April 2026 Edition
Welcome to the April edition of the Fulbright ETA monthly highlights. April was a busy month for the ETA program. The ETAs and their students attended the annual WORDS competition in Jakarta, and the ETAs also attended the second annual US Fulbrighters Conference. April also marked the last full month of the ETAs’ time at their sites. ETAs spent April finishing their community engagement projects, preparing their final lessons, and spending some last precious moments with their community.
This month, AMINEF is excited to share two feature articles highlighting the work ETAs have completed. The first is about our annual WORDS competition – a huge success – and the second highlights how ETAs celebrated the 250th anniversary since the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.
We wish the ETAs luck during this next chapter!
AMINEF American Program and Communications Teams
We welcome your thoughts and reflections.
Share which stories stood out, what teaching approaches sparked ideas, or which activities you’d like to explore further. Feel free to write to us at communications@aminef.or.id. Selected feedback will be featured in the next edition—and you may even receive a small token of appreciation from us.
WORDS Storytelling and Storybook Competition 2026
From April 8-11, 2026, seventeen high school students and their Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) gathered in Jakarta for the National WORDS Storytelling and Storybook Competition. Held at @america, the competition and its accompanying activities have long been highlights of the program, offering students and ETAs the opportunity to bond over shared interests and unique.. Read More.
Celebrating America250: Fulbright ETAs Engage Schools and Communities Across Indonesia
On July 4, 2026, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For 80 of those 250 years, the Fulbright Program has worked to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. The Fulbright ETA program in Indonesia continues to.. Read More.
Teaching, Learning, and Growing in Kudus
With the grant period coming to a close, it’s a bittersweet feeling for ETA Alice Rodi as she looks back on her year of teaching. From volunteering at a local elementary English school with her sitemate, Iyesha, and giving a university lecture in early April, to presenting endless topics (and playing countless games) in her.. Read More.
On April 2, 2026, English Teaching Assistant Jason Yan joined the SMK Krian 2 Sidoarjo school community in celebrating America250, a milestone marking 250 years of American history and culture. To make the occasion engaging and memorable, Jason collaborated with the school’s English Club to organize a lively photobooth activity. Students eagerly participated, gathering with.. Read More.
In April, ETA Jackson Harris collaborated with SMKN 1 Kokap English Club students to visit English classes at SMPN 1 Kokap and SMPN 2 Kokap, expanding English learning beyond the vocational school setting. Although originally developed as a community engagement initiative, the visits focused on interactive, classroom-based learning designed to build confidence among younger students… Read More.
ETA Navara Syed, along with her sitemate Aurelia Tan, were invited to the American Corner in Andalas University to guest star on their podcast! The goal of the podcast is to promote cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding between Andalas University students and the various guests of the American Corner. Navara was invited to record two.. Read More.
Grappling with English Grammar
When it comes to opportunities to make grammar lessons fun, comparisons are as good as it gets. At SMAN 3 Kota Jambi, ETA Payton Storey and co-teacher Bapak Nofriyen made the most of the class with many lively activities, including “whos shoes are bigger?” and “wow, you’re old.” But the most exciting activity of all.. Read More.
Bringing American Comfort Food to SMKN 9 Padang through Cooking Workshops
A cohort of twenty three 11th-graders at SMK Negeri 9 Padang had a chance to step into their classroom not as students, but as teachers, during the first week of classes after the Ramadan break. These students represented the English Event Committee ETA Aurelia Tan started at SMKN 9 for her Community Engagement Project. For.. Read More.
During the week of April 20-24, Fulbright ETA Andre Edmond facilitated performances in his classroom sessions on storytelling in dramas at SMAN 1 Praya. For 3 weeks, the students had been preparing to create a short performance based on an Indonesian legend or myth of their choosing in small groups of 4-6. The students chose.. Read More.
From April 8 to April 10th, 2026, ETA Brianna Adu-Kyei accompanied her 10th grader Shafiyyah Ashimah Az-Zahra to the nation’s capital, Jakarta. The reason? Fiya, as SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Taman’s finalist, was on the way to compete with 16 other students from around the country in the National WORDS Storytelling competition. Starting from it being.. Read More.
