Kang GURU English Language Interactive
Radio Presenters Network

Presenters Newsletter No. 2 February 2006
KGRE's Interactive Program Presenter's (English) Network

Welcome to this, the 2nd Newsletter for Interactive Presenters with radio programs linked to KGRE. Great to be in contact with you all again. First of all, thanks to those presenters who sent in their profiles and reports. It is always interesting to read about your adventures and problems so keep those reports coming in please. We especially need to know about the good things that are happening at your radio station. The next Newsletter is due in April so the deadline for reports is mid March 2006. We have three new members in the network taking the total number to 9 members – that is great! Welcome to Jojo (RRI Palu), Sophie (RRI Jayapura) and Ririn Pudya (Bonansa FM, Kediri). We hope that your involvement in this network will help you AND that you can help other network members too. Profiles from 8 of the current members can now be read below OR on the KGRE website.

Presenter Network Members' Reports

KGRE Note: Thanks to the members who sent in these following reports to KGRE. It is very important that these reports are sent to KGRE regularly so that KGRE can pass them onto other members. Please be sure to tell us what you are doing on your radio program — the successes and the problems. The more info you can give us, including latest on-air ideas, then the more helpful it is to all of us.

Noor and Luluk,
Surga FM – Jombang

Here is a quick update of what has been happening on the Kang GURU News Connection Program on SURGA FM. Since the meeting in Bali, I have been concentrating on providing different segments in the program and using different techniques for the quiz each week. Some types of segments I have been using have included pronunciation segments, cultural segments and travel segments. In the pronunciation segment I try to elucidate a particular point of pronunciation for listeners. Tricky sounds included in the phrase “Wash the dishes” for instance, or the three sound endings for past tense words ending in “ed”. In the culture segment I try to discuss different perspectives from around Jombang or the archipelago. The travel segment involves discussing the different ways of getting around or different places of interest in our local area. I have so far used a number of different quiz formats as suggested by KGRE including, “Who am I?” “What am I?” “Mystery Sounds” and others. All feedback from listeners has been positive but reluctance to phone in is still evident. I have found the magazines and other material from KGRE very useful for developing and providing interest to the program. Hope all is well across Indonesia for other presenters and a big Thank You to the staff in Bali.

Muin in Tuban
Swara Pantura FM

Having the workshop with KGRE crew in Bali last August was a great time and opportunity for me to improve KGRE programs at my radio station. There were lots of things that I got from that meeting. I’m aware that my programs so far too monotonous as one of my listeners called and suggested to enrich the program a bit and make it more interesting. Sharing ideas among KGRE presenters was very helpful and meaningful for me. I can now keep in touch with other presenters and ask each other about our programs.

A serious problem of my station is its frequency that cannot be listened to or enjoyed by many local people in Tuban regency. The equipment needs changing. I often promote and re-promote to whomever I meet but they always have the same answer - that they cannot listen my programs. They find it difficult to get Swara Pantura.

Returning home from the workshop, I tried to apply to another station but there has been no response. Two months later, there was good news from Swara Pantura that this radio will be BUMN (Badan usaha Milik Negara). Now it has been renovated. The tower will be changed from 40 metres high to 70 metres high. The equipment will also be changed with more modern one. The room (studio) is also being renovated. Of course, this makes me glad that Swara Pantura will be a better radio station. This renovation is predicted to finish by the end of February or March 2006.

I have two new segments, SMS and Quiz. However, still very few listeners send their SMS or answer to the quiz. It seems I have to be more patient seeing this condition. And started last October I have managed to have sixty minutes to present our KGRE programs as follows:

1. Opening and Comments (5 minutes)
2. Listening to KGRE series (20 minutes)
3. Potpourri (5 minutes)
4. Interactive Program (30 minutes)

Next February 2006, I plan to celebrate my three years of KGRE in Tuban by cooperating with SMA/SMK English teachers to have an English program “English for Fun”. I also plan to invite Kevin R. Dalton or whomever from KGRE crew to attend the program but we are still arranging our proposal.

Thank you very much for everything especially to AUSAID and IALF – KGRE.

Best regards,
Fathul Muin

KGRE Note: That is great news Muin and I am sure that the station appreciates your work and continuing interest in presenting English to local people on your station.

Syahrir
RRI Makassar

Well, the interactive show from RRI Makassar is running well so far. Lots of active listeners anyway, though not as many callers calling in. One of the problems is a classic one, due to the time of ON AIR, which should be in the afternoon or even in the evening. But I have been trying to negotiate with the management at the moment to just change the time of interactive program.

And, instead, one of the solutions that I am currently developing is by working with local English teachers so that the interactive show can be one of their learning resources for their class and students, which is, by getting their students to listen to it as a part of their learning stage.

In terms of the two new segments that I am expected to present on show; ‘Chain Story and Trivia’, — I have been trying them, and they work though I have to work hard to keep encouraging the listeners to join and be parts of the show.

To be honest, one of particular problems that I face is lack of listener's attention and active participation. I think I need to find some more simple and easy collection of common themes in terms of chain stories, for example, that could provoke the listeners to take a more active part. Concerning with the package of KGRE prizes that u sent me. Yap, they are given out as prices wisely to especially keen and active callers. To tell you the truth, Quiz Shows like ‘WHERE/WHO AM I’ were very challenging and entertaining for listeners. It is a hit show.

All the best, Viva the Presenter Network,
Syharir

KGRE Note: It is good to hear that the KGRE Quizzes were used and that listeners liked them. But now you need to try and make similar quizzes of your own. Then why not send copies AND maybe send them either to KGRE or directly to other members of the network!!!

Bowo Pranoto
Radio Suara Habibulloh, Banyuwangi

My Name is Bowo Pranoto. I was born in Blitar on May 04th, 1966. I am an English teacher at SMPN 2 Banyuwangi. I graduated from Jember University in 1988. I am also a teacher trainer and Managing Basic Education facilitator in my area. I knew KGRE for the first time when Mr. Kevin Dalton presented a KGRE workshop in 2001 at The Asida Hotel, Batu – Malang. The workshop was supported by the Education and Culture Department of East Java. Province. I was so interested in KGRE programs so I asked Capt. KGRE some questions about the program and whether KGRE could be broadcasted in Banyuwangi. A couple of months later I found a radio station in my beloved town which was willing to broadcast KGRE. Now KGRE is broadcast at Radio Suara Habibulloh and the manager of the radio station asked me to be the presenter of this program. Being a presenter for the first time was uncomfortable for me but I kept trying to increase my confidence and never stop making myself better presenting on KGRE. To tell you frankly I am very sad if there is no one calling my English interactive show. But I always invite listeners to join the program by giving them challenging and interesting the keenest listener to be a guest announcer on the radio to accompany me to present to great program. It is hard work but I really enjoy it and I do appreciate KGRE programs supporting the improvement of English language studies in my beloved country, Indonesia.

Jack and Nada
RRI Mataram

In February 2004, KGRE visited Lombok for a series of Teacher Workshops. These were organized in conjunction with teacher trainer, Dave Erickson, from Global Partners. While in Lombok, Kevin held a Listener's Meeting at RRI Mataram. RRI Mataram staff were quite surprised at the number of listeners who attended the meeting, about 150, and how good their English language levels were. Kevin later mentioned to RRI the idea of developing an interactive English language program. They were very interested but the biggest problem was lack of staff to run the program. KGRE asked Dave if he could help or if he knew of anyone who might be interested. He did! Global Partners approached Rri suggesting a 3 month pilot program. After initial discussions the station decided to offer one hour free airtime each week. Many thanks to Pak Samsuddin, the Broadcasting Manager at RRI, who had clear vision for how interactive English radio would help people with their English. “Talk To Me”, with Jack and Nada as hosts, has grown in popularity among the young and old. Callers have ranged from brave SMP students, to teachers of English, to our guides and everything in between. Many of the callers speak English quite well but there are also beginners who just want to practice the basics, which Jack and Nada love to do. One of the main attractions of the show are quiz questions or other contests such as a mystery song or voice. Prizes include KGRE gifts but one of the most popular prizes is a guest appearance on the program. This was suggested by one of the regular callers, Rizal, who then won the prize and got to be on the show! KGRE has generously provided great prizes such as t-shirts, bags, notebooks and key chains. For some callers, the chance to win a prize is exciting each week! Listeners love Jack and Nada, both native speakers of English. Each week a topic is chosen and discussed on the show and there are sometimes special guests on the show from other English speaking countries such as Australia, Singapore, USA and Canada. Some of more popular topics have been on love, idioms and family. Many listeners say they love learning about different cultures through the show.

Latest Materials and Prizes from KGRE for Presenter Members

I would really like more feedback on those quizzes and activities we put together for you and that we included with the First newsletter. Those items, if not already, will also be sent to newest members very soon! The feedback will help us design new activities. I really hope you are all designing activities too maybe using KGRE ‘things’ as examples. If you have any of these available then please send them to KGRE for copying to other presenters. Oh yeah, and thanks to Jojo in Palu for his short jingle and interview samples. I am using that style of information now on KGRE in the form of Mini-Profiles and Quick-Hellos from special guests. Listen to Series 5000 and you will hear Mike and Delon from Indo Idol being used in this way. Nicholas Saputra is coming up in Series 51 so be ready for that!

All 9 members have now received this Second Newsletter. Included with this newsletter and for your use on our programs we have –

• Copies of the latest KGRE Compilation CD – Different Pond Different Fish inc. tapescripts. We are sure you can use these cross-cultural stories on your interactive programs for discussion or just for fun.
• A selection of 12 KGRE badges.

KGRE Note: New members (Sophie, Ririn and Jojo) will receive a re-print of the First Newsletter as well as this new Second Newsletter. They will also be sent the Quizzes and other materials included with that First Newsletter.