Welcome to the September edition of the Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights. The 2018-19 cohort spent the month of September settling into life at their sites. In this edition, ETAs share stories and reflect on trying creative activities in the classroom, starting after-school English Clubs for their students and fellow teachers, and participating in school celebrations (which often ended with dance parties!)
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First Conversation Club Meeting and Talent Show Preparations
SMAN 5 Padangsidimpuan has joined forces with a local university to help further the conversation skills of the more advanced students at both institutions through the newly formed Conversation Club. ETA Emma Barnes was asked to start and lead the club in order to give said students more hands on experience in day to day.. Read More.
The Excellent English Club is Formed
This past month, ETA Neelam Vohra had her first after school English club meetings. The first meeting was that of getting to know you games, many of which Neelam had learned while teaching at a summer camp in the US. Whether it be rapidly tossing balls back and forth to learn each other’s name, playing.. Read More.
Eager and Excited
On Sunday, September 23rd, ETA Riley Heist, her counter-part Mr. Rais, and a variety of volunteers (some teachers at SMA 10 and some students in the English department at a local university) made the 40-minute drive to Sanga-Sanga to execute a lesson plan that Riley and Mr. Rais created the week before. When the group.. Read More.
Beneficial Language Barriers?
ETA Gordon “Peter” Bensen was invited by three fellow teachers at MAN 1 Kota Payakumbuh to watch their team play in a football friendly. In reality, “watching” the game, turned into Peter starting the game as the right wing, proceeding to rip through the far too small pair of cleats a teammate let him borrow,.. Read More.
Cha-Cha-ing
To motivate the students to practice their language skills in a relaxed environment, the Language Program at MAN Model 1 Manado organized an outdoor class in the neighboring city of Tomohon. ETA Caroline Kim led 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in a spirited dance class to a perennial favorite, DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide.” She.. Read More.
A leader! What is a leader?
On September 10th, ETA Sophia Lopresti boarded a bus to Padang Pariaman. The student organization at her high school prepared a field trip for 53 students from grades 10 and 11 to visit INS Kayutanam, a well-known leadership program site. Over the next three days, the students participated in a variety of ice breaking, team.. Read More.
The “Surprise” Birthday Party
On Saturday afternoon of the last weekend of September ETA Anna Misenti headed out on a mysterious outing with a handful of her 11th grade students. Following class the previous week her students had excitedly invited her to jalan jalan (stroll) around Padangsidimpuan, but had offered no further details. At 3 pm sharp that Saturday.. Read More.
A Universal Passion for Music
In September, ETA Catherine Krol has been busy with many English activities such as starting an ETA English Corner, beginning weekly English lessons for teachers and taking a prominent role in English club. Catherine has also been comfortably slipping in opportunities to bring music into lessons, from watching music videos to playing favorite American pop.. Read More.
To the Future
On Thursday September 20th, 2018, ETA Ryan Ulrich was asked to attend an event at elementary school Masjid Jamiyatul Muttaqin Kramat Duduksampeyan Gresik (MJMKD). The event was held in celebration of the Islamic New Year. Although held one week after the actual New Year, enthusiasm was high. Many of the students of MJMKD have parents.. Read More.
Welcoming Home Hajjis
This month, ETA Anna Ringheiser was invited to attend a welcoming back ceremony for community members who have just returned from Hajj. Anna got to help prepare some of the food for the hundreds of guests, meet a few Indonesian women who work for a tour company in Saudi Arabia, and got to meet (and.. Read More.
