This year marks the 15th cohort of Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Indonesia. The 2018-19 cohort is made up of 22 individuals from around the United States. This year, the ETAs will be teaching across Indonesia in the following cities: Padangsidempuan, Payakumbuh, Bukittinggi, Padang, Pangkalpinang, Temanggung, Demak, Semarang, Gresik, Malang, Samarinda, Sangatta Utara, Labuan Bajo and Manado.

During the summer months before the grant began, the ETAs received training and certification in the form of an online 120-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. In addition to this training, ETAs took part in a two-week virtual pre-departure orientation to receive information and tips regarding preparation for the grant, life in Indonesia, and their role as teaching assistants. It wasn’t until their arrival in country that all twenty-two ETAs had the chance to meet in person.

From July 30 to August 15, ETAs were based at Pusat Pengembangan Strategi dan Diplomasi Kebahasaan (PPSDK) of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs in Sentul, West Java for the 2018 Fulbright ETA Orientation hosted by the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF). The purpose of orientation is to equip ETAs with the tools and skills needed to navigate the 10-month grant period. For the final five days of orientation, ETAs were joined by one of their co-teachers. The ETAs and co-teachers spent time together during orientation building their professional teaching and personal relationships. Orientation sessions covered a range of topics including: teaching in Indonesia, allyhood, history of Indonesia, co-teaching models, mental health, and more. ETAs were able to hear from a variety of speakers including the Deputy Chief of the US Mission to Indonesia Heather Variava; representatives from the Indonesian government; AMINEF Board member Douglas Ramage; Peace Corps Volunteers Ellie Spresser and Karyn Louis-Pierre; former English Language Fellows Fabio Coelho and Spenser Lemaich; and many more.

The August Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights reflect ETAs arriving back at their sites after spending two and a half weeks at orientation. In the following pages you will read about ETAs engaging with their schools and community members. Have a look!

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All articles from August 2018 edition
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