December 2023 Edition
Welcome to this year’s last edition of the Fulbright AMINEF Monthly Highlights. ETAs and their co-teachers participated in the annual Fulbright ETA Program Midyear Enrichment Conference in the second week of December. ETAs took part in preparing and leading some sessions to share some of their experience with their fellow ETAs. After the conference, as schools conducted annual exams and were let out for the end-of-year break, the ETAs found clever ways to continue to engage with their students and communities this month. Many ETAs feel rested and ready to take on the second half of this grant in 2024!
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Fulbright ETA 2023 Mid-Year Enrichment Conference
Eleven English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) and their co-teachers (Indonesian English teachers they work with at their school) participated in the annual Fulbright ETA Program Mid-Year Enrichment Conference in Jakarta from December 11 – 14, 2023. The conference marks the halfway point of the grant. It allows ETAs and co-teachers to share their experience, learn some.. Read More.
The Language of Livestock: A Hands-on Approach to English
Students at SMKN 1 Cangkringan took to the farm this month to gain valuable hands-on experience while integrating English into their agricultural curriculum. SMKN 1 Cangkringan is a vocational school. This means students opt to study one vocational skill area during high school. Given its vocational status, the school is equipped with a working farm.. Read More.
Ending the year with a WORDS Story
Exam season has finally ended, and students are now getting ready to display their creativity with storybook writing. On December 18, 2023, ETA Owais Mahmood hosted a Storybook writing workshop for the upcoming WORDS competition in January at SMAN 4 Jambi. This workshop gave participants the foundation for writing and crafting a story on this.. Read More.
Study Abroad Dreams and TechGirl Triumphs
In December, ETA Lillian Rhinehart at SMAN 4 Banjarbaru collaborated with the community on two impactful Community Engagement Projects. The first involved hosting a Study Abroad Fair with fellow scholarship and study abroad recipients, including Fulbright Alumni. Together, they hosted a day that included an inspirational Talkshow and workshops about Resume Building, Personal Essays, and.. Read More.
Different Classes, Different Learning Styles
During the 10th-grade students’ testing period, ETA Tineer Ahmed visited different 11th and 12th-grade classes to interact with students she does not teach. In class XI-2 with Ibu Mahrita, the students performed skits related to fairy tales. The 11th grade students spent weeks preparing their original script, props, and characters. All group members had to.. Read More.
Time Spent Outside The Classroom
December marked the end of the semester for ETA Natalie Suh. With testing starting at the beginning of the month, more time was spent outside the classroom and in the broader Banjarmasin community. She was lucky enough to be connected with a YSLEALI alumni who has started an environmental NGO called Borneo Urban Lab. She.. Read More.
This past Sunday, around 6:15 AM, ETA Allison Gross was awakened by the sound of a pounding, high-energy boom box behind her house. After brushing her teeth, she ran outside and rounded the corner to find a delightful, hilarious surprise. As far as the eye could see and, in every direction, ibu-ibu(Indonesian for Mother, Mrs.,.. Read More.
Exploring and Preserving Our Home
Nestled between lush mountains and serene oceans, the North Sumatran town of Pandan showcases an incomparable landscape. At SMAN 1 Matauli Pandan, several students actively participate in the school’s Nature Lovers club to explore and appreciate the local environment further. The club provides numerous opportunities for students to discover the area’s beauty through hikes and.. Read More.
This month, while most students at SMKN 3 Manado were focused on studying for final exams and practicals, ETA Harrison Crawford was busy preparing his own project. In preparation for AMINEF’s upcoming WORDS competition, Harrison began hosting story workshop sessions for students interested in entering. Out of the 53 student signups, only 20 will make.. Read More.
From the last week of November through the first weeks of December, the students of Nurul Ilmi in Padangsidimpuan were hard at work preparing for various upcoming competitions. Not only were they preparing for AMINEF’s upcoming WORDS competition, but there was also an upcoming local competition where students could choose to participate in speech, storytelling.. Read More.
