In October, ETA Zahra Chowdhury attended the Regional English Language Office (RELO) Practical English for Young Learners (PEYL) workshops at BGTK Riau in Pekanbaru. The program, run by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, trains primary school English and homeroom teachers to strengthen English learning at the elementary level through active, student-centered methods such as play-based learning, gamification, and Total Physical Response.

Zahra observed the sessions, introduced herself to participating teachers, and built meaningful relationships with RELO staff who traveled from Jakarta. Teachers learned about different activities that would enable them to easily incorporate English in their classes, including a craft in which participants made a paper fan, wrote their daily routines on it, and exchanged information with partners, saying “whoosh!” as they flapped their fans. Zahra saw how such an activity lets learners be creative while practicing language, and how the finished fan can go home to be shared with family, letting English “fill another room.”

Zahra was inspired by the teachers’ dedication and enthusiasm and left with practical ideas to bring to her classes at MAN 3 Kota Pekanbaru. Several teachers have since invited her to their schools, and she looks forward to visiting elementary classrooms in the future.

By engaging with local educators, Zahra supported the Fulbright ETA program’s goals of fostering mutual understanding and strengthening connections between Americans and their host communities in Indonesia.

Zahra Chowdhury is currently teaching at MAN 3 Kota Pekanbaru, Riau.