LIA Foundation expands to teach language of the times

By I. Christianto

In tandem with development and the approaching era of globalization and trade liberalization, there is increasing awareness among Indonesians about the importance of English. Not surprisingly, private English courses are flourishing. The Jakarta Post team of reporters, I. Christianto, Christiani S. Tumelap, Immanudin, Ivy Susanti, Aloysius Unditu, P.J. Leo and T. Sima Gunawan, look into the business.

JAKARTA (JP): The LIA Foundation has branched out into a wide range of training and educational services since its founding as an English language course almost four decades ago.

Foundation secretary-general Joseph Sigit says LIA has become one of the largest English courses in Indonesia (and presumably the world), with some 1,000 English language instructors and 75,000 students nationwide.

Twenty affiliates offer courses and training including overseas training and travel, English for children, communicating in business, librarian proficiency, pilot ground school, computer, banking and integrated skills.

Sigit admitted that overseas course operators had an upper hand by offering strong promotions. "But I doubt if they could offer reasonable tuition like LIA does."

LIA sets three 60-hour course levels at different tuition fees. The basic level costs Rp 220,000, intermediate Rp 265,000 and advanced Rp 305,000. Tuition is payable through an installment scheme.

Facilities include course materials, video equipment, a library and insurance.

The large number of students enrolled and all-Indonesian teaching staff are reasons LIA can offer cheaper tuition, according to Sigit.

"We don't have foreign teachers. All our teachers are Indonesians," Sigit said. "Local teachers know the problems of our students (in studying English) better."

LIA does employ several native speakers as language specialists.

"They visit certain classes occasionally as a 'model' in conversation," he said.

Students also study videotapes of native speakers.

"(Employing) qualified native speakers is expensive, while we have to keep the tuition affordable," Sigit said.

Native speakers on a course's staff is no guarantee of excellence, he said, noting that some English courses hire foreigners without checking their qualifications.

"They might pick up tourists from Jl. Jaksa," he said, referring to the area in Central Jakarta which offers cheap rooms for backpackers.

LIA currently has branches in cities in 11 provinces, including Jakarta and the greater Jakarta area (Pramuka, Slipi, Pancoran, Mangga Dua, Kelapa Gading, Bekasi, Cikarang, Bogor), Bandung and Yogyakarta. "We want to operate in all of the country's 27 provinces," Sigit said.

Quality will be key in the future, he said, as "the competition in this sector is getting fiercer, especially after some overseas course operators entered Indonesia".

He attributed the foundation's success to loyalty of students and teaching staff.

LIA fosters close and enduring relationships with students, Sigit said. "From the 1,000 teachers, some 600 are former students."

Enrolling in LIA, either as a student or teacher, is not easy.

There is a written entrance exam for students, who must be at least 16 years of age.

New instructors must undertake a series of pre-service and in- service trainings. Teaching positions are coveted.

"Every time we announce an opening, up to 150 people apply as teachers, but after a series of tests, fewer than 15 percent of them are accepted," Sigit said. "We require a TOEFL score of at least 550 to apply as teachers."

New teachers earn about Rp 5,000 per teaching hour.

Theo Wenas, who joined LIA two years ago as an instructor, said he was fond of English.

"I also find that teaching is very interesting. Besides, I can meet various people as a full-time teacher. This is valuable for me. As well I think it's important to educate Indonesians."

Theo's mother also taught at LIA.

Nadhia, a Muhammadiyah 12 high school student, has taken courses at LIA over the past year and she also has a family connection.

"My father also studied here when he was a student. Now my sister and I are following in his steps. I myself like English and there's a lot of exercises here."

Sri Mulyani said she encouraged her high school daughter to study at LIA because of its fine reputation and reasonable tuition.

Background

The LIA Foundation was established 38 years ago as Lembaga Indonesia Amerika (Indonesia-America Institute). Founders were Hermen Kartosastro, Bill Parmer and Darmawan Mangoenkoesoemo under the guidance of the United States Information Service.

The objective was simple: forge improved understanding between Indonesia and the U.S. through cultural cooperation.

From opening enrollment of just 40, there were 1,300 students by 1965. Political upheaval that year forced the foundation to cease its activities, but it reopened in 1968.

In 1980, the foreign affairs ministry issued a decree altering LIA into the Indonesian-American Friendship Association (Perhimpunan Persahabatan Indonesia America/PPIA). PPIA officially came into existence in 1986.

That year, the LIA Foundation was set up.

The division created a new organizational structure. In 1993, two boards of managements were created for LIA and PPIA respectively.

PPIA's current president Moetaryanto Poerwoaminoto says that PPIA is not a legally-incorporated body so it cannot hold any assets.

"PPIA is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization. Our mission is to hold cultural activities and projects, including sports."

He said PPIA had several choral groups, Keroncong traditional music and dances. "We cooperate with other parties due to our limited personnel if we hold cultural missions to the U.S."

PPIA vice president Poppy Kahar said she is grateful to be able to join the organization.

"I can learn much more about our country's cultural richness. I am proud that I can learn many new things and that I can have more opportunities to socialize."

As for the LIA Foundation, its main activity is still English teaching.

Sigit said 90 percent of LIA's annual revenues -- which reached some Rp 40 billion last year -- were derived from English courses.

"What we want to achieve more in this educational service is to make more people have skills, particularly in English, in addition to their formal educations. It is and will always be important."