Wednesday, 30Aug06

Highlights: Embassy (my badge), train the trainer training, met a bunch of Americans on Fulbright

Shared a cab to work today with Brook,,, always an opportunity for interesting conversation there! (= and hadn’t set two feet in the embassy before I was scrambling to get across town to meet Regional English Language Officer at his office.

I’m participating in an effort to teach English to Indonesian Marines for a month in Surabaya. Between my boss, the RELO & myself, we figure the most effective approach is for me to help improve the English of a few Marines who already speak English moderately well- so that they can continue “teaching” their peers after I leave.

I’m excited about the opportunity to meet my Marine peers in Indonesia,,, help them out a bit & get to know what life is like for them here. From what I heard today, their language lab facility is a step removed from non-existent. Still using reel-to-reel?

Hopefully we can get around the ‘lack-of-investment’ obstacle with a little can-do spirit & creativity. That’s what the Marine Corps is made of! A lack of finances & an abundance of creativity (= ha ha! Perfect.

In the process of learning how I’ll be training the trainers, I was introduced to a group of 20 or so Americans on Fulbright who are training to go out to 10-15 different towns & cities across Indonesia and teach English to high-school students here for 9 months! Great group of guys. I sat in on their practice “lessons” and watched them introduce games to teach how English adverbs are formed; and basic vocabulary exercises; and the value of descriptive words & adjectives.

I’ll definitely use some of their techniques when it’s my turn to be the teacher in Surabaya next week!