A wide range of language instruction<\/p>\n
As a metropolitan city, Jakarta is home to people of various
\nnationalities from around the world. Foreigners come to the
\ncountry not only to enjoy its natural beauty or to explore the
\nrich arts and culture. They also work and live here.<\/p>\n
Recent data shows that there are about 36,000 expatriates
\nregistered as working in the capital. Numerous facilities are
\navailable to cater to the needs of expatriates. A great number of
\nrestaurants offering international fare can be easily found in
\ndifferent parts of the city. There are also several hospitals
\nwith world-class facilities managed by hospitals based abroad and
\nbookstores with a broad selection of publications.<\/p>\n
In the field of education, there are many international
\nschools in Greater Jakarta. Although most international
\npreschools use English as the language of instruction, non-
\nEnglish speaking expats have no problem finding good schools for
\ntheir children.<\/p>\n
Among them are the Jakarta Japanese School in Tangerang;
\nDeutsche Internationale Schule in Serpong and in Pondok Indah,
\nSouth Jakarta; Lycee International Francais in Cipete, South
\nJakarta; Jakarta Taipei School in Kelapa Gading, East Jakarta;
\nJakarta International Korean School in Ceger, East Jakarta,
\nPakistan Embassy School in Menteng, Central Jakarta; and
\nNederlandse International School in Cilandak, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Most of the schools offer preschool, elementary and secondary
\neducation.<\/p>\n
The French International School, Lycee International Francais,
\nfor example, has four preschool classes: one class for
\nthree-year-olds, two classes for four-year-olds and another class
\nfor five-year-old children.<\/p>\n
There are a total of 82 children in the preschool, while in
\ntotal, there are 370 students in the French school, including in
\nthe elementary and secondary schools.<\/p>\n
Not all of the students are of French nationality. There are
\nsome Moroccans, Algerians, Canadians, Germans, Americans and
\nchildren with Indonesian and French parentage. All classes,
\nhowever, are conducted in French.<\/p>\n
\"It is a French school, so we teach in French. They may speak
\nother languages like English or Indonesian outside school,\"
\nsaid Dominique Goduel, the principal of the elementary and
\npreschool at the French International School, Lycee International
\nFrancais.<\/p>\n
Students in the preschool study from Monday to Friday from
\n7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. In the afternoon, there are extracurricular
\nactivities for those who are in second and third grade.<\/p>\n
\"Students may choose classical dance or swimming for the
\nextracurricular activities,\" Goduel said, adding that in regular
\nclasses, swimming is taught one hour per week.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Japanese School Kindergarten, which was
\nestablished in 1969, has 96 four-years-olds at the first level,
\nand another 95 five-year-old students at the second level. All of
\nthe students are Japanese and the lessons are in accordance with
\nthe Japanese curriculum.<\/p>\n
\"The early years are the time in which to shape them as human
\nbeings. Therefore education for children under five is very
\nimportant,\" said Aoshiko Teruo, principal of Jakarta Japanese
\nSchool.<\/p>\n
The world of imagination is considered important, and
\ntherefore the teachers spend a lot of time reading books to the
\nchildren. They also give students assignments that will help them
\nbecome independent, and play games that are good for both their
\nphysical and intellectual development.<\/p>\n
For Germans and other expats who speak German such as
\nAustrians and Swiss, there is the German school, Deutsche
\nInternationale Schule. The one in Serpong has a kindergarten,
\nelementary school and high school, while its branch in Pondok
\nIndah only has a kindergarten.<\/p>\n
The kindergarten in Serpong has three levels for children
\nbetween two and six years old, while the one in Pondok Indah has
\ntwo levels for children between two years and a half and five
\nyears.<\/p>\n
There are seven children with one teacher in the kindergarten
\nin Serpong and 10 students with two teachers in Pondok Indah.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the number of students is small, we must exist
\nbecause early education for children is quite important to shape
\ntheir emotional intelligence,\" said Joesi Sihombing, one of the
\nteachers.<\/p>\n
Established in 1978, the Jakarta Korean International School
\nhas 1,500 elementary and high school students, according to Armen
\nZar, the school's assistant manager. There is no kindergarten at
\nthe school, but he said Korean expats can send their children to
\nTK Hana, a Korean kindergarten located in Kapuk, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
How about the education of children from other non-English
\nspeaking countries when there is no school which conducts classes
\nin their mother tongue?<\/p>\n
A Thai woman who lives in Jakarta said that she does not have
\nany problem with her son's education even though there is no Thai
\nschool here.<\/p>\n
\"I send him to the Gandhi Memorial School,\" she said,
\nreferring to an international school in Ancol, North Jakarta,
\nwhich has many Indian students.<\/p>\n
Naruchai Ninnad, the press officer at the Thai Embassy, said
\nchildren of Thai expatriates do not have any difficulty studying
\nat English international schools.<\/p>\n
\"The children take an intensive English course first. They are
\nstill young and they can learn quickly and adapt to the new
\nenvironment quite easily,\" Ninnad said.<\/p>\n
\"And when they return to Thailand, they can continue their
\neducation at an international school there,\" he said, adding that
\na number of international schools have been built in Thailand in
\nthe past five years following the new reform policy. -- T. Sima
\nGunawan<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-wide-range-of-language-instruction-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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