My Last Day of School

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Today was our last day of school at SMAN 1 Mandastana. Nazar invited all the English instructors from the surrounding communities to school, so Bob and I could present the work we do in the U.S., and share insights about the education system in America. We also hoped to find ways to continue the connections we were making when we return to the U.S. using social media, Skype, or Shared Studios.

Group picture with the English instructors.

That's me sharing a laugh with my new colleagues about the way education in Indonesia is similar to the United States. It turns out we have a great deal in common. People are the same everywhere, and that goes for teenagers, too.

In South Kalimantan, the use of technology does not play an essential role in the curriculum as it does in the U.S. The teachers are hard working and eager to learn. I am learning much from them, and hope to reflect on this experience and bring more to my classroom in the fall.

Bob shared a presentation using Padlet, and invited teachers to engage in an activity. He is hoping that we can have our students communicate with their students through this outlet. The time difference is a major factor, though. For example, it is 11 a.m. here and 11 p.m. in the U.S.

I shared my work with blogs, and using art (graphic novels, for example) to teach language. My units on Beowulf and Shakespeare are similar to their language instruction in that students are grappling with a language they do not understand. Many found the graphic novel concept intriguing. Also, teachers here bring a stack of journals home, and I shared my use of the blog to eliminate the need to bring paper around with you all the time. It also helps students engage with one another while you are grappling with material.

When I return to the U.S., I am hoping to connect with Nazar and Rasyidah using Skype. I can speak to their classes at 9 or 10 p.m., my time, which will coincide with their morning classes. I will need to be more creative to connect to students using the Portal, but I plan to speak to the people form Shared Studios about getting a grant so Nazar's community could have a site. He would make a great curator.

The entire staff posed for a picture with us. I am so sad that we only had four days together. I felt so close to everyone, and we were having so much fun. More time would only have made the bond stronger and gave us more of an opportunity to collaborate. An impressive group of educators.

That's me, Bob, Nazar and the school's principal. Bob and I fit right in with our Sasirangans, traditional batiks for the South Kalimantan region. I got one for Aidan, too.

Every day students have different uniforms to wear. Many students join scouts, much like or boy and girl scouts clubs, but students engage during the school day as opposed to after school. One major difference from American education is that sports are not really a school thing, here.

This young man is a senior. He asked impressive questions in class, and speaks English quite well. Nazar and Rasydiah do an amazing job, here.

It was a moving day. The faculty presented us with gifts, and we took photos together. We also had lunch with the English teachers at a local restaurant and talked about teaching.

The most amazing moment occurred at the end of the day. There was a announcement that it would be our last day, and all 400 students walked in a procession, much like graduation day, and each student took our hands, said thank you, and placed our hands to his or her forehead. It is a sign of respect that students honored us with all week, and their teachers. To have all the students give us this honor was overwhelming. It did not appear to be a forced exercise. Every kid genuinely said thank you.