The Farewell Parties

Entering the last month of my staying, there are many parties that I attend. Among them are the Hiroshima Indonesia Association party and Cijeruk Farewell Party.

The Hiroshima Indonesia Association party was held in Century 21 Hotel in Hiroshima City on March 5, 2013. That party was sponsored by many companies which having branches in Indonesia or businesses with Indonesian Government. The party was one of the efforts to promote business relationship among the two countries. This party however is also a part of farewell program for those students who graduate and going to return to Indonesia this semester. Attending in this party are community of the Indonesian Hiroshima University students in Hiroshima, delegates of some Hiroshima based companies, and also many other invitation from both countries. Performing in this party are some Japanese and Indonesian traditional dances.

The Cijeruk Farewell Parties was a farewell held in our apartment. The word Cijeruk was originally from Chi Zuru, which is the name of our apartment. But as so many tenants are from Indonesia, the word Chi Zuru becomes Cijeruk, which refers to a place near Mount Salak, Bogor, West Java.  The Cijeruk Farewell Party was held in March 9, and sponsored by the Landowner. In this party, not only Indonesian community participating in this party, but also from my landowner guesses, from my laboratory room members and from Takeda Junior High School teachers and students.  Various Indonesian style barbeque, soup and dishes accompany all the guesses and the host chatted until noon in that sunny day. 

The Lesson from Playing Ski in Japan

As foreign students from tropical country, there is one important moment which cannot be just lingered: the winter. As much as other people from tropical country such as Indonesia, I expect the falling of snow. For those who come from four seasons countries, it may be strange that the coming of snow becomes one of attraction.  But for me, this is a moment in life that I can hardly find in my country.

In the winter last year, me and some of Indonesian communities were playing ski in Kotobiki. Before, I never knew how difficult it is to walk in the snow with ski shoes and ski blades until that day. I thought it was easy as I had seen in televisions, where even children can move, zigzagging and even racing with ski shoes and blades. Me and my friend rent the shoes at that time, but when I looked at the shoes I was surprised at that time as I look at the size of the ski shoes. It was so big and so heavy compared to my daily shoes. It was even very difficult to make a step with those shoes.

Though it was so difficult to move, I decided to try the ski blades. Holding the sticks tight to my hands I tried to make a move with the blades. It was very slippery. I fell to the ice many times, and every time I fell it was very hard to stand up. I have to call people around to help me fit my shoes in the blades and stands up. I happened on and on.

One time I was able to move more than 50 meters but, after that I could not make a turn and hit some trees.   After that I call again people to help me stand and fits my shoes. After three or four hours, I still could not make progress. I finally got exhausted and decided to go home. From that moment, I learn one thing. Playing ski seems to be easy. Yet in fact, it is very hard when you have to stand in someone else’s shoes.

Indonesia’s A New Curriculum

After many considered too many load in the content and many disparities in implementation level, the Education Level Based Curriculum or KTSP would be replaced with a new one. The new curriculum however would be introduced possibly in 2013.

The Education Level Based Curriculum or KTSP has been introduced since middle of last decade, but along the way this curriculum has harvested many concerns especially related its heavy load for the elementary school level.

Another concern also due to teachers’ quality which is considered to be remain unimproved. KTSP allows teacher to interpret and to implement the process of learning by themselves while referring to the standard of competence and process and standard of passing (Standar Kompetensi, Standar Proses dan Standar Kelulusan) endorsed by the Ministry of National Education.

But, in the implementation, many teachers are considered to have less of competence and professionalism in applying and elaborating these standards into an effective process of teaching and learning.

The new curriculum additionally gives more emphasize on learning process and directional for character building in each level of education. Though reducing the load for the elementary level, in secondary level, the hours for mathematics, science and bahasa Indonesia will be added.

What Indonesian Schools Shall Learn from Japan’s

Having a chance to study in Japan is indeed very meaningful experience in my life. In previous year of my study, me and our course friends were having an opportunity to have school visits in some elementary schools, junior secondary and vocational high schools in Japan. 

From visit to these schools, I found out that there are many differences which Indonesian schools or educators shall learn out of, and among others are:

School preparation :

The first impression that I get from many Japanese students in my visit in an elementary school in Saijo is their warmth hearted and friendliness. They made a line as they entered the school gate, with the leader carrying a small flag walked in front of them. Each of those cute little students greeted us with smile “ Ohayo gozaimashita”.

This maybe simple but very meaningful. It somehow showed me that education is not just a matter of study in the classroom, but also even to how to live in a group or community which requires discipline, teamwork, management skills, and leadership, and of course another important character, open heartedness and friendliness, revealed in their smiling faces saying “ohayo gozaimashita”.

 

School activities :

Japanese elementary schools students were very active and inquisitive in non lesson and in lesson time. In one of no lesson time, those little children show their activities by playing with soils, small insects, pets, and other things without being afraid. Instead those children were somehow observing these animals and soils, and looking so curious about them. Other activities were spent with playing some games with their friends. Some students have a piece of fabric attached with their bodies, while others running after them. In that occasion I happened to be one of the participants in that game.

The active behaviour of children was appeared also in lesson time. In the mathematics class which I observed, I saw how children were very spontaneous and curious with the lesson. Each time the teacher offers a question, many children seem to have no doubt to raise their hands and answer the teachers with their original ideas from their mind.

The condition above offers us some lessons for all schools and educators around the world. As for an Indonesian, I saw how Japanese schools offer different environment and situation for children to learn. Though some efforts have been made to create a character building environment and funs learning for children, many children were still seemed to be passive in learning. In non lesson time, many children only stay in the canteen, chatting with friends or playing games or sports. There are no activities like observing pets, plants, insect as in Japan. And those who play games or sports, when they have to come to the class for lesson, many of them were still left on the field or canteen, or come to class but without concentration because they were very exhausted and hungry after playing.

In lesson time, interaction between students and teacher, and among students, in many schools, seemed to be dominated by teacher.  Many children were quiet doing nothing but listen and follow the teacher instruction. They somehow study but not necessarily learn.

 

Finally, I would like to say there are many differences and lessons where we can learn from elementary schools in Japan.  

Education in Indonesia

Staying abroad for more than a year sometimes makes someone feels a deeper respect to the native country.  Me for example, having lived in Japan for more than a year, I feel so concerned when I see news about current situation about my country, fascinated when someone cook Indonesian meals, and interested if someone use our traditional clothes.

The next August 17 this year, Indonesia celebrate its 67 anniversary. Having fought for 350 years our country we finally got independence. Yet even if we got the independence, there are so many things we need to fight. We must still fight against poverty, inequality, illiteracy, unemployment and many other things.  

Back to 67 years ago, our country was still very backward. Only few people got education. Those only from the rich families, or high class society can get education. Not many people can enter high education. Today we put hope a lot for changes through education. We have so many problems because there still too few people get educated.

As one of lucky Indonesian who studies abroad, I hope education will play important role to reduce unemployment, settle many horizontal conflict, eradicate the poverties, and many other issues in our society. 

I believe that many problems in our country now is because people do not know the importance of education. By education, I believe there will be no more act of indifference. For education should make people responsible for their beloved country.  And finally there will be no more act of indifference towards poverties, unemployment, conflicts, and so on.

Master Seminer

Among many experiences in joining so many courses in IDEC, one of the most challenging course is Master Seminar. 

Joining such course reminds me of my study experience more than 10 years ago. Though I have thought that I have prepared the best, I don't know what kind of situation, criticism, questions or comments would I face in my presentation. I was feeling very lucky however to have such an opportunity to express my ideas about mathematics education.

It is opening my eyes about many phenomena in mathematics education. Through this course, I find out that teaching process and learning process is not as simple as it seems. And in case of Indonesia, there are many things that need to be improved in mathematics education.

I chose the title of Teacher's Knowledge on Content and Teaching in Using Problem Solving in Indonesia. This is a very difficult topic to present, yet it was also very important issue for my country. And of course I don't have too enough confidence to present this topics without consulting with many other people, including my neighbor Ghafur san and Tuswadi san, and other valuable advises and help from Baba sensei and member of his lab. 

Honestly I don't really get used of making presentation. My hands were wet and my heart beat so fast. When I read my presentation, I made many incorrect spellings. And when I finished reading some questions making me aware of possible misunderstanding and also ideas. For instance when Justus asking me about problem solving approach. I thought he was asking of type problem solving classification. But soon after, I understood what he was saying.

Anyway, though I have many difficulties before and during the presentation, I got many important feedback in this presentation and valuable insight for development of my research forward.

Thank you