Teaching in Malang
Invaluable experience in Indonesia
UNIVERSITY of Southern Queensland student Linda Walton’s pre-service teaching career has taken her from Melbourne, to Biloela and Malang in Indonesia.
Mrs Walton will graduate from USQ upon completing her Bachelor of Education in a few months.
She studied for her degree off-campus from her home and travelled to Brawijaya Smart School in Malang as part of the four-week placement thanks to the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan program.
During her stay at East Java’s second largest city, Mrs Walton rarely encountered anyone who had met an Australian.
“However, one man asked me where I came from and I asked him if he had met any Australians before?” Mrs Walton said.
“He said ‘oh yes, many, I have been to Bali’.”
She said it was an invaluable teaching and life experience for her and her family.
“I travelled with my husband and two teenage sons. It took about 13 hours to travel to Malang city,” Mrs Walton said.
“I started work at 6.30am each morning to teach the Year 4 students. They were so keen to practise their English and ask lots of questions happy, bright and full of energy.
“I spent every lunch break in the canteen with the students, eating what they eat and participating in their daily routine as much as possible.
“They were excited to show me around, help order my lunch and share their table.
“I taught English, Science and Mathematics and planned my lessons according to the available curriculum. I think my style of teaching was new for the students.
“I am forever grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to every pre-service teaching student.”
Photo: Contributed