First English language center celebrates 35th anniversary

By Ati Nurbaiti

JAKARTA (JP): Someone's heartstrings must have beaten faster when this message appeared in the August edition of Contact magazine, "Galuh, I think I love you and I swear I will love you with every beat of my heart!"

Relations were meaner between "Me" and "Bud" with another statement in the "Hi There" column, "I hated you then; I hate you now and I will hate you tomorrow..."

Regardless of "Bud"s feelings this was probably a good way for "Me" to practice tenses. The fervent writers are from Slipi and Jl. M.T. Haryono, two branches of the English language center LIA, originally called PPIA.

The LIA Foundation now co-exists with the original PPIA, the Indonesia-American Friendship Institute, and is celebrating its 35th anniversary today.

The colorful Contact magazine marks a happy development in the city's first English language teaching center. Chief editor Anneke Senduk said it challenges students to practice their learning in written form. Glossaries are provided for certain phrases and words, printed in bold to boost interest.

An unexpected, translated interview by students with popular singer Oppie Andaresta made one article and the winners of the magazine's short story contest also got their work in print.

Ambitious plans include releasing Contact on the market, the first English magazine for the young after the disappearance of the Bandung-based Window on the World.

"Our students are mainly from high school and college," said the LIA Foundation chairman, J. Sigit in his office on Jl. Pramuka.

Outside, behind his office, crowds flocked around four large boards where the school's acceptance lists for the coming term were taped up. Beside the lists are chairs set up under a series of tents filled by students eagerly waiting to fill in further registration forms.

One girl straightened up after finding her name on one of the boards and threw back her hair with a relieved grin.

"I'm so glad I made it," sighed Sri Kurniasih, "Only Basic One, but never mind...I never expected to pass."

She went on to say why she was so glad, which seemed to have little to do with English. "Now I can drop (initial plans to enter) the expensive Trisakti Academy for management transportation. I pity my father because my brother is still in university."

The graduate of the nearby state high school in Utan Kayu, had registered at the private academy while waiting for the dreaded results of the state university entrance test, which she failed along with 350,000 others countrywide.

Saved

It turned out that she made it into the academy, but found the registration and tuition costs of Rp 8.5 million (US$ 3,906.25) much too expensive. Her acceptance to LIA, where a basic, three month course costs around Rp 120,000 ($55.15), had saved her family.

Braving her new status as only a course attendant and not a student, Sri said, "I'll just try Sipenmaru (entrance tests to cheaper state universities) again next year while taking LIA and entrance exam courses."

At least she will not have to face the world as a shameful penganggur - not studying or working - but can claim to be part of one of the country's best known English language centers.

Sri's motivation is a clear reminder of the omnipresent requirement of English to make it in any field.

The joy of passing the entrance test is short lived. The hard work, initially boring for those who feel they are repeating basics learnt in high school, follows.

An average six percent drop out of every class, says LIA's language institute director, Siswadi Atmoyuwono, "for a number of reasons besides being lazy."

"I think the rest who postpone and then come back to study here indicate a good bond with LIA," he said.

LIA's directors say they have expanded into other sectors including computers, banking, Japanese and travel services, "just in case English in formal education gets good and we're out of business," said foundation chairman J. Sigit with a laugh.

In a more serious note, he reflected on the difficulty of getting jobs even for university graduates, "it is attitude and performance that matters, then comes knowledge."

LIA, as a long standing institution, is expected to help to improve English teaching in schools, which it does through annual workshops for English language teachers. "Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro asked us to increase our assistance to schools," Siswadi said.

LIA staff pride themselves on bumping into people who say that at one time or other they attended LIA.

"I met an employee at a video rental store in the Pondok Indah Mall," said Prajito S.I., the director of LIA's public service institute.

"His English was good and I asked him where he had studied, and he said LIA."

Many private companies, from banking to shipping, have requested LIA provide their staff with English for Specific Purpose (ESP) courses.

Currently a number of LIA personnel are on a sea trip with students of the Maritime Academy to develop teaching material.

Before beginning the special training, however, many of the students have to bone up on their basic English.

"Often we can't put ESP into immediate practice," said Siswadi, "because the placement tests reveal we still need to give the employees general, basic level English."

Growth

Since it began operating in 1959 from the United States Information Service Library on Jl. Veteran, Central Jakarta, it has expanded to 10 affiliates and five branches across 12 provinces. Its 45,000 students, most of who live in Jakarta, are taught by 800 hundred teachers.

Many teachers have also grown older with LIA, and the newly founded pension fund has therefore answered a crucial need.

"Eight of our staff have entered the pension scheme," said Tuti W. Hendra, the chairperson of the LIA pension fund.

The staff at LIA say they have not been affected by the countless number of rival courses which have mushroomed all over the city.

Farah Rachmat, one alumni, says LIA could be more flexible regarding its examination schedules. A student cannot continue after failing to show up three times for examinations.

"I had problems matching my college schedule with LIA. It shouldn't be so strict because it's an extra curricular activity," said Farah, who now holds a degree in business administration.

LIA boasts a host of prominent alumni. Invitees to its 17th graduation ceremony held on Saturday included air force Marshall Rilo Pambudi, popular chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Sukarno Putri, actress Christine Hakim, Minister of Social Affairs Inten Suweno and a few hospital and company executives.

But while LIA expands and reorganizes, teachers know the work ahead of them remains tough. Updating teaching methods, which have come a long way since students had to memorize whole conversations, is their top priority.

"The latest teaching method is natural exposure," says Siswadi, "But we basically have to use the conventional, classroom method because we're not in countries like the Philippines or Malaysia (where English is widely used)."

Students who can afford to go abroad for home stays, organized jointly by sponsors and LIA's travel services, gain valuable "travel and discovery in English" experience during their one month stay.

"Back at LIA they can be immediately promoted to a higher level because they have had so much exposure," said Siswadi.

Teacher Aisah Sulaeman led a group of eight to Riverside, California in the United States last year and provided tips for future aspirants, "Be independent...do what you can do by yourself...be punctual."

Siswadi added that there is not much prepared material for the natural exposure method which means teachers have to come up with their own ideas.

What method do students like best?

"Like students everywhere, the humorous teacher gets more attention," said Siswadi.

Or the good looking ones. As one Contact letter indicated, "You're the most handsome man in LIA PRM (the center on Jl. S. Parman). Would you like to teach us again in Intermediate III?"