First English language center celebrates 35th anniversary

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?"