing this letter. We’ll send you the magazine regularly but be sure to let us know if your address changes, okay? Sometime our readers forget to do that. Good luck.

 

Public Speaking

I am a student at ZAHA university. I have a question for you. How can I speak well in front of the public? I know that I am low in speaking. Would you mind giving me suggestions in order that I will not be nervous in front of the public?
M. Imamul Auhad
Probolinggo - EAST JAVA

Dear Imamul,
The secret to developing good skills of any kind is to practise often. Practise on your own, then with one or two good friends, and ask them for some advice on how to improve. Next try talking in front of a bigger group, perhaps classmates. You don’t have to stand up in front of them. How about sitting in a big circle? Everyone could talk about a topic. An English club might be a good idea too. This would give you regular opportunities to speak and improve your other English skills apart from speaking. You'll find some suggestions about starting an English club on page 12.

An Interesting Idea

In my village many people have mobile phones from children to adults. But I am confused about how to study English with a mobile phone. So, I need your solution about this. Maybe you can make a program by SMS. Wherever I am I need to practice my English, not only in class but wherever! I also want to know more about KGRE. What is the history? Why? I am waiting for your new edition.
Usman
Lombok Timur - NTB

Dear Usman
Thanks for your letter. Your questions about KGRE are answered in my reply to Nurul’s letter. We have SMS competitions in every magazine so you should always enter those. At the moment we don’t have enough time to manage a special SMS program for learning English, although it sounds very interesting. Perhaps you could communicate with your friends and classmates in English using SMS.

Thanks AusAID!

I’m Nurul Qomariah from Lamongan in East Java. Now I live in Lumajang. I have been a KGRE customer for about two years. Many people get this magazine and nobody pays for it. Where do you get the funds to publish it? I am proud of KGRE because it does so many activities to make this country better by guiding the students and teachers to learn English easily.
Nurul Qomariah
Lumajang JAWA TIMUR

Thanks Nurul.
It’s always good to hear from people who appreciate our work. The KGRE radio show, magazine, club network, website and teacher workshops are paid for by the Australian government aid program, AusAID. KGRE started in 1989 when the Indonesian government and Australian government talked about ways to help people improve their English. KGRE has been getting bigger and better ever since, thanks to AusAID, great staff and lots of help from the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation (IALF). You can read about other AusAID programs on pages 8 and 9 in this magazine.

He Drives Me Bananas!

I’m a vocational high school student. I think I have a little problem. I sent the KGRE Survey Form and also re-registered by mobile phone. But up till now (Dec. 28) I haven’t got your December edition yet. I really need the magazine because my best friend is always asking me for it. He drives me bananas! I’m very interested in the KGRE magazine because it’s very simple and easy to understand.
Dibyo Christianto
Balikpapan - EAST KALIMANTAN

Hi Dibyo,
Tjok and Alwi and Nyoman work very hard sending thousands of magazines to people and schools and clubs all over Indonesia. It’s not possible for them all to be posted at the same time so our readers need to be patient. However, we know how much you enjoy getting the magazine so we try to send them as quickly as we can. I hope when you get this one you show your letter to your friend. Perhaps then he’ll stop driving you bananas! By the way, if your KGRE maagzine is VERY late, then write to us and tell us. Your feedback is important.

Idioms Inggris

Here are some idioms that revolve around teaching, schools and learning. Look at them and when you understand them, try to use them yourselves. Be brave. They can be fun to use.

If we teach someone a lesson, it may mean that they have done something wrong or have perhaps been careless. They need to be shown that what they did was wrong, or maybe even dangerous. They need to be shown this very clearly.

"My older brother left the door of our house unlocked yesterday when he went to school. Nothing was stolen but it could have been. My mother decided to teach him a lesson. She hid some of his new computer games in a cupboard and told him that they had been stolen. He was very upset. My mother finally gave him back his computer games but she had certainly taught him a lesson for sure."

To learn something off by heart or parrot fashion means that you have learnt it very well by repeating it over and over until it is almost in your head forever. Learning the multiplication tables (10 x 2 =20, 11 x 2 = 22, etc.) is often done in this way.

"Richard knew his tables perfectly, not one mistake at all. He beat everyone else in the class. He'd obviously learnt them off by heart and could repeat them parrot fashion."

Live and learn is an expression that people sometimes use to show some degree of compassion. If somebody does something wrong or they make a mistake then this expression can often help that person to feel not so bad.

"I hear that you missed your final exam yesterday. That’s really too bad. Traffic in Jakarta is always a problem. You should have left home earlier, you know. Oh well, you live and learn, right? Next time leave home much earlier."

Can’t teach an old dog new tricks is a fun idiom really. It is often used in a casual manner. If someone hasn’t been able to learn something new or cannot change the way they feel or act, onlookers often use this idiom.

"My grandfather is a great cook. His cakes are always perfect and delicious. However, recently he took a microwave cooking course. He found it very difficult to change the way he cooks cakes. He failed the course.
Oh well, I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
"

If you ask a student in Australia which year they’re in at school they’ll give an answer like this: "I’m in year 8". They rarely say that they’re in primary or high school because it isn’t necessary. Sometimes SMP 2 students in Indonesia say, "I’m in year 2". This can be very confusing for people who don’t know the Indonesian education system!

In Indonesia people sometimes say, "I’m following an English course this year". They translate the word ikut. However, it is not correct to use ‘follow’ in English when talking about a course. We say "I’m doing an English course this year". or "I’m studying English this year".

School and university students often talk about their plans for the future. In Australia we hear school students say ‘After I leave school .......'

‘After I leave school I want to go to university.’
‘After I leave school I’m going to work in my uncle’s business.’

However, university students usually say, ‘After I graduate...’

‘After I graduate I want to teach English.’
‘After I graduate I’m never going to study again!’


Education in Australia

KGRE receives a lot of letters and emails from teachers and students asking for information about education in Australia. One of the emails was from Evie Maria in Jakarta who asked some interesting questions about education in Australia. We think you'll find a lot of the answers to your questions in this magazine. However, you should keep in mind that in Australia there are many differences between education systems in different parts of the country. This is general information only. Not everything you read here will apply in all Australian states and territories but it will give you a good overview of the differences between the education systems in Australia and Indonesia.

The formal education system in Australia

Child care
Play group
Many small children in Australia attend child care centres while their parents work. Sometimes these are big centres, sometimes a family home. Other children attend play groups with one of their parents or a grandparent. Child care providers have a government license.
They learn social skills (such as playing with other children and sharing things) and physical skills (such as climbing or riding a small bicycle). They also listen to music, sing, draw and paint pictures, look at books, watch educational television shows and play with toys.
Kindergarten
Pre-school
Children learn more complex skills, including learning to count. They also learn to recognise the letters of the alphabet and write them. They learn the routine they will follow in primary school and the standards of behaviour that will be expected of them.
Primary school
Years 1 to 6/7
Children learn reading, writing, arithmetic, art, sport and music. They are often introduced to other subjects such as science. Many children start learning a foreign language in year 5 or 6.
Secondary/
high school
Years 7/8 to 12
Some students go to separate junior and senior high schools. However, others go to the same school from year 7 or 8 to year 12. Some students leave school after year 10 but most continue to year 12 and graduate from school at 17 or 18 years of age. Many students choose a vocational course in years 11 and 12 and combine work with study.
Vocational college
course
Undergraduate
university course
Some students continue vocational training at a college, and often get a traineeship or apprenticeship qualification. Others go to university to do an undergraduate degree. This takes from three to six years depending on the course. They graduate with a bachelor’s degree, for example Bachelor of Education, if they want to be a teacher. (S1 in Indonesia)
Postgraduate
degrees
Some people continue studying for a master’s degree (S2) or PhD: Doctor of Philosophy, or a Doctorate in their field (S3)

Some statistics about education in Australia

Australia’s population is currently about 20,600,000. In 2005 there were:

  • 9,623 schools in Australia. (72% government schools and 28% private schools.
  • 229,575 teachers.
  • 3,348,139 full-time and 25,073 part-time school students.
  • 957,176 university students. (55% were females, and 45 % males. 25% were from other countries.)

Studying Languages

Many Indonesian students have told KGRE that they study English because it's regarded as the international language and therefore very important in this time of globalisation. However, in Australia we learn languages for different reasons. The most important perhaps Cecilia is that it helps students develop tolerance and respect for other cultures. It also encourages curiosity about the lives of people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Cecilia (Purwokerto, Jawa Tengah) asked why the Indonesian language is taught in Australian schools. Indonesia is Australia's largest neighbour and many Australians believe that we need to study the language in order to understand Indonesian cultures. However, lots of languages are taught in Australia, including Japanese, Mandarin, French, German and Italian. Small schools usually offer students only one language but students in larger schools often have a choice of an Asian or European language.

Latest Trends in Education

Schools and Communities
In Indonesia every school is required to have a committee. Is your school committee very busy? School committees have been a very important part of the Indonesia Australia Partnership in Basic Education (IAPBE) program in East Java, and now they are involved in building many new schools across Indonesia. See our story on page 8 about the Basic Education Program. Also in Australia many people are involved in running schools, including parents and community members.

School Councils decide how government policy is implemented in schools. School council members are the principal and representatives of the teaching staff, students, parents and community members. They make decisions about things like school rules, uniforms, curriculum, extra curricular activities and how to spend government funding for improvements to school facilities.

Parents and Community Committees (usually called just ‘P and C’ or sometimes ‘P and F’ for Parents and Friends) do a lot of work to help schools. They do volunteer work such as making new gardens or playgrounds or running the school tuck shop (canteen). Many P and Cs organize special events to raise money for their schools, including an annual fundraising day.

Student Representative Councils are composed of students from every level in the school, although students in years 1, 2 and 3 in primary schools are often not included. Council members are often elected by the students. In years 11 and 12 they usually play the role of school captains or school leaders too. Does your school have a student council?

Teachers at KGRE workshops often ask questions about the work of teachers in Australia. There are some big differences but some similarities too. Indonesian teachers often teach in more than one school, perhaps even three schools. Most Australian teachers, however, work in only one school, although specialist teachers (music and language teachers for example) often work in more than one.

In Indonesia there is a lot of variation in teachers' hours and days of work. In Australia teachers usually work full time. This means they must be at school during school hours (about 9am to 3pm) from Monday to Friday, although most arrive early to prepare for the day. It's unusual for teachers to leave school when the students go home in the afternoon. They usually stay longer to prepare lessons, mark exams, write reports, or attend staff or committee meetings. Some teachers also spend time with students on weekends, especially teachers who coach sports teams.

In Australian schools students must be supervised at all times. Teachers cannot leave their classrooms during lessons and when a teacher is sick another teacher takes their classes. Even during the breaks many teachers are busy supervising students in the school grounds.

The Academic Year

Most school students:

  • go to school from Monday to Friday
  • go to school from the end of January to mid December
  • have 11 or 12 weeks of holidays each year.

Most university students have two semesters each year, between the end of February to the end of October. Some students also study during the summer break, especially students who want to finish their course early.

School rules
In the past all school rules were decided by the principal and teachers. However, these days in Australian schools, teachers and students often work together to decide what rules they will have in their own classroom. This is a big change and most people seem to think it’s a good idea as students are more likely to follow rules they’ve helped to write. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Discipline in schools
Australian teachers can no longer use corporal (physical) punishment. This means that teachers cannot hit students or do other things that hurt them. So what happens if a student’s behaviour is very bad? Sometimes the principal decides that punishment is appropriate (but never physical punishment), especially when other people have been hurt or placed in danger. The punishment could be detention (studying in class at lunch time or after school) or suspension (staying at home for a few days). However, the emphasis these days is on encouraging good behaviour rather than punishing bad behaviour.

 

Education

 

Life Skills is a subject in many schools in Australia depending on the needs of the students. It can differ from one school to another. It often includes topics related to health such as:

  • first aid
  • mental health
  • sex education
  • HIV/AIDS
  • drugs and alcohol
  • healthy diet

It might include practical skills such as:

  • filling in official forms
  • responsible use of credit cards
  • learning to drive a car or self defence.

Some schools offer a study skills course which teaches students effective strategies for studying and doing exams. Sometimes, it includes recreational activities such as playing chess, playing the guitar or producing a school magazine.

 

Andi Kurniawan from Makassar asked KGRE to explain Schoolies Week. Andi heard about this annual Aussie student activity in a news report from Radio Australia.

Schoolies Week is the name of a special week long party at the end of secondary school. It’s a new tradition as it started only about 20 years ago. Every year thousands of year 12 students (schoolies) go to the beach in many locations across Australia to spend time with their school friends before they move to the next stage of their lives. Newspapers and TV news programs always have stories about bad behaviour by schoolies but the police say that most of students are well behaved and don’t cause trouble. Indonesian students like to go on holiday together at the end of secondary school too. The biggest difference is that these trips are usually organized by their schools and their teachers go too.

KGRE Writing Competition 2007

Over the past few years, the Annual KGRE Writing Competition has always been eagerly awaited by readers. For 2007, we are issuing a challenge to high school students across Indonesia. This year’s Writing Competition is for YOU! So, if you study in high school then check out the topic below. Do not delay – start planning, and writing your essay NOW! Be sure to answer the question, okay?

The topic for your 250 word (maximum length) essay is this –

Is it important to learn about local culture these days? (Be sure to give your reasons)

PLEASE NOTE: Winners are judged on their answer to the question – interesting and positive ideas, and originality, are important. DO NOT worry too much about your grammar, structure or spelling. Just write down your ideas and have fun doing it. Send in your entry to KGRE before April 30th, 2007. Be sure to include the name of your high school and the class that you are in.The Grand Winner, and a friend, will fly to Bali later this year to visit KGRE. A great prize!

Remember - you must be a high school student to enter the KGRE Writing Competition this year.

The Joeys Club

The Joeys committee is meeting after school in Natalya’s classroom. They like meeting there because there are KGRE magazines in the book case and maps on the wall. Today they're looking at the new magazine. It's all about education.

Ali's 13. He's in year 7. His favourite subject is science and he wants to be an environmental scientist.

Natalya's 14. She's in year 8. She wants to be an English teacher. Can you guess what her favourite subject is? That's right - English.

Samuel's 14 too and he's also in year 8. He likes maths. He'd like to be an engineer but sometimes he thinks it would be good to work with his father at his garage.

Fatimah's in year 9 and she's 15 years old. She wants to be a doctor. She's very good at English and science but her favourite subject is religion.

Budi's the eldest. He's 15 too and, like Fatimah, he's in year 9. His favourite subject is physical education. His ambition is to be an Olympic athlete but he would also like to be a teacher.

Now, who do you think is the youngest in the group? Yes, Sinta's 13. She's in year 7. She loves art and wants to be a fashion designer.

Joeys Postcard Task

This is a competition for junior high school students only. Send a translation of the words below in English, numbered from one to ten, to Joeys Club, KGRE, PO Box 3095, Denpasar 80030, Bali. Ten correct entries will win a fabulous Mz Wiz book. Your entry must reach us by 30 April. Please tell us the name of your school and the year you are in (year 7, 8 or 9). Sending your answer on a postcard is cheaper than using paper and an envelope.

Joeys Task Two Winners - December 2006 magazine
The first 100 people who sent an SMS to KGRE will receive a Joeys badge really soon. Thank you to everyone who entered.

Be sure to check the Joeys Page every month on the KGRE website for special monthly Joeys Competitions

 

Joeys Task One Winners - December 2006 magazine
Thank you to everyone who entered the competition. These ten junior high school students will soon receive a special package in the mail - an illustrated dictionary to help you learn English. Congratulations!

Aninditya Retna K, Jawa Timur; Husaeni, NTB; Azizah NST, Sumatera Utara; Andy Rachmatullah, Sulawesi Tengah; Fitri Rahmadhani, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam; Nina Kumala Sari, Sumatera Barat; Mutiara, Bangka Belitung; Akmal Hidayat MT, Sulawesi Selatan; Occ Rahmayanti, Jawa Tengah; Ni Made Rai Wikan Purwadika, Bali.

The following ten readers will each receive a stationery set - KGRE pencil case, pen, pencil, notepad and an eraser.

Wowdani, Jawa Timur; Siti Maryam, NTB; Febby I, Jawa Barat; M. Hilmi, Kalimantan Selatan; A.Kholik Akbar, Jawa Timur; Busnia Agraini Putra, Sumatera Barat; Angga M A, Jawa Tengah; Firman Bagas Atmaja, DIY; Intan Puspitasari, Jawa Timur; Baiq Maya Rosita, NTB.

AusAID and 2000 NEW SMP schools

By working together with the Government of Indonesia (GOI), AusAID has begun a new program in Indonesia. AusAID is providing financing and technical assistance to MoNE (Ministry of National Education) and MoRA (Ministry of Religious Affairs) for the construction and expansion of around 2,000 junior high schools. Most of the schools will be “one-roof” extensions to existing primary schools but many of the schools will be brand new. Construction has begun in 18 provinces under the 2006 program. MoRA are working in 5 provinces, MoNE are working in 13. In total, for 2006, there are 380 active school sites. Most of these schools will be ready for the commencement of the 2007 Indonesian school year. The schools will be built, or expanded, in poor and remote areas where there are either no schools, or the existing schools are overcrowded. The construction work will be done by local people – not commercial companies – through the Government of Indonesia’s established community construction systems. While at least 330,000 new students will benefit from the facilities, the program will encourage their use for non-formal education as well, opening up learning opportunities to many more people in remote and previously under-serviced areas.

AusAID, the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program, aims to help reduce poverty in Indonesia by supporting sustainable development. The Australian government will provide an estimated AUD$344.3 million (Rp 2.3 trillion) in aid to Indonesia in 2006-2007. As Kang Guru always says, and as AusAID is proving, "Good Neighbours Make Good Friends."

In January 2007, KGRE went to Barabai in South Kalimantan, about 250 km north of Banjarmasin. Kevin presented a KGRE Teacher Workshop in conjunction with DIKNAS Barabai. He was also lucky enough to visit the village of Ayuang, a quiet but very pretty village about 40 minutes from Barabai. The local community is busily building their own new junior high school. Construction began on December 2 last year. When Kevin visited the school was well on the way to being finished. Seventy local workers are working hard to make this the best school in the area. They are actually building a school for their own children so it has to be good - the best in fact! The school will open in July 2007 with facilities for 250 students. Besides classrooms, facilities will include a two-room library, an office area for staff, a house for the school guard plus excellent toilet facilities.

Pak Bahruddin, Team Leader in Block Grant New Junior High School Development Unit in South Kalimantan Province told KGRE that the members of the community feel that they own the program. They are very happy to be involved in planning, the implementation and monitoring, including maintenance, of their new school.


 

Allison Sudradjat - Minister/Counsellor, Development Cooperation, AusAID, Jakarta

The Australian government has agreed to finance, and provide technical assistance for, the construction of around 2,000 junior secondary schools in Indonesia over the next several years. The reason we're doing this is because the data shows that net enrolment rates for junior secondary schools in Indonesia are currently very low, at around 60%, and this is due in no small part to the fact that in many areas junior secondary schools simply aren't available. Many of the schools being constructed are completely new (SMP); however there will also be a large number of what we call "Sekolah Satu Atap" or "one roof" school.

Allison explained to KGRE that working together with the government of Indonesia and their own school building program is the best idea. AusAID assists by providing the extra funding needed and then local school communities are very good and very enthusiastic about choosing contractors (often local people) and supervising the quality of work being done. The end results will be better schools built by the communities for their own children.

 

Communities and Education Program in Aceh (CEPA)

For many years now, conflict has been almost a way of life in some areas of Aceh. Both teachers and students stayed away from their schools. School buildings fell into disrepair and school communities were divided. Rizal Usman from Aceh is Deputy Team Leader of AusAID’s CEPA - Communities and Education Program in Aceh.

Rizal and his staff have been working hard in the conflict affected Bireuen area of Aceh. They are implementing a pilot education program aimed at reducing tension within communities in that area. When the pilot stage is finished and evaluated, the program will move onto 4 - 5 other former conflict areas.

The process is very democratic in nature with communities fully involved in all discussions and activities. RizalCEPA is:

  • encouraging the participation of communities in the education of their children;
  • encouraging and promoting better teaching methodology with teachers;
  • improving the quality of education by working with principals and local education authorities including district MORA representatives;
  • and inviting education stakeholders, such as local education authorities and staff to participate.

As Rizal explained, the students will soon be the real winners. Their schools will be in better condition through the involvement of School Committees, for example. The school atmosphere, including the support and interest of their parents in their education, will be much improved. And lastly, their teachers will be better equipped to teach and make their education a valuable and interesting experience for their children. And guess what? Attendance by students, and teachers, is already increasing.

Australian Leadership Awards (ALA)

Siti Hajar has worked at IALF Bali for many years as an English teacher and program manager. According to Siti, she was flipping through KGRE’s June 2006 magazine one day last year when she saw information about a new scholarship scheme from the Australian government called Australian Leadership Awards (ALA). ALA scholarships are available for people to undertake postgraduate study (Masters or PhDs) in Australia. General fields of study include management, economics, business, political Siti Hajarscience, philosophy, history, law and public policy. That was nine months ago and guess where Siti is right now? Siti is studying for her Masters of Education in Leadership and Management at Flinders University in Adelaide after receiving her ALA. Siti will undertake a combined research/coursework degree focusing on educational management and how aspects of this can be applied in the context of regional autonomy in Indonesia. Siti will conduct her research in her home regency of East Flores and will look at secondary schools in terms of school leadership, teacher training/development, curriculum & materials design, assessment & testing and teaching & learning resources.

 

For more information


Aceh-Canberra Connection

Mohammad Yasir works at IAIN in Banda Aceh in the Islamic economics faculty. He went to the Australian National University (ANU) in early 2006. At ANU he carried out his S3 research on Islamic economics and banking. He told KGRE that there are many Islamic students at ANU. They even have their own association called ANUMA. Discussions are just one of the group's regular activities. In actual fact, Mohammad found discussions, at ANU and in the community generally, a very big part of his educational experience in Australia. Discussions in lectures, and with his lecturers, impressed him so much that he plans to introduce them and develop them with his students in Aceh, beginning in February 2007. He also commented on the fact that lecturers were more like friends and were always available for consultations and help, sometimes even in their own homes over dinner. As far as Australian students are concerned, Mohammad told KGRE, “Australian students are very respectful to us and very kind to help us when we were studying in Australia. So this is very very interesting for me and I keep memorise what they have”.

Mohammad Yasir studied in Australia along with eight other lecturers from Aceh under a program supported by AusAID and initiated by the Australia Indonesia Institute (AII). They stayed in Australia between 6 – 12 months.

University Page

Welcome to all our readers who are studying at universities and other higher education establishments across Indonesia. In response to the many requests we have received from listeners and readers, the March and September 2007 issues of the KGRE magazine will include this special page for you. We hope you will find it useful and interesting. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like included on this page please contact us at KGRE.

Makassar, MAKES Club and Scholarships

In January Sue was in Makassar and met with the MAKES Club (KGCC # 49). Most of the members in this club are university students and they meet at least three times a week to practise their English. Usually they choose a topic and then hold a discussion in English, but at that particular meeting they held a question and answer session. Many of the questions for KGRE were about how to get a scholarship to study abroad. Sue was able to answer many of their questions, and two MAKES club members, Subhan and Rahma Zein, who have returned from studying in Australia on ADS scholarships, also had plenty of suggestions. Being awarded a scholarship takes time and students need to be proactive, keep to deadlines, fill out forms accurately and be prepared to work hard! All this is before you go to Australia! Below are some application guidelines from ADS.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

Applications for 2007 open on June 19 and close on September 8.

Applicants must:

  • Be applying for courses that fall within the areas of development priority
  • At the time of application, be no more than 42 years of age
  • Have English language proficiency of at least 5.0 in IELTS (or 500 in institutional TOEFL or 170 in international TOEFL)
  • Already hold an undergraduate degree, if applying for a Masters
  • Already have a Masters, if applying for a Doctorate
  • Be willing and available to undertake full-time (Monday – Friday, 08.00 am – 16.00 pm) English for Academic Purposes (EAP) training in Indonesia prior to studying in Australia, if offered a scholarship.

For compete information visit the ADS website

For more information about scholarships available in Australia

Do you have an English club at your university?

Perhaps you would like to begin one. They are a great way to practise your English and make lots of new friends too.

English clubs at universities are welcome to join the Kang Guru Connection Club network. Contact Cheryl at Kang Guru for the details.

Who Pays?

Members of MAKES were very interested in the cost of study in Australian universities. Here are some figures that may amaze you.

In 2005 53,000 year 12 students went on from school directly to vocational and technical education. Another 61,000 went directly to university. Who pays for university study? Well the Australian Government has a scheme called the HELP or Higher Education Loan Program. The government will advance students a sum of money to pay for their education at university. However this money is not a gift. When students graduate they must pay back this loan. No money is paid back until the new graduate is earning more than $38,000 a year. The money is taken straight out of a graduate's salary therefore ensuring the government gets the money back. That money can then be used to help another student. It can take students many years to pay off their debt but it is a helpful scheme which means everyone can go to university without having to worry about having enough money to pay for fees before they begin their courses.

Working When You Are A Student

Leaving home for the first time can be exciting but it also brings new responsibility. For the first time in their lives many students have to look after themselves. It is possible to apply for a living allowance from the government, which can help towards payment of rent and food. But many full time university students in Australia choose to work, as well as study, to get extra money. Popular areas for finding work are supermarkets, fast food restaurants, pubs and cafes. The salaries are not high and sometimes students work late into the night, but they can fit the work around their studies. They use the money for general living costs, to buy clothes, books and CDs. Just like university students in Indonesia!

TASK 3. The June edition of the KGRE magazine will be about Arts and Culture. Many KGCC clubs and schools love to debate. KGRE would like to know your opinions about the following topic. In a group write down 5 arguments FOR and 5 arguments AGAINST this debate topic:

The traditional arts and culture of a country are still important in the 21st century.
Send them to KGRE before April 30th, 2007.

PLEASE NOTE: In June, this page will be just for senior high school / SMA level students.

Oz-Indo Connections

Shrimp, Seaweed and Tourism in Aceh

Aceh is very well known for its super delicious rambutans and large shrimps. Did you realise that the 2004 tsunami devastated many of Aceh's shrimp farms? Now, with the education and training opportunities being made available to shrimp farmers, these shrimp farms are on the road to recovery. Shrimp farms are being rebuilt and stocked.

On the other hand, Aceh is not well-known for seaweed. Experts who have had a lot of experience with seaweed agriculture in other parts of Indonesia are now helping to introduce this very valuable crop to Nias. The growing conditions there are perfect for this crop. It is already proving to be a popular and financially viable crop for the people living on that remote part of Indonesia. David Lawrence, Program Coordinator from PEPAN (Private Enterprise Partnership For Aceh and Nias) funded by the World Bank and AusAID, told KGRE about another of their Aceh based activities - the Aceh Hotel Internet Booking service. It is already showing impressive results with over 150 bookings from tourists being accepted in just the past few months. This is not just for big hotels in cities but also for small hotels on the nearby islands close to Banda Aceh, such as Pulau Weh (Sabang). The well-known 'Lonely Planet Guide' for Indonesia has already listed the website in their latest edition. That is fantastic!

Scholarship to Indonesia

Can Australians get scholarships to study in Indonesia? Fifty scholarships (over a 5 year period) are awarded to Australians under the International Presidential Scholarship Scheme. Awardees must study Indonesian language and/or culture in Manado, Jogjakarta or Bandung.

The American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) awards scholarships to university students from America. Eighteen Americans have been placed in schools around Indonesia as English teaching assistants. Hillary Brass (see picture), who is at SMAN 4 Bali and Amanda Fiedler who is at SMAN 1 Probolinggo are two such students. Two students from SMAN 1 Probolinggo have also studied in America on AMINEF scholarships.

 

My Wonderful Life in Aceh

Jo Hobbs has been working in Aceh as a VIDA volunteer (Volunteering for International Development from Australia) for almost 12 months. Jo's work is varied indeed. For example, by working with Austcare, Jo and her work colleagues have been helping local chili farmers to improve their crops. She is also working with over 40 local brick-makers, helping them to re-establish their businesses destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. Austcare, an Aussie NGO, is also building a brand new SMP school in Banda Aceh.

Jo's connection with Aceh is more than just work. She really enjoys her life in Banda Aceh too. Jo says Aceh is a truly amazing part of Indonesia. She rides a motorbike and regularly heads out around the province to see what is out there. She recently bought an old wooden boat and uses it to go fishing and snorkeling. Jo returns to Australia in September 2007.

Austcare strives to help create a better world for refugees. One example of their work is that 30 eager children were able to go back to school for the first time since the tsunami. Austcare purchased a minibus for the village of Lam Bada. Only 50 of Lam Bada's 250 children in 2004 survived the tsunami. The bus also helps adults to access the market and medical services. The local community is developing a business plan to ensure the bus is a sustainable enterprise for the village.

Studying in Australia. Who can help?

At any one time, approximately 18,000 Indonesians are studying in Australia - 52.4% male and 47.6% female. Some are studying at universities and others are attending high schools. But how did they get there? Some students are on scholarships while others study privately. This is where education agents come in handy. Why do these students use agents?

  • they have a wide range of information about courses and Australian institutions
  • they help with enrolment services to students wanting to study in educational institutions in Australia
  • they offer impartial advice across a full range of educational institutions including universities, TAFE colleges, schools and English courses

Most large Indonesian cities have education agents who can help you. Check them out on the web and then visit some of the agents available in, or near, your city.

KangGURU Connection

Starting an English Club

Sometimes individuals ask KGRE how they can join the KGCC network. However, KGCC is actually a group of English clubs that were active before they joined the KGCC network. The most successful English clubs provide their members with opportunities to use and practise their English while they have fun together. Their meetings are not like formal English classes where people study English together. Would you like to start an English club? Here are some suggestions from KGRE which might be helpful in case you don’t know what to do or how to go about it.

1. Find some other people who are interested in starting an English club.

They could be people who go to your school or university, or people who work with you. They might be people who live in your neighbourhood or people who share an interest with you, such as singing or hiking or debating.

2. Talk about the things you’d like to do together.

  • Where would you meet?
  • How often would you meet?
  • How long would the meetings be?
  • Will you have a topic for each month or each meeting?
  • What will you do at meetings?

All activities should give people a chance to use their English in a relaxed environment. Here are some ideas: listening to KGRE, doing the tasks in the KGRE magazine, competitions, quizzes, discussions, debates, listening to and singing English language songs, writing and presenting plays, writing poetry and stories or the history of your area.

As mentioned above, club activities should be different to the things people usually do in English classes. For example, it’s best to study grammar at school or at home, then use it at a club meeting when you participate in activities.

  • Apart from regular meetings, would you like to do other things together?

English clubs do a lot of interesting and useful things including: visiting tourist attractions; holding special activities for Independence Day or Education Day; presenting interactive radio shows; doing community work such as visiting schools and orphanages to entertain and speak English with the students; talking to students about the dangers of illegal drugs, or holding English competitions for schools in their area. Some clubs have a close relationship with their local tourist board and often meet foreign visitors in this way.

3. Decide how the club should be run.

  • Should members pay a weekly or monthly fee to cover costs such as photocopying?
  • Will the club have rules? For example, perhaps members must attend at least 75% of meetings and be active participants. Perhaps members are not allowed to speak Indonesian or other languages at meetings or during other club activities.
  • Do you need a committee or will everybody share the responsibilities?
  • If you have a committee what positions are needed? (Leader or leaders, secretary, treasurer, events organizers, public relations…)
  • If you have a committee should the positions be for six months or one year?
  • How will committee members of the future learn their jobs?
  • What English language materials would you use? (KGRE magazine and other KGRE materials, song lyrics, magazines, information from the internet if you have internet access.) Perhaps you could listen to KGRE on the radio if it is broadcast in your area.

4. After a club has been active for at least three months it can apply to join the Kang Guru Connection Club network. You can do this by writing a letter to Cheryl at KGRE and asking for a KGCC Application Form.

There is a new teacher at SMPN 1 Ngoro, Mojokerto this year. Who is he and what is he doing.....?

Hi! My name is Angus Mortimer. I am a teacher from Australia. Since the mid 1970s I have spent many years teaching English as a second language, and other subjects, in Australia. I have taught in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. During those years I have worked in primary schools, high schools and universities.

During 2006/2007 I am teaching English in Indonesia as an Australian Volunteer International (AVI) teacher. I am showing the teachers here at SMPN1 Ngoro some of the skills that I used in Australia to teach English as a second language. I find that that many of the difficulties I encountered when teaching in Australia are similar to the difficulties and problems in Indonesia. We face problems like a lack of money and suitable materials to make teaching resources. And there is never enough time to do what we would really like, or to make what we want in the classroom!

Angus works with the Junior English Club KGCC #011 at SMPN 1 Ngoro

Kang Guru in the Classroom

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

‘My students find listening difficult because they lack vocabulary’.

Kang Guru has some suggestions for you:

  • always be familiar yourself with the vocabulary and activities before giving students listening activities
  • before playing the recording, introduce the topic and find out what students already know about the topic and its vocabulary
  • pre-teach new vocabulary and revise old vocabulary
    l write useful vocabulary on the board for students to refer to
  • choose activities to suit your students' ability, for example, if the text is long and difficult then give a gap-fill exercise where the students can read along with the recording and are only listening for specific words.
  • after completing an activity hand out the tapescript and let students read along as they listen again
  • make vocabulary reviews and quizzes part of your regular classes
  • encourage students to keep their own vocabulary records

f students haven't got the VOCABULARY they want to use then they will find it very difficult to speak or write with confidence. Make sure your students are well prepared before they begin any listening activity.

Making Materials

KGRE is amazed at how many teachers make new and exciting activities for their students. We have seen activity sheets using KGRE material, quizzes and even books written by teachers. What a lot of time and effort to make these materials so your students can experience exciting English classes! KGRE has lots of experience in producing materials and one of the most important jobs is proofreading. After we have written an article for the magazine, tapescripts for the radio shows or material for the teacher packages, we always ask another member of staff to proof read it. It is easy to make mistakes, even as native speakers of English! Sometimes there is a typing error or a spelling mistake. Sometimes the proofreader suggests a different word or changes the grammar slightly so that it sounds better. Do you do that with materials you make? It is absolutely necessary and a great way to practice your English.

Teachers' Exchange

After receiving many, many letters about teacher exchanges, KGRE has investigated the subject. There are teacher exchanges available but it is really up to you to check things out with your local DIKNAS office or amongst your teaching colleagues. Here's what we found out:

  • You may have to organise it - don't wait for others

  • Contact teachers that you know who have already been on an exchange and chat to them

  • Work with your local education contacts - support is advised and often necessary

  • Don't assume it is going to be a free holiday - you will be working full time in an Australian school, 5 days a week

  • Be fully aware of the Australian education system before you go

  • Do you have something special to offer to your host school such as teaching an aspect of Indonesian culture?
  • Student Exchanges

    In January, KGRE interviewed Pak Hamzah from SMA 2 Makassar. Several years ago he organized a student exchange for students from Makassar to study in schools in Australia. Pak Hamzah said the first time he organized the exchange it was very difficult. It took 12 months to organize the first one. He says the process gets easier each time as now he has plenty of contacts, including AusAID scholarship students who are studying in Adelaide.

    Here are some tips from Pak Hamzah for organizing a student exchange:

    • make direct contact with schools in Australia
    • inform the education department in Indonesia
    • organize passports, visas and insurance for students and accompanying teachers
    • meet teachers and parents from the school association in Australia

    He faced many rejections at first but he persevered and now he has organized 6 trips to Australia. In Australia each student stays with a different host family and from Monday to Friday they study at the local school. They have to use English every day. The students finance the trip themselves. If you want to know more about Pak Hamzah’s exchange visits, visit this website (Berita- Dokumentasi Sekolah. Laporan Kunjungan Pertukaran Siswa 2006)

     

    Would you like 60 stickers to use with your students? They are FREE from KGRE. For more information check the March 'Listening and Reading Class Sets', the KGRE website's Teacher Page or write to Sue at KGRE - srodger@ialf.edu.


     

    Note from KGRE:

    We have just discovered that there are some pages missing in the SMP 1 booklet. We have re-printed them. For people who have bought the SMP package, please write to KGRE by letter/email/SMS to ask for a replacement. We are happy to send you the complete version of the SMP 1 booklet so that you can replace the faulty one.

     

    To cover the increased cost of production and courier, the new price for the SMA Package or SMP Package is Rp 125,000 (for either cassettes or CD) and if you want to buy both, the price is Rp 150,000. Please send your money by pos wesel or bank transfer to KGRE:

    Nama Account: IALF
    Bank: Bank Central Asia Cabang Hasanudin
    Alamat: Jl. Hasanudin No.58 Denpasar
    No Account: 040-1-470-289

    Note: For any order made by bank transfer, please send or fax the transfer slip to KGRE office with your name and phone. no.

    Entertainment

    Joy Tobing is well-known throughout Indonesia. She spent a few hours chatting with KGRE in January 2007 at her house in South Jakarta. She is a 27 year old singer and was the first Indonesian Idol. Joy graduated from the English Department at the Christian University of Indonesia. Although tenses still confuse her a little it has not stopped her interest in English. For her career, Joy has to understand her songs and if they are in English, then she needs to be pretty good at working out the lyrics and their meaning.

    Joy’s latest CD is called ‘Rise’. And all the songs are in English. After Joy made the CD ‘Karena Cinta’ she decided that it was time for an international CD and it had to be in English.

    ‘My favorite (is) song called ‘Rise’ because ‘Rise’ was made when the tsunami came. It has a lot of meaning because when people get down, when people, er, disappointed or, disappointed with everything, this is the time for us to to rise up because we believe we can learn something. That’s why we have to raise up’.

    Before ‘Indonesian Idol’, Joy had already made 15 Batak and Indonesian albums. She has been singing for 22 years and that is a long time. But Joy has had to learn a lot about the entertainment business – it has been a real education for her.

    TASK 4. How many songs are on the new 'Rise' CD from Joy? Is it 10, 11 or 12? Send an SMS with your answer, your name and your location to KGRE before March 30th - 08123870479

     

    Samuel RizalSamuel Rizal

    KGRE met Samuel Rizal in Pondok Indah Mall as he was on his way to the gym. Sammy, as he prefers to be called, is mad about sport. He is a basketball player and an Indonesian junior champion. He watches television a lot BUT usually just sports programs. According to Sammy, being physically fit is very important for an actor. He works out at the gym 3 or 4 times a week for 90 minutes each visit.

    Learning has always been an important part of Sammy’s work ethic. Studying acting and learning the skills required for a successful acting career has always been important to Sammy. He has had acting lessons but says he has also learnt from watching DVDs and television. Maybe you want to become an actor like Sammy. He says that you should never stop studying and learning, be enthusiastic about life and keep physically active.

    His English at school was very bad (he says) but recently he has been doing a little bit every day and it has worked – his English is pretty good right now. Sammy advises others to watch lots of television with no subtitles, or with English subtitles. He also uses a good dictionary to read and learn from. Sammy’s favorite actors are Johnny Depp, Matt Damon and Keira Knightly. He is currently learning to dance the salsa.

    First she started learning about her vocal cords and how to sing well using correct and empowering techniques. Joy learnt about many different styles of music including the blues and even rock and roll She learnt how to improvise like Aretha Franklin.

    Joy listened to, and studied, singers such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. She learnt how to dance and sing at the same time. Besides singing and performing, Joy has had to learn about artist management and about recording. Female artists in particular also need to understand about makeup and hair techniques. Fashion and appropriateness of clothes is an important part of being a successful artist. Interacting with a ’live’ audience successfully is another skill to be learnt.

    Joy is currently putting together a new Indonesian language album. Then she will continue working on her international career as well. One of Joy’s many ambitions is to become an international artist such as Anggun. Joy told KGRE that that is her dream now.

     

    Rock Eisteddfod is an Australia-wide annual dance and drama contest for secondary school students. Each participating school has only eight minutes on stage, and teams must be between 20 and 100 students. The performances are very entertaining but they often have a message for the community and young people in particular. The dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco are common themes of Rock Eisteddfod performances. Students, teachers, parents and community members sometimes spend months creating the costumes, sets and soundtracks, as well as the dance and drama routines, and then they practise, practise, practise! Participants learn a lot: not only practical skills but also team work, perseverance and coping with disappointment, as there are only a few winners. Research has shown that Rock Eisteddfod participants and other students in their schools are less likely to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco than others. In 2006 over 400 schools and 40,000 students were involved.



    Different Pond Different Fish

    What does your teacher wear to school?

    Many teachers in public schools in Indonesia wear formal public service uniforms or batik shirts for special occasions. In some private schools not only the students but also the teachers wear a uniform. Teachers in government schools in Australia don't wear uniforms. Instead, each school has its own dress code for staff. Sometimes this is quite strict but sometimes it's very casual. When Dian, Program Manager for Indonesian Language Training at IALF Bali, first taught in Australia she was very surprised at what some teachers wore. Here’s what she said: ‘It was summer when I arrived in Australia and many of the teachers wore very casual clothes to work. Some men and women wore sleeveless tops or tank tops and some even wore board shorts. They wore casual sandals and sometimes jeans too. I never really got used to it even though it is accepted in Australia.’ In the city in tropical areas you can sometimes see businessmen going to their office wearing a safari shirt, shorts, long socks and formal shoes. What would you think if your teacher or a colleague came to school wearing shorts?

    Students Teaching Students

    Subagia and Sri, both Indonesian teachers of English at IALF Bali, experienced many unusual things when they taught in Australia. Subagia said one of the first surprises he experienced was peer teaching. During certain weeks in the year older students would spend ten minutes at the end of a lesson helping younger students with any problems they might have. Perhaps a year 2 student was having difficulty with their maths or reading, so the older student, perhaps from year 7, would offer advice and help. This was part of the students' social program. Later, the older students took a written test about their experiences. Subagia and Sri both saw this in Australian schools and thought it was a very good idea as both students learn from the experience. Does this happen in your school? Is it a good idea?

    Student Zones and Locked Classrooms

    KGRE's great mate, Adi, first saw this odd thing when he was teaching in Australia. At recess in some Australian schools you can find special zones. Students from each year are assigned special areas of the playground. They have to stay in their own locations or areas.This makes it easier for teachers to supervise their own students during recess and lunch breaks.

    He also noticed a difference in the classrooms. In Indonesia, the students can enter the classroom as soon as they arrive at school. Some may want to do homework they forgot to do at home, leave their bags or chat to friends. But in Australia, the classroom is locked until the teacher arrives. Students cannot enter until the teacher is present. Also, students only take the books necessary for the class into the classroom. Their bags must be left outside in the corridor. Adi said surprisingly nothing was missing afterwards.

    Adi received some good news in February 2007. After trying four times to get an ADS scholarship he was finally successful and will begin his EAP course in April. Then he will go to Melbourne to study for a M.Ed. in Industry, Professional and Further Education. Good luck from all the staff at KGRE. We will miss you!

    ................

    Australian Education Centers (AEC) are an Australian Government initiative providing Indonesian students and their parents with reliable and impartial information about studying in Australia. AECs facilitate cooperation between Indonesian and Australian education institution in the form of a sister school, student or teacher exchange.

    FIKA KHAIRA (a student exchangee to Perth)

    I am really pleased to be able to experience living with a family with a different background and culture. Australian families have very high tolerance towards religions, they do not discriminate against Moslems. I went to St Stephens in Perth. At school I learnt many things such as having discipline and being organised, like queuing in front of the cafeteria. Students are also encouraged to think for themselves and allowed to express themselves freely. This, I think, gives students confidence to perform and be creative.

     

    Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP)

    Wouldn't it be great to go to Australia for 2 months and live with an Australian family? Maybe you would not like to do that but many young people in Indonesia dream about this type of opportunity. Over the past twenty-five years, over 400 young Indonesians have been lucky enough to do this through AIYEP. They have gone to Australia, lived with an Australian family (maybe two) and at the same time have gained work experience that they will never forget. In February 2007, the AIYEP celebrated its 25th Anniversary.


    KGRE News Room

    Guess who visited KGRE in December 2006?

    In late December 2006 , KGRE went to Mendoyo in West Bali, 3 hours from Denpasar. But KGRE didn’t go alone. Walter Slamer who was Capt Kang Guru from 1 Feb 1997 to 1 Feb 2000 came along. Walter is producing a television documentary for Australian television about the Australia's assistance to Indonesia. In Mendoyo there are four Kang Guru Connection Clubs (KGCCs). It was decided that Mendoyo was the perfect place to see some of the work between KGRE, students and teachers. The documentary team, including well-known Australian radio personality, Mike Carlton from 2UE in Sydney, were keen to see and chat with the students and the teachers at Mendoyo and they were pleasantly surprised at what they saw during the visit. It was great to have Walter back with KGRE, if only for one day.

    And where did Capt. KGRE go last month?? Yes, to Aceh ...

    In late January 2007, KGRE went to Aceh for the first time since the tsunami. Kevin worked together with AusAID's ERA project (Education Rehabilitation in Aceh). Team Leader, Mary Fearnley-Sander, and Pak Samsul, the project's Office Manager, organized everything for KGRE, including a special KGRE teacher workshop and school visits. Soon after arriving Kevin looked around Banda Aceh including some of the areas devastated by the tsunami. First stop was the newly opened SD school - MIN Merduati. The students were all hard at work in their new classrooms. Then a quick visit to the ERA office to meet the team. Then into the hills to Saree, about 3 hours from Banda Aceh, for a two and a half day Teacher Workshop with 56 teachers from schools within the ERA project. Kevin met so many hard-working people in Aceh, many of whom you can read about in this magazine and also on the KGRE website

    Photo Competition

    KGRE often receives wonderful suggestions from KGRE-ites for new materials and promotional items. One item that is often suggested is a KGRE Calendar. Ogi thinks it is a good idea to produce a KGRE Calendar to celebrate Kang Guru Radio English’s 10th Anniversary in Bali. Yes, it is 10 years since KGRE moved from IALF Jakarta to IALF Bali. However the problem is where to get great photographs for the calendar? Good photographs (see right) are important, right? The idea has been discussed around the KGRE office and we think it would be a great idea if at least some of the photographs used in the calendar come from YOU! If you have a great photograph then send to KGRE, by post or email, before July 31st, 2007.

    BUT please note: The photograph should be clear and colourful. The photograph must clearly show the KGRE logo or name or an item of KGRE promotional material. Or perhaps photographs that show the work of KGRE in some way. It could show people using KGRE materials. In other words - 'a KGRE pic'.

    All winners of Task Activities - December 2006 - will be announced on the KGRE website in March 2007.

    Into the Future

    No more teachers!

    Do you think this will really happen? Some people believe that as technology develops students will use computers for their learning without ever mee