A Surprise from Teachers

I have just got a big surprise from my liaison and Indonesian teachers this evening. It was so touching and lots of tears. Ceritanya minggu yang lalu Mbak Heidi (lisaionku) mengirimkan pesan singkat, “Please have Tuesday free”. We are both so busy recently. It’s hard to catch up even we live at the same town.

Ya sesuai perjanjian aku mengosongkan jadwalku pada hari selasa. Aku baru tahu kalau ternyata malam selasa ini ada graduation night di Benalla East Primary School, sekolahku bekerja. I thought I might go to graduation night so I texted Heidi what’s on Tuesday.  She said to come a quarter to four at Rambling Rose Café, a very nice café in Benalla.

Today was a big day for me. Setelah bercapai-capai membuat gingerbread di cooking class pagi ini bersama Asi dan menghabiskan siang hari bersama Michelle membuat rekaman bahan ajar dilanjutkan dengan polycom teaching, akhirnya bersama Asi aku meluncur ke Rambling Rose Café. Dengan sangat baik hati sekali Asi bersedia mengantarku because she needs to go to Post Office.

my family gingerbread 

Dengan membawa empat trays gingerbread, aku duduk di kursi depan café sambil menunggu Mbak Heidi yang tak kunjung datang. Asi bersedia menemaniku sesaat sampai akhirnya Natalie -salah satu guru yang sedang belajar bahasa Indonesia- datang bersama keluarganya. Kami pun berbincang-bincang sejenak di café itu.

Tak terasa 15 menit sudah aku menunggu Mbak Heidi. Tiba-tiba dari arah belakang datanglah Mbak Heidi dan Asi. Mereka menggiring aku ke outdoor tables di belakang café. 

Guess what happened?

Yappariiiiii! I was very speechless when I saw lots of people there. Mostly, they are the teachers from Benalla East Primary School-the school where I worked. Kejutannya bukan itu saja, tiba-tiba kepala sekolah BEPS (Rick Martin) datang ke café juga. It was such a memorable surprised. Sampai 20 menit aku duduk dan masih dalam keadaan terkejut, beberapa orang special datang bergiliran. Ada Pak Steve (guru yang sedang belajar bahasa Indonesia seperti Natalie serta keluarga) dan juga beberapa guru BEPS.

Yang paling membuat aku terkejut lagi, Philip (kepala sekolah tempat aku mengajar polycom teaching) dan Rosalie (guru di tempat tersebut) datang juga. Whoaaaa, terharu banget deh banyak orang yang dateng. Alhasil nangis bombaylah aku (seperti biasa). Udah bingung aja sewaktu diminta bikin speech, saking terharunya aku ngga bisa ngomong apa-apa. Yang ada malah bercucuran air mata. Gosh, they are so nice. It is hard to leave this lovely people and town. I love you Benalla!

Kartu ucapan dan kado

Surat dari Pak Steve, Sophie, Aria, dan Tania. Bagus banget bahasa Indonesianya ;)

I love you guys. I'll keep you in my memory. always. You are such my new family in Benalla.

Hope we'll meet again!

Sampai jumpa.

Indonesian Language Assistant Experience

Living almost a year in Australia as a Indonesian Language Assistant at schools makes me experience new different things in teaching Bahasa Indonesia in the classroom. I have enjoyed working with teachers at Benalla College and Benalla East Primary School as my workplace. Helping students to learn Indonesian in both schools has been my biggest challenge here. Besides, the schools have given me a chance not only assisting teachers in their Indonesian classroom, but also introducing cultures like traditional dancing, music, cooking Indonesian food, Indonesian life style, and traditional games. I also help the students to perform some dances in some occasions. I also participated in some Professional Developments which have developed my knowledge about teaching methodology.

It has been a wonderful experience for me to get involve in ILPIC Program Activities such as Indonesian Study Group for teachers who learn Indonesian and Polycom Teaching. Teaching Indonesian through polycom to Mokoan Cluster Schools (Devenis, Thoona, and Broken Creek School) is the most challenging since this is their first year learning Indonesian. Apart from that, I also helped the teacher to run Indonesian Day (Cultural Day) at Mokoan Cluster on 5^th December2012. Participating in Indonesian Immersion Camps in Victoria also becomes an unforgettable experience for me to enhance students’ language skill and promote Indonesian Culture.

Language Assistant Program ran by DEECD Victoria gives me many benefits in my life. I have improved my English skill by interacting and communicating with Australian people. I also learn about Australian curriculum and education which are really different from Indonesian education system. From the teachers, I also learn lots of methods in teaching English which I can bring to Indonesia. Get involved in Ballroom Dancing Club also gives me opportunity to know Benalla Community well. Hopefully this program also gives the benefits to schools and community. Thank you Benalla for having me and giving lots of amazing experience.

Mutiara Stepani - Indonesian Language Assistant 2012