On February 15-16, the West Sumatra ETAs executed an English Camp. The West Sumatra ETAs include Ammarah Rehman, Danny Knoll, Jillian Castoro and Nicholas Navin. The ETAs took 70 of their students on an adventure-oriented English-learning excursion. The group went camping at Harau Valley, which is known as the Yosemite of Indonesia.
After setting up tents, the group engaged in a series of immersive learning experiences. First, there was an Opening Ceremony where the ETAs performed a skit about English learning and then taught the students regional American slang. To promote inter-school mingling, the 70 students were often split into different groups to do activities.
Next, there was a hike and selfie scavenger hunt to a beautiful waterfall. It started pouring rain, but the students and ETAs kept the energy up and had a dance party in the rain.
After, there were English Competitions that included having to put sentences in the correct order and an obstacle course where students had to instruct only in English a blindfolded teammate around the obstacles, After dinner, the ETAs taught the students camp songs and then had a big bonfire with marshmallows.
The next morning, there were four “Rotating Classrooms” where each ETA led a 15-minute session focused on something they felt passionate and knowledgeable about. Lastly, there was the closing ceremony, student performances and another swim in the waterfall.
The students regularly use the regional slang and still remind the ETAs of how much fun they had. Overall, English Camp was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
English Camp Video
Jillian Castoro is currently teaching at SMAN 2 Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.
