Staff Profile – Komang Yudistira Adi Nugraha (Yudis)

Born and raised in Buleleng, Bali, Yudis always knew that teaching would be a big part of his life. Inspired by his father, a teacher himself, he set out to follow in his footsteps. After earning his degree in English Education from Ganesha University of Education in 2013, he began building a career that took him across Australia and beyond.

Between 2015 and 2020, Yudis participated in teacher visiting programs in Australia, working with schools and organizations such as the Diocese of Lismore (NSW), Westralian Indonesian Language Teacher Association (Western Australia), Brisbane Catholic Education (Queensland), and Huntingtower School in Melbourne, Victoria. He also taught Indonesian learners online through the Indonesian Consulate in Dubai and the Embassy of Indonesia in Washington, D.C. during the unprecedented COVID pandemic.

In 2022, he brought his expertise to New York City as an associate lecturer and a post-baccalaureate student under a Fulbright exchange grant at Columbia University, where he taught Indonesian and deepened his studies of linguistics and foreign languages.

His teaching background covers a wide range of areas, including General English, ESP, Business English, IELTS, and TOEFL ITP preparation. He has worked with diverse groups of learners, including Indonesian government officials. Along the way, he has published academic articles on Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) teaching methods, trained fellow teachers, and was selected as one of the top speakers at the Fulbright FLTA Mid-Year Conference.

When he is not busy teaching or preparing lessons, Yudis enjoys learning foreign languages and traveling. Although he is still at a A2 level in French, he approaches the challenge with a "C'est la vie" attitude and a determination to keep improving. He believes in Aristotle’s words: "educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all," a philosophy that guides his work each day. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue growing as a professional educator and teacher trainer, inspiring others to find joy and passion in learning.