Home > IALF Newsletter > April 2009

IALF presents ...at the Cambodia TESOL conference, Phnom Penh

The IALF was well represented among the 1,200 delegates at the 5th annual CamTESOL conference – The Globalisation of ELT:  Emerging Directions. The conference was organized by IDP Education, Cambodia, and was held at the National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh.

The opening plenary by Professor Jun Liu, University of Arizona, looked at the complexities and challenges in training non-native English speaking teachers and the role cultural context plays in the choice of training model.

Sue Rodger, from IALF Bali, in her presentation Using Media in the Classroom took examples from her work on Kang Guru Indonesia – an AusAID-funded activity which produces a radio program, magazine, classroom materials and website for the learning of English. In her presentation she showed the various ways teachers can use magazines as a resource for language learning activities/

Christopher Stern, from IALF Bali, in his paper Creating Rapport and Motivation through Language Choice looked at the issue of effective language choice for teachers when living instructions, dealing with problem students and in test preparation. His presentation was based on principles in hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming as applied to the classroom.

Geoffrey Crewes, CEO of IALF, presented a workshop Staging Standards: a Pathway to Assuring Quality. This session looked at the issue of standards for language teaching in resource-poor contexts and led to a discussion about core standards in the most disadvantaged teaching and learning environments. Geoffrey also took part in the pre-conference Quality Assurance forum. This forum was led by Anne Newman, General Manager, NEAS Australia and served as an introduction to the Quality Assurance stream within the conference, one of two new streams introduced this year.

The sixth CamTESOL conference – One World: World Englishes – will be held in Phnom Penh 27 – 28 February 2010. Please visit www.camtesol.org for details of the conference series.

...at a seminar on Language Assessment, Salatiga

IALF was actively involved at the recent seminar on Assessment in Language Learning and Teaching, held by Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Central Java. The seminar was attended by over 200 language teachers and students from across Indonesia. The featured speaker was Professor Lyle Bachman from UCLA who presented on Justifying the Use of Language Assessments. Dr. Maura Phelan presented on alternative assessment in language teaching. Dr. Phelan is an English Language Fellow at Atma Jaya University, Jakarta, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section. Alex Gough and Tatum Syarifah from IALF Surabaya presented a two-part session on IELTS – IELTS Explained and IELTS Experienced. In the first part participants were provided with information regarding the development and structure of the test as well as its current uses for both study and immigration purposes. In the second part participants experienced the test through a short listening simulation exercise. A more comprehensive simulation (parts of listening, reading, and writing) was conducted on the second day. The participants – both teachers and students – found this very useful as it helped them to prepare themselves and their students for the test. Vladimir Pejovic from IALF Bali presented a paper, also on IELTS. His presentation on IELTS Writing Task 2: improving content by using reasoning mapping looked at how candidates for the test can improve their essay response by planning and organizing their writing using mapping software.

...on IELTS in Pontianak

Nigel Vickers from IALF Jakarta recently conducted an IELTS Explained session in Pontianak. The presentation was part of the SMART Education exhibition which promoted opportunities for study overseas, with a focus on Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Over 300 people attended the exhibition and 90 were at the IELTS presentation.

The IALF conducts regular IELTS testing in Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Solo, Surabaya, Malang, Makassar and Bali as well as ‘on request’ testing in Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Jambi and Pontianak.

For details of the IALF’s IELTS activities please visit our website – www.ialf.edu For information about IELTS please visit www.ielts.org

Workshop for Scholarship Applicants - IALF Surabaya

IALF Surabaya held several Scholarship Application Support workshops earlier this year aimed at familiarizing applicants with the various scholarship opportunities available, as well as assisting them with application procedures. One workshop was held in Malang and two in Surabaya. Around ninety people attended the workshops, mostly lecturers from various institutions, including State University of Malang, Brawijaya University, Airlangga University, College of Economics (STIESIA), University Pondok Darul Ulum, Jombang, and Institute of Technology Surabaya (ITS).

David Spiller, currently working for the University of Adelaide, shared his expertise on how to find out about scholarship opportunities and the components of the application process. He provided some strategies and tips on how to approach the application process. Tatum Syarifah and Philip Rees from IALF Surabaya outlined basic strategies in completing application forms, writing personal statements and interview skills.

As proof of English language proficiency is often a requirement in the application process, Alex Gough, IELTS Administrator for East Java, explained various aspects of the IELTS test and shared some basic test-taking strategies as well as providing a simulation of the IELTS Listening test.

The workshop also talked about the experiences candidates can expect after being awarded a scholarship. Irena Yolanita Maureen, a lecturer from the State University of Surabaya, shared her experience of being awarded a StuNed scholarship in The Netherlands and an Indonesian Ministry of Education Scholarship to Australia. Tatum Syarifah talked about her academic and social experiences on an Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

In addition, this workshop introduced the Scholarship Pathway Program at IALF Surabaya which has been designed to help participants increase their chances of being awarded a scholarship. The Scholarship Pathway Program is a program of intensive English language courses that aim to develop participants’ English language skills to the levels required by scholarship bodies and overseas universities, and includes test preparation as part of the program. The program is used by New Zealand Development Scholarship Awards and ADS as well as by individual participants wishing to fulfil scholarship requirements.

Additional Scholarship Application Support workshops are planned for later this year at IALF to support lecturers and students in their search for educational opportunities overseas. Please visit the IALF website – www.ialf.edu - for details.

Presentation on Economic Development for scholarship students

Dr Pataporn Sukontamarn from the University of Adelaide recently gave a presentation to Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) students on Institutions and Economic Development. Her presentation looked at the type of institutions established under colonial rule and how this relates to both mortality rates in the past and the current per capita income in ex-colonies. Examples were taken primarily from British and French colonies in West Africa, North America and Australia/New Zealand. Dr Sukontamarn showed that there was a link between mortality rates, the development of institutions and per capita income.

In the discussion that followed the students asked questions on a wide range of topics, including the Dutch/Indonesian situation, the rise of Japan as well as the links between political systems and economic growth. Although many of the students were not from an Economics background Dr Sukontamarn was able to explain the  issues and generate a lively discussion on development issues that, to some  degree, are relevant to all ADS students.

Dr Sukontamarn’s main research interests are in development economies, especially Bangladesh and Indonesia. She has published widely on the role of non-governmental organisations in the provision of non-formal education and micro-credit in Bangladesh, and their impact on women’s empowerment.

Improving English skills for airport personnel

BRIDGE – linking Indonesian and Australian schools

The IALF is an in-country partner of the BRIDGE (Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement) project. This three-year project will involve 90 Australian and 90 Indonesian educators from 40 Australian and 40 Indonesian schools. The project is funded by AusAID and The Myer Foundation through the Australia Indonesia Institute and is managed by the Asia Education Foundation (AEF).

The goals of the project are to increase Indonesian teachers’ and students’ knowledge and understanding of contemporary Australia; increase Australian teachers’ and students’ knowledge and understanding of Indonesia, particularly the role of religion in contemporary Indonesian society; to support foreign language acquisition in Indonesian and Australian schools; and to support ten Indonesian schools in the AusAID-funded Basic Education Program to acquire internet technologies and undertake basic training related to their usage

One of the activities is a three-week professional learning program in Australia for Indonesian teachers – there will be three programs over three years. The first group of 30 teachers left for Australia in early March after undertaking a pre-departure training program at IALF Bali. This training focused on English language skills, cross-cultural communication and computer skills. The training was coordinated by Kevin Dalton from the AusAID-funded Kang Guru activity. Kevin accompanied the group to Australia and spent the first week with them in Melbourne assisting with on-arrival orientation

Indonesia Australia Language Foundation

IALF Language Centres in Indonesia: