September 2023 Edition

Welcome to the first edition of the Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights from the 2023-24 cohort! This marks an extraordinary moment in the history of the Indonesian ETA program as it returns after a three-year hiatus since the global Covid-19 pandemic. Eleven new English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) from the United States arrived in Indonesia on August 20, 2023, marking the commencement of their transformative journey.

Following their arrival and a brief acclimatization in Jakarta, which included meetings with the AMINEF team and an esteemed luncheon with the United States Ambassador, these ETAs embarked on a venture to Yogyakarta. They started an intensive two-week orientation program there, immersing themselves in language acquisition, teaching methodologies, and exploring Indonesian culture.

Upon the successful completion of the rigorous orientation, the ETAs and their counterparts began the next phase of their journey, departing for their respective teaching sites on September 8, 2023. This year, our ETAs teach in public (SMA) and vocational (SMK) high schools across North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Central Java, Yogyakarta, South Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi. Already, they have been making an impact and have some captivating stories to share about their engagement!

The Fulbright ETA Program, a distinguished initiative funded by the US Department of State and carried out in numerous countries worldwide, positions recent college graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas. This program serves a dual purpose of enhancing the English language proficiency and knowledge of the United States for international students while also elevating language skills and deepening the understanding of the host countries amongst the US participants. In Indonesia, the Fulbright ETAs are placed in high schools, where they assist local English teachers. This enduring program, spanning 18 years, has left an incredible mark on countless Indonesian students and their communities across the sprawling archipelago.

Founded as a binational Fulbright Commission in 1992, AMINEF (American Indonesian Exchange Foundation) oversees the Fulbright Program and other US State Department exchange initiatives in Indonesia. AMINEF collaborates closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to select the schools that welcome ETAs.

The Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights is a unique platform for our ETAs to reflect upon and share memorable experiences throughout their grant tenure.

In this inaugural September edition, the ETAs will detail their first month at their respective sites in Indonesia. Join us in reading their stories about first impressions, classroom activities, and extracurricular engagements as they navigate their Fulbright experience and leave an enduring legacy of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

AMINEF American Program and Communications Teams

We would love to receive your feedback.

Please share your favorite stories with us, including those that you found interesting, your preferred teaching methods, or activities you’d like to learn more about. You can email us at communications@aminef.or.id. We’ll feature your feedback in our upcoming highlights, and you might even have a chance to win a special thank-you gift from us.