Eleven U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) arrived in Indonesia on Sunday (8/20), marking a revival of the program after a three-year pause due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. They will assist in teaching English at Indonesian high schools and vocational schools in seven provinces, including North Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, South Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Yogyakarta, and Central Java, from August 2023 to April 2024. This U.S. capacity-building program strengthens English language instruction while promoting cross-cultural exchange and sharing insights into U.S. society and culture in the communities where they are teaching.
In a luncheon event at his residence on Monday (8/21), U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim welcomed the 11 new ETAs and discussed how their work could support efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Indonesia strategic partnership. “We are excited about the return of this vital program, and I am pleased to celebrate the resilience and determination that has brought us back together,” said Ambassador Kim. “Since 1952, the Fulbright program in Indonesia has signaled a lasting commitment to fostering international understanding and collaboration. It exemplifies the shared belief that education, and academic and cross-cultural exchanges, are essential in building a better and more interconnected world.”
Since 2004, AMINEF as the Fulbright Commission in Indonesia has placed Fulbright ETAs in high school classrooms across Indonesia to support local English teachers; engage students in communication and extracurricular activities in English; and serve as cultural ambassadors. The 11 new ETAs will undertake a three-week orientation in Jakarta and Yogyakarta organized by AMINEF before they proceed to their schools, contributing to educational development in various regions of Indonesia, and directly supporting the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s initiative to increase English language teaching for young Indonesians.
The Fulbright ETA program has a long history of promoting mutual understanding between Americans and Indonesians. Former ETAs have come to know the country first-hand, and many develop continuing links with the country and its people and return in various capacities. Indonesian high school students have made noticeable improvements in their English communication skills and self-confidence using the language, and Indonesian high school teachers benefit from the co-teaching experience, as well.
Source : Usembassy
