ETA Nicholas Kloor delivered a keynote lecture at Ambon State Polytechnic as part of their inaugural International Seminar. This seminar was a part of the university’s 39th anniversary celebrations. The seminar was held in a hybrid format, with both on-site and Zoom participation, and drew 329 participants from Ambon State Polytechnic, plus 15 additional students from 7 countries: Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Pakistan, the United States, and Russia.

Nicholas’ lecture, “Building Global Competencies Beyond English: Language, Culture, Creativity, and the Vocational Workplace,” explored the value of cross-cultural exchange in both language learning and other valuable skills for the vocational workplace. His presentation argued that language doesn’t exist independently of culture, and that any study of language must come with a study of culture. Although some ways of thinking propose something akin to “Technical Skill + English = Global Employability, Nicholas proposed the following equation as a possible alternative: Technical Skill + Communication + Adaptability + Cultural Awareness + Ability to Learn = Global Capabilities and Competence.

In learning English in the vocational workplace, students are exercising skills needed to problem-solve in diverse contexts through engaging with those around them. As a teacher at SMK Negeri 2 Ambon, a vocational school, Nicholas brings many of these ideas into the classroom and his extracurricular activities; he has thus far restarted the English Club and begins preparations for other extracurriculars in October.

Nicholas Kloor is currently teaching at SMKN 2 Ambon, Kota Ambon, Maluku.