March 2024 Edition
Welcome to the March edition of the Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights. During March, as Indonesian students enter the midterm or school exam month and Ramadan, many ETAs found exciting ways to engage students and communities around them, from wrapping up their Community Engagement Projects and final English lesson this month before the testing and Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) weeks to joining cultural events and the local tradition of Ramadan. Read on to know more through the links below.
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March was ETA Harrison Crawford’s sixth month at the site, making it the last month before he departs for America. As part of his preparations for leaving the site, Harrison is also wrapping up his two ongoing Community Engagement Projects: separate, independent English Clubs for SMK Negeri 3 Manado students and teachers. These projects aim.. Read More.
ETA Lily has been excited about March to April since the beginning of her grant, as she was looking forward to learning more about what the month of Ramadan seems like in a predominantly Muslim country and community. For quite a while, fellow teachers and students alike have been telling Lily about the vibrant and.. Read More.
Celebrating Jogja: A Day of Festivities at SMKN 1 Cangkringan
March 13, 2024, marked the 269th anniversary of The Special Region of Yogyakarta, commonly called “Jogja.” ETA Parker Raybourne’s placement at SMKN 1 Cangkringan in North Jogja gave Parker an active role in the day’s festivities. Parker’s school kicked off the celebrations with a Kirab or parade through the surrounding villages. Students worked in their.. Read More.
Reflecting on Eight Months of Learning
In the final week before the Eid Al Fitr break, Grade 10 and 11 students, alongside ETA Molly Gleason, wrapped up grammar lessons. Amidst this, Molly and her students wrote heartfelt notes to each other, expressing gratitude and reflecting on their progress over the past eight months. These notes highlighted their appreciation and significant improvement.. Read More.
The Charm of Indonesian Dance and Poetry: A Podcast by SMAN 3 Banjarbaru English Club
The English club set out to do a new, adventurous project – to create their podcast to appreciate Indonesian culture, heritage, and arts. This is the first time a podcast has been made in SMAN 3 Banjarbaru, so the students collaborated as a team to achieve this. The students involved were hosts Nabilla and Rafiqi;.. Read More.
In March, ETA Natalie Suh held a workshop for SMK English Teachers across Banjarmasin. The one-hour workshop was focused on activities and resources teachers could use to make English learning in the classroom more fun and engaging for their students. Thirty-six teachers from different SMK (vocational) schools participated in the workshop. The teachers came in.. Read More.
Shorter school days, Taraweeh at Masjid, ngabuburit (hanging out), and a long, consistent schedule of bukber (break of fast together) fill up the month of Ramadan. It seems like ETA Owais Mahmood is straight at home, able to enjoy and immerse himself with friends, students, and all. On March 20, Owais bukber with the school,.. Read More.
Of the many community engagement initiatives ETA Luke Losie has done, few have been as enjoyable as the dormitory English course at SMAS Nurul Ilmi in Padangsidimpuan, North Sumatra. Every Thursday and Saturday, throughout February and March, Luke and his counterpart Ibu Ade have led extra English classes for the asrama (dormitory) students for an.. Read More.
Throughout the last month, ETA Allison Gross has had the privilege of attending several evening prayers and breakfasts at her school, SMAN 1 Sedayu. During Ramadan, class times have been shortened to just 30 minutes each, allowing for a more relaxed pace. Allison cherished this time, using it to play fun board and card games.. Read More.
Mental health is a pressing concern, especially among adolescents who frequently experience high levels of stress and anxiety. However, discussing mental health is often met with stigma. Recognizing this challenge, ETA Katrien Weemaes aimed to raise awareness and cultivate a supportive community for mental wellness at SMAN 1 Matauli Pandan by creating the Mindful Minds.. Read More.
