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Sue traveled to Lamongan and Surabaya for two AusAID linked KGI teacher workshops and to meet the students
of several former Kang Guru Connection Clubs. The Surabaya workshop was in conjunction with LAPIS-ELTIS from
AusAID held at IAIN Sunan Ampel.
Here's Sue's Report for you to read.
I flew to Surabaya on Wednesday afternoon and there were no delays so I arrived early evening. It poured with
rain soon after I arrived so I decided to stay at the hotel. I wanted to do some work but I could not get
my computer to open. The menu told me there was an error and a disc needed to be checked. The computer automatically
checked it and then I logged in. The computer told me there was an error and a disc had to be checked. And
it just kept repeating! I couldn’t log in! So instead of working I watched TV! Very relaxing!
The next morning I left the hotel at 7:00 and drive to Lamongan. The journey was actually very quick and we
arrived at the workshop venue MAN Lamongan at 8:10. We carried our boxes upstairs to the workshop venue and
I was just wondering where to put them when I saw the local officials arriving for the opening ceremony – This
was a first – the event wasn’t due to begin for another 45 minutes! I quickly joined the official
party and we sat down for the opening ceremony. I don’t think I have ever attended a Kang Guru workshop
which began 45 minutes early!
After the opening ceremony I gave the teachers a task and I unpacked my boxes and prepared the activities.
The morning seemed to fly by. Most of the teachers were very enthusiastic and there was no problem in calling
for volunteers. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and English skills of many of the teachers. Before we knew
what the time was it was time to break for lunch. After lunch we continued with the activities from the Kang
Guru SMP/SMA Teacher Packages and the Listening and Reading Class Set. Of course we finished with a quiz.
For a change I gave the teachers the quiz in groups. The winners were very happy as I gave out some KG prizes.
As soon as the teachers left at three – just as the rain started about 150 students arrived from several
different schools around MAN. There were lots and lots of girls and a few boys. As usual some of the students
were very active and others very shy. I answered about 20 questions from students and we did some English
language activities. I told them about Kang Guru and the magazine and some of them had bought past editions
with them. I stayed with the students till about 5 o clock It was still raining heavily when we all left.
I got quite wet running to the car. On the way out of the school I saw a truck full of students who didn’t
seem to mind at all that they were getting wet. They waved and cheered as I took their photo.
On the way back to Surabaya I saw something interesting. Earlier that day we had seen a big truck which had
tipped onto its side at the edge of the road. On the way home there were vehicles and a team of men ready
to get the truck upright. In the back of the tipped up truck were 5 or 6 men emptying the truck which had
been full of sand. They were carrying the sand to another truck in very small blue buckets! It must have taken
them days to empty that truck!
The next day I went to the LAPIS-ELTIS office at IAIN Sunan Ampel
for a workshop with about 75 ELTIS participants. As usual they were very happy and lively – I’m
never sure if they are excited about the Kang Guru workshop or because it is the last day of their course
and they will be going home after the KG workshop! I hope it’s the workshop! They were very active and
after clearing up some misconceptions about KG and Radio Australia we went to work on ways to improve listening
classes. The participants were enthusiastic and were happy to share ideas. The room was rather crowded but
we managed - working in pairs, in teams and mingling with the whole class. After the class I met Ibu Affifah
from Jombang who had come to say hello when she heard I would be in ELTIS. It was very nice to see her again
and we discussed the possibility of KG doing a workshop in Jombang soon. Another two busy days for Kang Guru
on the road successfully completed.
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