In October, SMAN 3 Banjarbaru’s after-school English clubs have been busy and excited since the arrival of their new English Teaching Assistant (ETA), Morgan McCarthy.

This month’s English Club lessons included learning how to make origami paper cranes. During the lesson, students learned about the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl from Hiroshima. Sadako is remembered for folding more than 1,000 origami paper cranes before she died, as Japanese folklore says folding 1,000 cranes grants a wish. Her memory is enshrined at the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan, where children from around the world send origami cranes in her honor as symbols of world peace.

As part of the activity, English Club students wrote their wishes inside the paper cranes they folded. The project will be expanded to include other students at the school who wish to participate. Once completed, the students will string the cranes together and mail them to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima as a symbol of peace and friendship from SMAN 3 Banjarbaru.

In addition to the school’s English Club, the school also has an English Debate Club, which recently welcomed Ms. Aurel Vernisha, a new debate coach from Lambung Mangkurat University. Students are excited to have their ETA lead the English Club and support their new coach with debate activities.

The Debate Club has welcomed several new students who will be preparing for the upcoming year. In September 2026, the SMAGA Debate Team won first place at the South Kalimantan provincial English Debate Competition. These new students have some big shoes to fill, but they are very bright and eager to take on the challenge.

During their second meeting, each student selected a debate topic to research and develop over the next few weeks. Two students, Filza and Aira, chose to explore school start times, examining both sides of the argument to build their critical thinking and debating skills. Another student, Aqila, explored public infrastructure development in her community.

Through these activities, students improve their English language skills, build confidence speaking in daily life, strengthen their critical thinking, and deepen their understanding of issues affecting their communities and our increasingly interconnected world.

Morgan McCarthy is currently teaching at SMAN 3 Banjarbaru, Kalimantan Selatan.