Thursday, July 29, 2010

Chronicle #3 : SMA 6

As a student of Teacher Training Faculty, there is an obligatory step to pass, Practice Teaching, or commonly referred as PPL. Well, I could not escape from that obligation as well, thus I had to undergo that at 2007. Actually, I requested specially to be placed in the school which had the international class, for the sake of my research. To be more specific, I requested to be put together with my research fellows. But tha fate brought me another story.

Not only being separated from my research fellows, I was a little bit shocked knowing that I was put in SMA 6. Well, the first impression of that senior high school is never good. It is still famous for the juvenile. Gee, I was never a naughty boy in the first place. Well, I was and still am tricky, sometimes naughty, but never into juvenile. Hell, I even despised school gang when I was still in the senior high. It was a very frightening thought.

Came the briefing time, and I was a bit relieved to find that my partners were good people. At least, they were reliable and cooperative. Not only from Sadhar, I also met student teachers from UNY and UAD. Well, never had the problem with people from UNY, but I did have a sharp covert conflict with UAD, even involving manipulating students to hate them and put bad stigma for them in the common room. You can say that I learnt how to be a cunning politician back then, how to create disgrace without being known.

Enough for that, since it will just be a completely new story and journal. This chronicle talked about the teaching experience, anyway. In that case, I was lucky for I got a nice supervising teacher. Pak Harwanto, English teacher specialized in teaching conversation and speaking. He usually taught the material out of the curriculum. His principle is encouraging the students to speak English, regarding the curriculum. Furthermore, he loved his job very much. Therefore, I never experienced the “slavery” that most practice students had. Ohohohohoho!! arrogant laugh

Pak Harwanto gave us a whole week, teaching the same material for 14 classes, and that was it. No more. So, I taught 7 meeting in 7 different classes (1st grade) with the same material, while Kenyar taught the same number of class in the 2nd grade. In the following week, we had already been freed from any teaching task. WHAT A BLISSFUL HEAVEN!!!

Being placed under that type of teacher, my Bohemian style of teaching was further developed and encouraged. He never asked me and Kenyar, the other student teacher, to write him a lesson plan and curriculum. Hell, we were never bothered with making those stuffs until the end of the program. He only asked us what to teach, a small discussion about the material, and that's it. He even asked me to give mark to Kenyar, and vice versa. Being given chance like that, of course we gave one another A. Gyahahahaha!

Well, eventhough we taught in Bohemian style, we prepared our teaching material well. I still remember how I brought my own computer speaker to the class only for the sake of listening. Carrying the same experience of teaching in SEDC, I tried to get close to the students. Well, to be honest, I never put myself higher than those students, but trying to fit into their circle instead. Thus, the students were not afraid to me, but at the same time, they will be more obedient, since the communication is like a communication between friend.

They enjoy our classes, even though I said it myself. Being a tricky boy who loved to play trick on student teacher when I was in Senior High, I was afraid of having the same experience myself. Karmic consequence, eh? But it never happened, to my surprise. I even played trick on my students, and they were never offended, even enjoyed it. Err, I'd say that I outwitted those tricky students. That resulted in having a very WILD class. People might thought that my class was wrecked in havoc, with loud voices and shouts here and there. But hey, those were speaking classes, and the louder the merrier, eh? Pak Harwanto expressed no complaint, he even enjoyed the class.

The students? No complaint, no trick, and not even any violence. I even revised my impression that SMA 6 students ARE nice. Once you get close to them, they will even treat you as friend. I even spent the break time with some students at the canteen. Treating one another and gossiping about beautiful female students. Gee, it was a very nice experience.

Then, what is the lesson to pick from this chronicle? What did I learn from teaching at SMA 6? I guess the biggest thing I acquired was the encouragement for my bohemian teaching style. Hehehehehe! It's not wrong to be a bohemian teacher, as long as you can bring joy and knowledge to both your students and yourself. La Vie Boheme!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Chronicle #2 : Mahatma

The second massive teaching experience took place during my SPD class. At that class, every group is supposed to teach in at least one class of non-educational institution. Every group is independent, in a sense that the lecturer paid no attention to you material development or your teaching methodology. The concern here lied in the professionalism and the art of entrepreneurship.

I was very lucky to team-up with incredible people. Mahatma, the name of our team, consisted of Non, a nice lady with strong determination, Dee, who provided us with nearly-infinite networking and negotiating, Riri, who brought about creative energy towards us, Fajar, the walking dictionary, Nugroho, our gadget expert and technician, as well as Yudi, the hardworker. We were so close, even grew into a family of our own, dwelling in the Self Access Centre.

Our passion and determination resulted in two clients, Poltabes Yogya and Grand Mercure Hotel. We broke the record of income (which is not yet broken up until now) in SPD class, resulting in 7 million only from Poltabes. Those were nice time, since I had the chance of teaching adult learners. My (supposed to be) students are the commissioners, Kapolres, and some high-leveled officers. Well, considering the nature of the police, I only taught one effective class there.

Nope, that didn't mean that I only taught once in Poltabes. We still had the other class there, for Tourism Police. At least, I had the chance of teaching them as well. Fun, though the students were not really memorable. The funnest thing is the teamwork with those incredible individuals.

We had also classes in Grand Mercure Hotel. Teaching English for Hotel Staff. Again, the students were not so great, but the process was superb! I mean, we dwelt in SAC for finishing the material, working together with 5 borrowed laptops on the table (at that time, having laptop is still a privilege to some people only), accessing the internet with connection made specially for us (and there was no hotspot back then). We had lunch in the lab, something forbidden, but we were covered by the SAC attendants, and even took a nap on the couch there. In short, the SAC became our own office.

The Grand Mercure Hotel was satisfied with our work, and they extended the contract into a more specific purposes, English for Spa. This time, it was more fun than the previous, since our students were more diligent, and we had the class in spa! The real spa, with the welcoming drink. Ahahahaha, it was a very unique experience. When are you going to have a class again in the massage room?? Therapy room??

The satisfaction continued, and we were contacted for a third contract. However, some members had already busy with their own business, and we decided to disband Mahatma. And that was the end of an era, concluding the second chronicle of my teaching experience.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Chronicle #1 : SEDC

The prospect of continuing my study brings about its own consequence, I have to stop teaching for a year or more. It will be a very difficult thing to do, since I've been teaching for six years by now. Both good things and good things happened through the time being. I've encountered various people, various classes, in various condition. Thus, to honor those people as my stepping stone of learning, here I will be writing a chronicle for each and every class.

My very first chance of teaching started at August 2004, as a debate coach in SEDC, Smada English Debating Community. I was nobody back then. Although I studied at English Education, where I was supposed to be trained as a teacher, I didn't get any teaching theory or classes in my first year. So, I brought nothing, no underlying theories or principles. All I did was relying on my instinct and feeling, recalling my expectation of what a good teacher should be.

Well, it was never a formal class, since I was entrusted to coach a debating club in my former high school. There were no fixed syllabus, no fixed lesson plan, or even fixed rules. Nothing. Everything was left to me, I could do anything I wanted. But it was really valuable, for I learned how to teach by myself, I got many chances to develop my own teaching style. Moreover, I acquired myself brothers and sisters.

My relation with the trainee was different. In some ways, I never put myself higher than them. They were never considered as subordinate, just little brothers and sisters. They learned how to debate, how to solve the problem, and I shared the same things. We grew into a family, where one shared the problems to the others. Love and hate grew at the same time.

Training was never the only thing I did then. I learned how to cope with various problems. Motivating them, even stood for them in time of need. Ah, hell, I think I've written a lot about SEDC here in this blog. But the words will never be able to convey the real feeling dwelling within this soul. The warmth that those children emanated and resonated with one another.

I found myself one of my greatest brothers and friends in form of a problematic student. He was almost kicked out, and I learned through him how to stand for someone. How to encourage people, how to motivate people, as well as how to be there in the time of need.

The problem from the outside kept coming, and that was my test of endurance. To be honest, I was never strong enough to keep standing firm. No, I shed my tears million times, both in front of them or behind them. The thought of quitting constantly came into my mind, but the students in one way or another expressed that I was still needed. And at that time, I learned how the true connection of students – teacher can be really strong. Though the teacher might be smarter or older, he doesn't necessarily need to be strong all the time. The students can be your source of energy.

During the hard period of my life, when I felt alone and loveless, the existence and smile of those students were rejuvenating. They made me realize, that though I possess no girlfriend, I still have them, and I would never be alone with them. The constant message asking for advice, the complains, the smiles, and the sharings are proofs that I am still needed and loved. Some people might consider it hyperbolic, but without those students back then, I might have committed suicide. They were the lanterns enlighting my dark path, when I encountered my inner demon and felt that I would lose.

With all those things, I was never hesitated to stand up for them. Though not always frontal, I even confronted my own faculty for them. I confronted some teachers that I used to adore and admire. Why? For the sake of those children.

The salary might never be enough in number, hell, some people even said that the salary was not humane. But, hey, not all things in this world can be measured by money. There are more valuable things, such as the appreciation that you got, the smile on your students' lips, the strong bond you forged, and the sense of belonging. Those are the reason for me clinging to SEDC for 5 years.

5 years of happiness, if I may say. Those years weren't always filled with laughter and smiles. But even the cries and the tears are making it more worthed.

SEDC, my very first class, my very first students, but will never be my end. The 6 batches of SEDC debaters, whoever you are, you will always live in my memory and remembrance.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Desecration of a Temple


Several months ago, I had the chance of accompanying one of my best pals to visit various Candi in Yogya. From him, I learned how people should respect Candi. He put off his shoes before entering the candi, went around the structure exactly 3 times, and really respect even the stone floor. Back then, he said to me that it is a sacred place for praying, and we should treat it as something really sacred. And at that time, my eyes were wide opened, that candi is really a sacred place, not just a pile of archaeological stones.

However, I faced a different situation when I had to escort my cousin to Borobudur several days ago. As people might know that Borobudur was one of the Seven Wonders in the world, it was supposed to be incredible. Moreover, it is also one of the biggest Budhist structures in the world, not to mention its unique configuration as a giant mandala to reach the Nirvana. I am not a Budhist myself, but with the background of Borobudur and its grandeur, it is expected to be respected.

When I got there, there was an announcement that people should not bring a food to the complex of the temple. Well, it was quite rational, since nobody would expect someone to eat in the mosque, church, or temple. And Borobudur is one of the famous temples.

But what did I found there? On the second level, I saw a family sitting in the corner and ate their meal there. They ate it as if they were eating in the park, not in a sacred place. Some of them are veiled women, while I shouldn’t judge them as super-pious, but it was a bit of a ironic scene, wasn;t it? Moreover, they threw away the garbage on the floor.

As a tourism object, surely many children visited the structure. But, most of them were not even interested in it. Well, not blaming them, of course, considering the nature of the children. But the parents themselves were not giving anything to their children. In their mind, they only consider Borobudur as a mere pile of stones from the time of long forgotten. Aaaargh! Does that mean they are allowed to desecrate it?

To make it worse, I accidentally overheard one of the tour guide explaining the relief. To my surprise, he told the tourists that the relief was about Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity. Jiaah. Borobudur is a Budhist temple, and it’s not even related to any of the Hindu Cosmology. Where the hell did they found this brainless and uncultured guide?

The most ironic one is that, the foreign visitors even respected the temple more than Indonesian visitors. Gee, and what about the campaign of preserving our own culture? The younger generation showed no respect and interest to it, and how would they preserve it??

And with all the disappointment, I officially ran out of good words to write here. Let me stop, or else I might write bad things. Period.