A Message from Lucien Cooper, Pangkalan Bun
Posted by Nyoman Riasa (nriasa) on Nov 18 2009
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Lucien Cooper’s note from SMAN 2 Pangkalan Bun

[Lucien Cooper is an ESL volunteer from Australia who is currently helping the English teachers at SMAN 2 Pangkalan teach English. He arrived in Pangkalan Bun on 22 October after spending one week with ULearn International Foundation in Denpasar learning both methodological and cultural aspects of ESL in Indonesia in general and Pangkalan in particular. The following is Lucien’s accounts on his first three weeks with the school].

My first month in Indonesia has been an incredible one. Following my four day orientation at the ULearn HQ in Denpasar and my over night in Jakarta, I found myself walking off the plane and across the tarmac in Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan. My first impression was the incredible heat! As I waited for my luggage my host father came into the one room airport and introduce himself to me. The school's principal was flying out to Jakarta on the same plane I'd just flown in on, so I wouldn't meet him for a few days.

My host parents have two children. A daughter who is in class 12 at SMAN2, and a son who is 21. I have been allowed to sleep in the son's room. Both of the children have decent English, although neither of the parents have any.

The food here took a bit of getting used to, but my host mother is an excellent cook, so it is usually very tasty.

Coming from Australia, I found the school here shockingly poor. However, the enthusiasm of the students was heart-warming and inspiring. It definitely brought to light the way that students in Australia take what they have for granted. I was impressed by the level the students are studying at in subjects like mathematics. They're definitely ahead of most students in America.

The students are all very excited when I attend their classes, and when I speak they listen very quietly and attentively. I have found most of the teachers to be very friendly, and they often try to converse with me in Indonesian, which is getting easier and easier as time goes on.

The school has a full class schedule for me, along with frequent classes outside of school hours to help teach English to the bilingual teachers. However, for the last two and a half weeks the principal has opted that I spend all my time at school working with the year 10 debate team which will compete soon.

The city is very small, only 27,000 people, but I've been fortunate enough to have been to a couple of very big events here. I attended a soccer final at which there were probably a thousand people which was very exciting! I also went to a large concert at which there were probably three thousand people!

The people i have met here have been very friendly, and my experience at the school has exposed me to people who have a real desire to learn English, and who are eager to try and talk with me whether in class, or outside of it.

 

Last changed: Nov 18 2009 at 7:07 AM