This month, students at SMKN 1 Cangkringan had the valuable opportunity to collaborate with future generations. ETA Parker Raybourne coordinated with Cangkringan’s elementary school, SDN Percobaan 3, to facilitate English classes for students at the elementary level. This initiative aimed to provide opportunities for young learners to be exposed to English and broaden English resources that local teachers can employ. Parker enlisted SMKN 1 Cangkringan’s English Club members to assist in planning, presenting, and implementing this month’s lessons and activities.

During this session, students learned “parts of the body” in English. With Parker’s assistance, the English Club led presentations and songs that taught new vocabulary. Students were then guided in the creation of crafts that allowed them to practice their new words. The young learners enjoyed every moment of this month’s session. Despite it being the students’ last class of the day, they were reluctant to clean up and go home – what a triumph!

This initiative achieves the goals of the Fulbright ETA program by providing a native-speaker role model and encouraging students and teachers to use English. These visits prompt students from the English club to engage in public speaking, practice their English, and experience teaching and mentoring, all while enriching young learners. Parker hopes these visits will continue after the summation of this grant period.

Note: All students and educators in Yogyakarta wear traditional Javanese clothing (baju surjan) on the final Thursday of each month; note the patterns in these photos.

Harrison “Parker” Raybourne is currently teaching at SMK 1 Cangkringan, Special Region of Yogyakarta.