After a process of selecting candidates to be teachers in international junior/senior high schools in Papua Province, 16 Papuan teachers were selected and were sent to attend English language training for 11 weeks in the campus of Indonesia-Australia Language Foundation Bali in Denpasar. The teachers were from six regencies in Papua Province, i.e. 6 from Jayapura, 3 from Jayawijaya, 4 from Merauke, 1 from Nabire, and 1 from Boven Digoel.
The training aims to improve their basic English language competence, both oral and written, and their professionalism in teaching-learning process in classrooms. During the training, they will be taught by two teachers, one native speaker of English and one local teacher. They will attend sessions five days a week from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. On Saturdays, they may use the resource center facility for independent study.
The methods used in this training are based on the principles of; needs-oriented (based on the needs of the institution where the teacher will teach), learner-centered (focused on the needs of each participant), learning-centered (focused on the learning of each participant), and task-based. The participants will be evaluated with progressive evaluation method that includes achievement and motivation of each participant, levels of the tasks in the program, and final results of the speaking, listening and writing tests.
The training will run from October 3 to December 16, 2011. The opening of the program was held in IALF Bali campus, attended by Jacob Hutubessy (staff in Human Resources Development Section of Papua Province Education, Youth, and Sports Bureau), Irwanti Sarewo (the head of Human Resources Development Section of Papua Province Education, Youth, and Sports Bureau), Caroline Bentley (IALF Bali manager), Vladimir Pejovic (IALF Bali academic manager), Candra Dewi (IALF program officer), and the participants.
After the opening ceremony, the participants were taken to a campus tour to get to know all the classrooms and facilities of IALF Bali, including the resource center where the computer, Internet, and books were provided, and to be introduced to their teachers. Upon completion of the course, the participants will depart to Australia to attend a program of curriculum, pedagogy and ICT review in the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland for ten weeks.