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 experiences. The seventeen storybooks the participants produce will be printed by AMINEF and gifted to the students and their respective schools, enriching English language resources for future learners.
WORDS is a national English language competition that brings together one student from each ETA host school. It follows a storytelling and storybook format, with entries centered on a specific theme—in 2026, the theme was “My community.” Participants were asked to share their thoughts and interpretations of what the theme of “my Community” meant to them through their stories.
Before competing at the national level, each participant entered and won their local school competition, an event organized by their ETA in collaboration with local English teachers. ETAs spent months attending info sessions, recruiting students, hosting brainstorming sessions and workshops, assisting with story development, and providing feedback on performance. Despite the challenges, both ETAs and students found the local WORDS competitions to be memorable and rewarding experiences. (Check out the February edition of the Fulbright ETA Monthly Highlights for reflections on some of these local competitions!)
At the national competition, every student represented their school with pride. The storybooks were beautifully illustrated, and the performances on stage were as diverse as they were captivating. Friends, family members, and teachers from across Indonesia tuned in via @america’s live-streaming platform to support the participants from afar. This year, AMINEF also welcomed a special guest audience from Universitas Negeri Jakarta and Universitas Dian Nusantara.
The judging panel included:
- Douglas Ramage, consultant, Fulbright US Student Research Program alumnus, and AMINEF board member
- Azalia Muchransyah, filmmaker, writer, scholar, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program, and DIKTI-funded Fulbright Grants for Indonesian Lecturers – PhD alumna
- Ahmad Fuadi, writer, novelist, social entrepreneur, and Fulbright Master’s Degree Scholarship Program alumnus
- Anna Grundstrom, writer, performing artist and Fulbright US Student Research Program alumna
Three students received special recognition for their outstanding performances:
- First Place: Florencia Kirana Wilman from SMKN 6 Padang
- Second Place: Putri Permata Sari from SMKN 9 Padang
- Third Place: Clarintha Glory Amungin SMK Raden Umar Said Kudus
Florencia, the first-place winner, shared: “To me, WORDS represents the power of language to give voice to important stories and turn pain into understanding. Through my story inspired by the Galodo disaster in Padang, I wanted to show the strength and unity of a community facing tragedy. The theme “My Community” reminds me that true strength comes from resilience, empathy, and togetherness, and I am deeply grateful to AMINEF and Fulbright Program for this inspiring opportunity.” Her sentiment was echoed by many participants, who agreed the event was overwhelmingly positive.
During an additional day in Jakarta, students and ETAs immersed themselves in cultural activities, visiting the Indonesian UNESCO Office, MONAS, and the National Museum of Indonesia, followed by a Welcome Dinner formal. ETAs also organized additional programming during free time. Though many students wished the program lasted longer, everyone left with new memories, friendships, and a deep appreciation for the experience.
