October 2026 Edition
Welcome to the October–November edition of the Fulbright AMINEF ETA Monthly Highlights, where we celebrate our English Teaching Assistants’ remarkable efforts and achievements across Indonesia. This publication spotlights the impactful work ETAs are doing in their classrooms and communities. In October and November, the ETAs settled into their sites and new routines. This aligned with the changing of the seasons in the U.S. and the cross-cultural exchange of America’s autumnal traditions.
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.
Building Connections: The 2026 Fulbright ETA Arrival Briefing
Twenty-one Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) from the United States, including two returning for their second year, safely arrived in Indonesia on August 18th, 2026. This not only marks the beginning of a new chapter in their Fulbright grant but an important moment for AMINEF, reaffirming its commitment to cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding. This.. Read More.
Major ETA Milestone: 2026 Orientation Successfully Completed
From August 26 to September 13, twenty-one ETAs successfully joined an intensive orientation program at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW) in Salatiga, Central Java. These weeks were spent immersing the ETAs in Bahasa Indonesia training, teaching methodologies, tips for adapting to Indonesian culture, and (their favorite) briefings on program policies. ETA language classes were facilitated.. Read More.
Learning Letter Writing with International Pen Pals
The English Club at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Taman is going to have pen pals from New York, so Fulbright ETA Rebecca Barr held a meeting to prepare them by introducing students to letter writing, and they practiced writing their own letters to a peer in the English Club. This English Club meeting started off by.. Read More.
After 2 months of eager anticipation, students at SMK Raden Umar Said finally met ETA Evan Harris, who began teaching in the classroom on Monday, October 19. Complications due to natural disaster had required Evan to engage with his students online for the first weeks of his grant. Evan opened his first in-person classes with.. Read More.
ETA Nicholas Kloor delivered a keynote lecture at Ambon State Polytechnic as part of their inaugural International Seminar. This seminar was a part of the university’s 39th anniversary celebrations. The seminar was held in a hybrid format, with both on-site and Zoom participation, and drew 329 participants from Ambon State Polytechnic, plus 15 additional students.. Read More.
Celebrating the 28th Anniversary of Kabupaten Buru
In October, ETA Jackson Harris joined the community of Namlea in celebrating the 28th anniversary of Kabupaten Buru. The anniversary was marked by a series of celebrations throughout the region, including marching competitions, parades, traditional dances, music performances, and other cultural activities showcasing the diversity and traditions of Buru. Jackson had the opportunity to participate.. Read More.
How do you find a debater? At MAN 1 Pekanbaru, ETA Blake Stanley and his co-teacher, Ms. Sa’adah, decided to start with a test. As the first step in launching a new, experimental debate program at the school, Blake designed an English diagnostic test for a group of handpicked “students of interest.” The test had.. Read More.
Where English Meets Future Healthcare Professionals
In the classroom, ETA Hannah Limbong helped teach students at SMK Kesehatan Surabaya about procedural texts. In addition to listening and reading instructions, students had the opportunity to create their own procedural texts and bring them to life through role play. As nursing and pharmacy students, they also practiced real-world scenarios relevant to their fields.. Read More.
ETA Rameen Sajjad hosted an American Constitution Day workshop at SMK Krian 1, bringing together over 40 students and 12 teachers for an engaging cross-cultural exchange. To bridge the gap between American civic concepts and local experience, Rameen introduced key vocabulary and guided participants in comparing the U.S. and Indonesian constitutions. To illustrate the system.. Read More.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
On October 9, 2026, ETA Leyden Streed celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with the English Club at SMK Negeri 11, Semarang. As a diverse country, what it means to be “American” can look so many different ways. That diversity is something Leyden has especially enjoyed getting to highlight and engage students with. In the U.S., September.. Read More.
