Kang Guru Indonesia (KGI) – a multi-media resource for teaching and learning English – celebrated its 20th anniversary recently. KGI is funded by the Australian government through AusAID and began in 1989 as a radio program, broadcast across Indonesia, which provided a resource for those interested  in improving their English language skills. It developed over the years to include more media – a regular magazine, a website, classroom materials for teachers – and widened its focus to include information about issues involving Indonesia and Australia as well as details of the aid program under the Australia Indonesia Partnership.

In November the Australian Consul-General in Bali, Mr. Lex Bartlem hosted  a reception at the Consulate in Bali for many of those involved in KGI – the people who produce the program as well as some of the teachers and students who participate in KGI activities. The Australian ambassador to Indonesia, H E Bill Farmer, spoke of KGI’s contribution
not only to English language teaching and learning but also to mutual understanding between Indonesia and Australia. To honour this contribution, the Ambassador and his wife, Elaine, sang a song about Kang Guru which they had written especially for the occasion.

Ibu Era from the AusAID and Myer Foundation BRIDGE program also spoke of the importance of KGI in promoting knowledge and understanding between Indonesia and Australia. Walter Slamer, who worked on KGI when it first began in 1989, came from Australia for the event and spoke of the humble beginnings of the program and the impressive range of activities that have developed over time – these now include an interactive website and podcasts.

IALF Bali, which manages KGI, also hosted a Celebration Event on Saturday 21 November, to thank the many people who have contributed to KGI’s success. This was an informal afternoon of fun and games, as well as good food.An Indonesian group played didgeridoos and drums and Adi and Ayu from IALF Bali organised games and quizzes, with prizes including Macquarie Dictionaries, mobile phones and iPods.

To close the celebrations, Kevin Dalton, Manager of KGI, thanked the KGI team for all their hard work over the years, thanked the Ambassador and the Australian Embassy for their support and, most of all, extended his appreciation to all the Indonesian users of KGI who continue to respond so positively to the activities and opportunities provided by KGI.

KGI will continue in its current form until June 2010. Information about KGI, including a history of its activities and achievements, can be found on www.kangguru.org

IALF Bali gains NEAS Accreditation

IALF Bali is the second IALF Language Centre to be accredited by NEAS – the National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme of Australia. IALF is the first organisation outside Australia to be accredited under NEAS International.

On 22 October this year Anne Newman, National Manager, NEAS Australia, presented a Certificate of Accreditation to Geoffrey Crewes, CEO, IALF at the NEAS office in Sydney. There was a short speech by Suzannah Clerc who conducted the on-site accreditation visit to IALF Bali. Ms. Clerc praised the high standards of IALF Bali and the high standards attained under the management of Denise Finney.

NEAS accreditation requires centres to meet standards of compliance in areas such as management and administration, premises, staff, student services, programs, student assessment, educational resources and promotion. The accreditation process includes a desk audit of documentation as well as a site visit by NEAS.

Training for English teachers in schools

IALF Jakarta recently ran a two-day teacher development workshop for English teachers from the IPEKA Christian schools in Jakarta. The workshops were led by two teacher trainers- Simone Samuels (IALF Jakarta) and Ayu Kusumastuti (IALF Bali) - with the first day of the workshops focusing on teaching English to teenagers and the second day on teaching English to young learners.

Training Subject Teachers in English

IALF Surabaya has been involved in language proficiency assessment and language training for Indonesian teachers at Sekolah Ciputra, an international primary and secondary school in Surabaya and the only organisation in East Java to apply the three International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum frameworks.

Thirty-eight of its teachers are now enrolled on specialised English courses with IALF Surabaya. Most classes are held on Sekolah Ciputra premises, although buses are provided for teachers to attend guided self-access classes and extra-curricula activities at IALF. Participants have responded well to the programs and teachers are using ICT tools such as Wikis to encourage students to maximize their use of English outside the class.

‘The Ciputra  groups have been introduced to a Wiki Workspace where they can post their tasks, ask about and/or respond to grammar related issues, and the space for Free Writing gives them the chance to share their thoughts about anything at all, and leave comments on their friends’ postings. Students have found the workspace stimulating and inspiring because besides being able to share or post their opinions/work, they can also learn from their friends’ mistakes and the teachers’ comments. Apart from that, writing on the Wiki has made the students gain more confidence in using English outside the classroom.’ - Ruth Widiastuti – IALF instructor.

Jane Shearwood, Dean Pratley and Ruth Widiastuti, IALF teachers assigned to this program, are very impressed with the motivation and enthusiasm shown by their students.

Indonesia Australia Language Foundation

IALF Language Centres in Indonesia: