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KangGURU Magazine for March 2007
Education Snippets
Welcome Letter from Kevin
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. 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.
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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! Dear Budiono, 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. Hello Siti,
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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. 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. Hi Dibyo, |
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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!
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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.’
However, university students usually say, ‘After I graduate...’ ‘After
I graduate I want to teach English.’ |
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.
| 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 AustraliaAustralia’s population is currently about 20,600,000. In 2005 there were:
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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 
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.
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 YearMost school students:
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.
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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:
It might include practical skills such as:
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.
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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 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.
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Joeys Postcard Task
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Joeys Task One
Winners - December 2006 magazine 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. 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. |
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AusAID and 2000 NEW SMP schoolsBy 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. |
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.
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Allison Sudradjat - Minister/Counsellor, Development Cooperation, AusAID, JakartaThe 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. |
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. 
CEPA
is:
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
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Aceh-Canberra Connection 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. |
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 ScholarshipsIn 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:
For compete information visit the ADS website For more information about scholarships available in Australia
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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 StudentLeaving 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!
PLEASE NOTE: In June, this page will be just for senior high school / SMA level students. |
Shrimp, Seaweed and Tourism in AcehAceh 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!
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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?
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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.
2. Talk about the things you’d like to do together.
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.
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.
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.
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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
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)‘My students find listening difficult because they lack vocabulary’. Kang Guru has some suggestions for you:
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 MaterialsKGRE 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.
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Teachers' ExchangeAfter
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:
Student ExchangesIn 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:
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.
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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.
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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 Note: For any order made by bank transfer, please send or fax the transfer slip to KGRE office with your name and phone. no. |
| 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.
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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
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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 |
Student Zones and Locked ClassroomsKGRE'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. 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! ................ |
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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) |
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.
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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 ...
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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 |
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| All winners of Task Activities - December 2006 - will be announced on the KGRE website in March 2007. |
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 |
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.
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.
‘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’.
"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."
cooking course. He found it very difficult to change the way he
cooks cakes. He failed the course. 
junior
high school students will soon receive a special package in the
mail - an illustrated dictionary to help you learn English. Congratulations!
The
following ten readers will each receive a stationery set - KGRE
pencil case, pen, pencil, notepad and an eraser. 
science,
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.
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”. 
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.
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.
Samuel
Rizal
her dream now.
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?
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.
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.
