A Morning in 2014

The article was written on 2013, but I edited it...hahaaa....

It has been 2014 and I'm still in the same character I was.

No expensive shoes and bags.

Still the same person with this old heejab style.

Still the same person who loves laughing out loud.

Still the same person with "not too high" TOEFL score.

Still the same person with anxiety.

Still the same person who is sometimes said as "lebayatun".

Just let it be...

But, at least I have experiences which I can share to my children: my working experiences.

1. In the end of 2004, I started teaching in SD Cemara Dua. I was invited my friend, Ari, to be one of the teachers in the extra-curricular program of the school. I met some extraordinany friends teaching there, such as Rini, Fatma, Shinta, Dini, Ika, Erla, Catur, mas Yudhis etc. Here, I found that teaching young learners was not easy. We had to be creative in making games, realia, and sometimes working with songs. Some games that we applied here were guessing game, word whispering, snake and ladder, and many more. Almost everytime before the teaching day came, we shared our teaching material. Unfortunately, I left this school in 2008 because I had to choose at that time between the school and SMP 20. (I had more teaching periods in SMP so I left the elementary school).

2. In the beginning of 2005, I started teaching in LTI. It stands for Lembaga TOEFL Indonesia. In this institution, I learned many things about hard working. When we have to supervise a test in Wonogiri at 8 a.m, for instance, we really had to come to LTI office exactly at 6. When we started supervising at 1, we would be able to go home at least at 4. It was accounted for only one period of working. With this institution I visited some schools that I had never imagined before such as schools in Boyolali, Sragen,Wonogiri, Klaten, & Sukoharjo. I was also sent to teach to some schools, such as SDIT Nurhidayah, SMA Al Islam 3, and SMK Warga. I met the same persons as in Cemdu here, such as Ari, Rini and Shinta. What I liked from LTI at that time was that all teachers there spoke in English each other although we met informally. Now, I still visited the institution to meet mbak Rini and Umi ^_^

3. In the end of 2006, I graduated from my undergraduate degree and was accepted in P2B UNS (Language Center) as a part time teacher. I met some persons who had worked for LTI before, such as mbak Wuyi, mas Dion, mbak Vesy, and mbak Ellisa. I also met Shinta who has been my working partner for a long period of time. Working in the institution, I can say, is the most convenient among others. We teach in a room with AC and the teaching schedule and agenda are clear. I also met some UNS lecturers who inspire me very to be a professional teacher. Compared to my experience in elementary school before, teaching university students is more convenient since they are mature enough to respect their teachers. It is possible to speak using 100% English to them since they are selected students who are able to study in the government university. However, sometimes I met students with no motivation in learning English. It doesn't matter; they exist everywhere :D. Agree? Or if you don't agree with me, perhaps you have to come to schools, especially the low level ones, to know how everytime the teachers have to devote their time & energy to speak loudly, to run, and manage the class well, unless, other teachers or perhaps the school principal will warn them ^_^

4. In 2007, I went to SMP 20 as an English teacher. Everything ran well in the institution; moreover, I was also pointed to guide some students who were accounted for competitions. I was happy because my student became the first winner of an English contest held in Gramedia Solo Square. But, everything changed in 2010. I can't write the fact here, but it was not only me in the difficult position. Hundreds or even thousands of non-government teachers in the country were in the same difficult position like I was. Furthermore, in 2012, I was forbidden to teach English; I was asked to teach other subjects: Indonesian and ICT. It's really  a bitter situation in my teaching journey. However, I can't blame anyone for this. I just can pray that someday, in this life, or in the life after the death, I can meet some policy makers to complain to them that what they have decided gives big effects to some people like me ^_^

That's all my little note in this beautiful morning ^_*

Just do the best and smile ^_^

Allah is with us.

Manda

***a short note while printing my documents for meeting my consultants***