My Career (2)

Coming back from Australia in December 2000, in January 2011 I directly joined the teacher training at MTsN Model Trenggalek. My school was the model school for the other MTs around it. My school became the centre of studying together so that the teachers could use the facilities in MTsN Model Trenggalek to improve their students'' knowledge because there were more facilities such as: electro and sewing skills, library, etc.

As we still had a project called BEP (Basic Education Project), so I had to help the teacher training held at my school. My trainees came from the other MTs around Wilayah Kediri III (Trenggalek, Kediri Selatan, Tulungagung and Ponorogo). At that time, I was the Facilitator and the core teacher of English subject, assisting the keynote trainers from UNESA. I really enjoyed the teacher training because I always enjoyed helping other teachers on the matters related to learning and teaching English as a Foreign Language. 

We called the training as In-service Training because the trainees did it in their own home town. They had to stay in the dormitory at MTsN  Model Trenggalek until the training finished. I tried to be close with the trainees so that they could share their experience with me or asked some questions to me related to their teaching. I was happy when I did the monitoring to Ponorogo, I saw their ways of teaching and glad to see that some of them had implemented what they had got from the training.

In 2002, I had another retraining for the core teacher in FKBK Yogyakarta. I met most of my friends, the alumni of Deakin University, there. It was a kind of reunion for us. Coming back from Yogya we directly planned to hold the training under the same KKM (Kelompok Kerja Madrasah). 

After this activity, I never did any training. The project had finished, then I taught in some institutions. In 2001 actually I had taught English the students of Diplome2 at Mahesa Institute Pare, majoring in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), Curriculum and Materials Development, Writing II and the Supervisor of the students' Real Teaching. Since 2002-2006 I taught English Department of STAIN Kediri, majoring in Speaking 1,2,3,4, TOEFL, TEFL, Writing 2 and a guide lecturer of students' thesis. In 2002-2003 I taught in STAI Trenggalek as well.

Sometimes I wondered myself how I could do this kind of commuting..........teaching in 5 different institutions...moving in 4 different cities in a week. How strong I was....hehehe.....

Finally, in 2005 my request to move to Jombang was accomplished.

My Career (1)

In 1994 I finished my Graduate. As a fresh graduate, of course I had an ideal to be a good teacher and to be a public servant. However, it was not that easy. I tried to join the test in the Ministry of Education, but I failed. While waiting for another test, I was teaching at MTsN Plandi Jombang as a volunteer teacher. 

In 1996 I took the test again held by the Ministry of Religious Affair and I was successful. My Decision Letter came in 1997 and I had to teach at MTsN Model Trenggalek. It was in the southeast direction from Jombang and about 3-hour journey. No gain without pain, this saying became my motivation to work well. Although it was far from my hometown, I managed everything such my family, my accommodation and my transport.

I had to commute every week. At the beginning I cried almost every day because I thought I was the unluckiest person in the world. I had to live far from my family....my 1.8 month-old baby...hiks....But apart from that I had promised to myself that I would do my best. I'd like to be a good and professional teacher. I removed all my ego, I tried to adapt everything in the new environment. Although my principal was a very discipline person, that's ok, I liked him. But he was still traditional oriented. The class should be very quiet. But for me English class should be noisy with activities....how to make students interesting is the most important thing for me....

My principal liked to watch teachers teaching. By pretending to clean the windows using the duster, he listened to the teacher's talking in the class. It's funny, but for me that's one way of observing teachers. One day he heard something noisy in my class, then he appeared, looked at my class. Maybe he thought that there was no teacher in the class, in fact, he found me in it. I was playing a game with my students. They were very excited and engaged with the lesson. I was happy.....

In fact we never knows what Alloh plans for us....in 1998 there was an opportunity to study abroad. I took a test to be a Master Teacher who will be trained in Malaysia. In 1999 I got the result that I passed the test and had to go to Australia (Instead of Malaysia). Then, I did the medical check-up, took the IELTS test (got 5, not bad for a beginner) in Jakarta. After that, I had to have a pre-departure training for 2 months in Jakarta. From July to August 1999 I did it well. At the end of the course, I took the second IELTS test and I got 6 (good enough).

In front of the Cheese grater

With Tricia Henry in the classroom

On the 12th of September 1999 I departed to Australia from Jakarta with the 31 other English teachers from 6 Provinces (Lampung, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi). We transitted in Bali to Sydney. In Sydney we met two Indonesian singers: Titi DJ and Hedy Yunus. We were so excited and we took some pictures with them.

The following day we arrived in Melbourne. Hmmm...the first time in another country...very cold....got a culture shock....different climate...different people....different culture...oh really a culture shock....

For a week I got an orientation week. We stayed in Miami Motor Inn in West Melbourne. Lots of phletora in my head, but gradually I could manage and handle everything. We had to join an English course again to continue the course in Kangan Batman TAFE (Technical and Further Education) held in Broadmeadows before entering the Deakin University. Every day we had to catch the train from the railway station in West Melbourne to Broadmeadows station. Sometimes we dropped in Essendon campus to use the computer lab because in Broadmeadows campus we had very limited computers. About 3 months we studied there. I learned many things such as: how to operate the computer, type using ten fingers, make an account in the Internet, use an email, how to analyze a report, make a report, write an essay, etc. In December 1999 I had another IELTS test again, this time I got 7....wow..amazing...I didn't expect it.

I thanked to Helen, Libya Charleson, Priti Mukherjee, Kim Bessant who always guided us with patience. Until we studied at Deakin University we still got a language support from Kangan Batman TAFE.

In January 2000 we started studying at Deakin Uni. We lived in a Student Village, in Grevillea IV building. I was lucky because I got a room in the first floor. In the first floor of this bulding there were a kitchen, a common room, 2 rooms, 2 toilets, and a laundry. In the second floor, there were 8 rooms with a bathroom and 2 toilets. Each room was full-furnished. We felt comfortable staying there because we could cook as we liked. There were 12 girls living with me.

In the first semester I had to take 3 subjects (Language Teaching Methodology A by Lyn Turner, Language and Language Teaching A by Alex, Learning and Teaching in TESOL Context by Marina Reuter and Elizabeth Tailor). I liked all of them. They were very helpful. At first, I was afraid of Alex. Many students said that it was difficult to get a good mark from him. Of course, I was afriad, but in fact, Alex knew my name before I told him. And when the announcement of the result came, I was surprised that I got HD (High Distinction) for the Language and Language Teaching subject...unbelieveable!!!

OMG...I had to work hard. It seemed everyone was so busy with themselves. Independence was the only thing I had to do. Doing everything alone, cooking alone, studying alone, eating alone.....

On semester holiday, I went home to Indonesia. It was in the mid of June till mid of July 2000. I really missed my family, especially my son and hubby. For a month I was at home, but I still contacted my friends in Oz because I also had to submit a title for my Project in TESOL the following semester.

Coming back from  my holiday, it seemed I came to Melbourne for the first time again....got  a culture shock again.....willy nally, suddenly I had to stay with the boys in the same house...oh God...I was crying all night. Fortunately I had good friends taht always supported me. In this second semester I got 4 subjects, they are Language Methodology B by Elizabeth Tailor, Language and Language Teaching B by Marina Reuter, Societal Context in Language Education by Tricia Henry and Project in TESOL by Gillian Schofield.

I tried hard to do my best. One by one, I had to finish the assignments...besides my busy days I also did some interesting activities...sightseeing...shopping to the city and others. Some places that I still remember were Queen Victoria Market where we liked to buy some vegetables and fruits and souveniers as well. Before we went back to Indonesia we shopped lots of souveniers from this place (key rings, T-shirts, dolls, pins, etc). Brunswick was a place where we went to Halal bucher and Saver. Saver was a place for second hand things. Cambherwell market or Sunday Market was another place for hunting cheap things. Boxhill market, almost every weekend we bought some vegetables and fruits. Safeway in Burwood Highway was very close for us to have some little shops. For refreshing we liked to go to Sint Kilda beach, Sandringham beach, Mount Buller and Lake Mountain in Winter. Melbourne Zoo was the frist tourist resort we visited. Botanical Garden in the city near the Flinder Street Station. Sometimes we also visited our Indonesian friends in Bundoora, La Trobe University. Twice I visited Monash University, first to take a friend returning the books in the library and the second, attending a seminar. Lots of memory...a tough life....joys...sorrows came in turn......but still we had courage and spirit to do our best.

Graduation

Finally alhamdulillah I could finish my study on time with good achievement...
1. Language Methodology A                                                           High Distinction
2. Language and Language Teaching A                                         High Distincton
3. Learning and Teaching in TESOL Context                                 Distinction
4. Language Methodology B                                                            High Distinction
5. Language and Language Teaching B                                          High Distinction
6. Societal Context in The Language Education                             Distinction
7. Project in TESOL                                                                             High Distinction

Studied at IKIP Surabaya

With classmates at IKIP Sby

This was the first time I lived far from my family. I had to live in a lodging house, fortunately there was a friend from the same town who helped me finding the house. I was lucky surrounded by nice and good friends.

I studied here for my Graduate (Strata 1). Actually it was hard for my family to fund my study in the university as my father was only a worker in a factory. However, I had a high motivation to be successful in my life. Thus, I studied hard to pass the UMPTN (Ujian Masuk Perguruan Tinggi Negeri) so that I could attend the state university. Alhamdulillah I could pass the exam and studied in The English Department of IKIP Surabaya. I chose English because since I was in Junior High School I liked English very much.

In this campus I had good friends and even I found someone special. My best friends and I had spent a lot of time to study together, go somewhere together, support each other when someone felt desperate and de-motivated, then we tried to give courage and spirit.

Apart from that, I felt that my study was not so optimal. I didn't know why. My achievement was not very good, but not so bad either. There were too many things on my head, thus I couldn't maximize my score. Besides, there were lots of theoretical things which needed to be processed in my brain without any practices.

Finally, I could finish my study at IKIP Surabaya for 4 years. My IP was only 2.75, but that's OK.....alhamdulillah...

My Teenage Life (2)

It started when I entered the Senior High School, SMAN2 Jombang. I was very excited to study here. I realized that there must be lots of genius students, but it wouldn't bother me. The most important thing was I could study well, got many things to learn and was taught by good teachers. 

In the second year, I specified my major in Culture Program. I studied English, Germany, Cultural History, Indonesian and Literature, Social Anthropology and how to write Arabic script. Hmmm....still I liked languages, English and Germany. I did well in the second year as I got the highest score for all subjects.

In the third year, I didn't like some of the teachers, thus it influenced my achievement. I was not in the first rank anymore, but I never lost my courage to study. That's ok....

My friends were nice to me, either my classmates or schoolmates. As my Junior High School friends, they were from different economic background. Some of them were naughty, some were nice, some were creative, some were lazy, some were diligent, some were arrogant, some were snobby. Someone I admired didn't like me, but someone who I didn't like, liked me....so confusing....but very funny. 

The extracurricular activities were the most favourable things for me. I joined the scout activity, the Teenager Red Cross group, Kulintang music group and traditional dancing. On holidays once we went to Magetan for camping, once in Sumberboto Jombang. As the member of  the Red Cross team I liked to help students who got accidents or just collapsed at school. I practiced Kulintang music and traditional dancing regularly. Once I performed a Minak Jinggo dance in my farewell party at school....

The final exam came...and I had to do 6 subjects and got 54 for my NEM.....

My Teenage Life (1)

Graduating from the Elementary School and attending the favourite school in the city, SMPN 1 Jombang was an exciting experience for me. I had prepared myself mentally and physically to adapt the new environment there. I was the only one from my elementary school who attended the school, so I didn't have anyone I knew before. My friends came from various family. Most of them came from the haves, only a few of them were the same as me, from the moderate family. But, it didn't make me feel bad. I had courage and spirit to study. The most important thing for me was I could follow all the lesson. I didn't want to be left behind from  friends. But it's really hard. Most of my friends were selected students and of course most of them were very brilliant. Fortunately, I found many good teachers who assisted me. For example, I found a math teacher who was very clever, Pak Rudi. He had made me impressed with his explanation on math. I really hated math, but with him I found it easier to do math...amazing....oh Pak Rudi...thank you very much I got 8 in my NEM for math. But still, English was my favourite subject. My English teacher was Bu Tin. What I remember most was when she used the Total Physical Response approach. I really enjoyed it.

In this school I learned different kinds of ethnic groups. I learned a lot of things: dancing, singing, music, reading many kinds of novels, listening to English songs. Actually I like singing and dancing since I was still in elementary school. My teacher often asked me to represent my school though I never got a prize...hehehe... In this school I tried to learn lots of things. Among those I mentioned above, I enjoyed joining the scout activity. I liked to have camping in the mountain because I could learn the friendship, togetherness, responsibility, confidence, how to survive in a very limited condition, how to help injured people, how to think and work quickly,  and so forth. 

The final Exam...came and I got quite good marks....5 subjects and I got 46 in my NEM.....horreeey....and this was the ticket to enter the best Senior High School, SMAN 2 Jombang.....

My Childhood

I live in a small village, called Canggon, Ngudirejo, Diwek, Jombang. In 1976 still there was no electricity, but I still didn't care about it coz I thought no need for me to think of it. The situation was still virgin..I mean I could see a lot of trees everywhere. There were only few houses around the village. Even my parents' house was in the middle of the small woods consisting of bamboo trees, wild grasses and bushes.

The first time I remembered my childhood was when I was about 5 years old. I didn't live with my own family, but with my great aunt who did't have any child. You can imagine how spoiled I was at that time as I became the only child of my great aunt. Crying was the only thing I did most...hehehe...so spoiled. I remember that I never played with my friends in the neighbourhood, but I liked to spend my daily activities with my great aunt and other family. Wetting was also something I remembered...so disgusting...but as a child I still couldn't control myself to urinate in the proper place or in the toilet.

When I was 7 years old my father took me to an Elementary School in my village. Without attending the kindergarten I directly attended the school, SDN Ngudirejo I. As a student I was considered diligent and clever. It was proved when I got the Report of my achievement at school, I always got the highest mark though in Year I, I was sick and had to get an operation in the hospital. 

As other children I spent most of my time by playing together with my friends such as: hide and seek, rope skipping, marbles, hopscotch, etc. One day after school, my friends and I went to visit our classmate from another village. We didn't ask permission first to our parents. OMG..What have I done? Suddenly my grandma was looking for me to this village. She was so upset and asked us to get home directly. At home, my great aunt was very angry. She brought me to the well, then she took a pail of water and poured it to me. She did it several times, thus I got difficulty to breathe. Of course, I was crying all the time and said 'I won't do it again..I won't do it again...oh so funny, right? I know that she did it to me because she loved me.

Along with my growing age, I decided to live with my own parents because I thought I could ask everything I need to them as my great aunt worked alone, no one gave her money. It would be hard for her to have me as her burden.  So it would be better if I moved to my parents. My parents were not rich people, but at least my father had a permanent job as an employee in a sugar company in Jombang. Meanwhile, my mother was a creative housewife who always tried to help my father to earn for a living before she got a stroke up to now.

I spent my school days happily, no problems. What I was thinking at that time was studying and studying. I really enjoyed being with friends. We worked our assignments together. Sometimes we studied together at night in my house and of course my friends always relied on me in all subjects. They thought that I was good at any subjects at school. Yeeaaaah...that's ok, but I was not that good...

The final Exam came and my friends and I, helped by all teachers, had tried hard for that. And...alhamdulillah..I'd got the best among all of my friends.....of course I wanted to attend the best school in Jombang. My parents didn't mind if I attended the favourite school, SMPN 1 Jombang. Though it's hard because I had to do the test first, at last I did it.........horreeeyyyyy.......