Learning local culture in different approaches<\/p>\n
I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The number of International Schools as well as the so-called
\nnational-plus private schools in Indonesia has increased
\nsignificantly in recent years. Both schools aim to offer
\ninternational curricula and use English as the medium of
\ninstruction, targeting expatriates and those seeking good quality
\nin education.<\/p>\n
English being the official language of instruction and the
\ninternational curricula applied in most international and
\nnational-plus schools are among the reasons of those sending
\ntheir children to such educational institutions. The schools,
\nespecially the national-plus schools, which are categorized as
\nprivate domestic institutions, also provide some lessons and
\nextracurricular activities related to Indonesian culture.<\/p>\n
Wesley International School, which is located in Malang, East
\nJava, for example, teaches Bahasa Indonesia to grades one through
\neight.<\/p>\n
\"We also teach a class called 'Indonesian Appreciation' to all
\nof our students in grades one and two. Our students often go on
\nfield trips to places of great value in Indonesian culture in our
\nregion,\" says Paul Richardson, principal of Wesley International
\nSchool.<\/p>\n
He adds that his school is also partnered with Indonesian
\nschools and runs exchange programs involving plays and musical
\nperformances, always with the intention of mixing the
\ninternational children with the Indonesian children. \"We have a
\nstrong drama program, and we have performed our plays in
\nIndonesian schools all over Malang,\" he says, adding that Wesley
\nalso sponsors a city wide youth soccer league known as \"Liga
\nCharis\".<\/p>\n
The school has several immensely talented Indonesian teachers
\nand the Bahasa Indonesia teachers are highly qualified, while the
\nIndonesian art and drama teacher is respected by all of the
\nstudents, he says.<\/p>\n
\"This brings to mind another strong value we have at Wesley.
\nWe emphasize that our Indonesian staff members, whether office
\nstaff, gardeners, janitors or guards, are treated with respect
\nand dignity by all of our students,\" he says.<\/p>\n
The Semarang International School also teaches its students
\nBahasa Indonesia and Indonesian Culture.<\/p>\n
School principal Janine van Noort says it is important
\nfor the children to be aware of and appreciate the culture of the
\ncountry in which they live.<\/p>\n
\"We have qualified Indonesian teachers to teach
\nBahasa Indonesia\/Culture. The students enjoy the subject very
\nmuch,\" she says, adding that her school, which was established in
\n1982, applies the British curriculum and uses Australian
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Richardson says that at Wesley it is important that the
\nstudents know the names of all the Indonesian staff, and that
\nthey are greeted with \"Selamat Pagi...\" and so on.<\/p>\n
\"We value this beautiful country and the priceless experience
\nof living and working in Indonesia. The students have an
\nincredible opportunity to learn the Indonesian culture and ways
\nof life so that for the rest of their lives, wherever they live,
\nthey will value different cultures and carry with them the
\nskills of appreciating cultures and relating to people
\nof diversity,\" he says.<\/p>\n
\"We want to protect our students from growing up with the
\nbelief that they are somehow better or more valuable than
\nchildren from poor backgrounds. Therefore, we want to expose them
\nto the beautiful facets of Indonesian society.\"<\/p>\n
According to Richardson, students will generally drift in the
\ndirection enthusiastically presented to them by their teachers
\nand other people of influence.<\/p>\n
\"For example, one of our wonderful teachers, Shelley Matthews,
\ninitiated a weekend event where the teenagers would raise money
\nfor poor children in Indonesia by finding sponsors and going
\nwithout food themselves for 30 hours. Do you think a bunch of
\nwealthy international teenagers would do such a thing?<\/p>\n
About forty students did it and they did it with great
\nenthusiasm, raising almost Rp 15 million to be given to World
\nVision for hungry children.\"<\/p>\n
Wesley International School, established in Malang in
\n1972, is a K-12 school and has some 100 students with sixteen
\nclassrooms. It provides an American-based curriculum with some
\nadaptations. The school has served students from Australia, the
\nUSA, New Zealand, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany,
\nSwitzerland, England, and India.<\/p>\n
Richardson says Wesley, whose current tuition fee is US$5,000
\nper year, had recently experienced a growth spurt as an
\nincreasing number of international businessmen were moving their
\nfamilies and workplaces from Jakarta to Malang, which is widely
\nregarded as one of the cleanest and safest cities in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Singapore International School, which is located
\nin South Jakarta, also has some Indonesian programs. It offers
\nBahasa Indonesia and several extracurricular activities related
\nto Indonesian culture.<\/p>\n
\"We have a Bahasa Indonesia class and study tours to teach
\nIndonesian culture to the students,\" says Alan Wolff, a member of
\nthe school.<\/p>\n
He says the emphasis on music and drama has given pupils at
\nthe Singapore International School the opportunity to express
\ntheir creativity. The annual production of musicals has developed
\na love for music and the performing arts among all the students.
\nThis activity includes learning Indonesian songs, he says.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Sekolah Tiara Bangsa offers several subjects,
\nincluding Indonesian dance and Indonesian crafts, as
\nextracurricular activities.<\/p>\n
Extracurricular activities are offered twice a week after
\nschool for the whole year. As the school year is divided into two
\nsemesters, students can take four different types of
\nextracurricular activities.<\/p>\n
In the first semester, students can select various subjects,
\nincluding Indonesian dance and Indonesian crafts, Daryl Forde of
\nTiara Bangsa says.<\/p>\n
\"In the second semester, all students are involved in
\npreparing for a musical production including actors, singers,
\nstage crew, lighting, costumes and make-up.<\/p>\n
In the fourth quarter, all students learn a range of dances,
\nincluding Indonesian dances, for a school performance. As we are
\nalso an Indonesian national-plus school, we celebrate our
\nnational heritage through the study of Indonesian language, which
\nis compulsory, and religion,\" he adds.<\/p>\n
Tiara Bangsa, which is located in Cibubur, West Java, also
\ncommemorates special Indonesian events, he says, adding that
\nstudents include Indonesians, Koreans, Americans, Indians,
\nAustralians, British, Singaporeans, Swedish, Danish, and
\nFilipinos.<\/p>\n
\"Special days are set aside to celebrate Indonesian cultural
\nand historical events; Kartini Day, Idul Fitri, etc. Our
\nInternational Baccalaureate curriculum gives us the unique
\nopportunity to use Indonesian culture, history and geography as
\nthe basis for stimulating our students. The student and parent
\nresponse is very favorable to both the curricular and
\nextracurricular programs,\" Forde says.<\/p>\n
In particular, parents are very pleased that the school could
\ntake all middle school students on a three day excursion to
\nBandung, West Java, to see local industry and agriculture, study
\nvolcanology, visit tea and rubber plantations, and witness dance
\nand cultural performances, he adds.<\/p>\n
\"Internationalism does not mean that we neglect our culture,
\nnor reduce it to an insignificant part of our school life. In
\nfact, by learning interactively and through the discovery method,
\nour students come to realize that their own culture and other
\ncultures have more similarities than differences,\" Forde says.<\/p>\n
At Sekolah Global Jaya, a national-plus school in Bintaro,
\nSouth Jakarta, students also have some subjects that are related
\nto Indonesian culture.<\/p>\n
Kenneth Cock of Sekolah Global Jaya says his school offers
\nquality teaching, a commitment to learning in both English and
\nBahasa Indonesia, a nonsecular environment where all religious
\nbeliefs are respected and catered for, expatriate staff who
\nprovide support for local staff, and students being placed at the
\ncenter of the learning, rather than the curriculum.<\/p>\n
\"Sekolah Global Jaya was set up to deliver a western-style
\neducation to young Indonesians. Once the students have completed
\ntheir studies at our school they will have the necessary thinking
\nskills, research and problem-solving skills to enter any
\nuniversity of their choice whether here or overseas. Thus the
\ndevelopment of the use of the English language is an important
\npart of our curriculum. Our goal is that every student will be
\nable to study in both Bahasa Indonesia and English. Thus, we
\ndeliver the curriculum material in both languages.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/learning-local-culture-in-different-approaches-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}