Dedeh Suatini

Evaluation team from British Council Indonesia and UK came to Bandung on 15th April 2006 to have evaluation of Montage Projects as well as Link up between Indonesia and UK. They are David W Taylor, Educational Consultant from British Council London Dominic Regester, Senior development Officer, Worl Links, British Council London, Itje, British Council Consultant in Indonesia and Endro Catur, Information Officer, Development and Education British Council Indonesia..
They met me as Montage-Bandung Coordinator, and Ibu Teriska, the Head of West Java LPMP at Hyatt hotel at 8.15 a.m.
They wanted to know the development of Montage-bandung and the problem as well.

Having talked for about 40 minutes, we came to SMAN 3 Bandung to have Group Discussion Forum among the teachers and students who have been involved in Montage project and have link up with UK.The participants of it is 32. They were from SMAN 3, SMAN 5, SMAN 11, SMAN 23, SMAN 24, SMA BPK Penabur !, SMA BPK Penabur 3, SMA St.Angela and SMPN 13 Bandung.
They filled out the form given by British Council and discussed about projects they have done. They were also asked about the problem they had and what they supposed to have in future.
Having discussed about it in groups, one student of every group made a presentation in front of class, reading the result of the discussion. This discussion lead by Ibu Itje , The Consultant of British Council Indonesia. David wrote all the students and teachers result. While Dominic asked many question about Montage problem in Bandung
The result of GDF is :
1. Some students are still confused joining Montage project. There are so many links to join it.
2. Some students who have joined Montage projects feel boring for they cannot communicate with other students directly
3. The student who wrote about her mom in My hero project feel more respect to her mother.
4. The students wanted to make a club of Montage-Bandung where they can share their experience in joining different projects.
5. They hope their school can give more internet facility for them
6. They hope British Council can give fund for the facility they need.
7. They expect to have link up with UK in one online board where they can exchange and share their culture to have mutual understanding.
8. Some teachers found it was difficult to find out partners from UK
9. Most the students enjoy joining Montage project.

I finally told them that they had a very good idea for they wanted to have a club of Montage-Bandung. I also told them that UK and Indonesia would make link up, soon,
All students were happy to have the Group Discussion forum like this.
They hoped it would be held regularly.

Dedeh Suatini
Montage-Bandung Coordinator
PR of Jip Kota Bandung

Having made correspondence for about 6 months, we finally met face to face with Avon Valley College teachers at Sierra which has a very wonderful view in Bandung. They are, David James Macaulay, an Art teacher, Lucy Mary Goodhew, an English teacher, Linsey Baron, a sport teacher and Lee James Edward, a business teacher as a coordinator.. I would like to say thank to British Council and LPMP Batujajar which have facilitated our meeting. They would stay at LPMP for 3 days.
It was a wonderful time to meet them as we have failed meeting on video conference before..
Marc Jessel, an Assistant Director of Education from British council said in his speech that Tony Blair, Prime Minister from England came to Jakarta to have officially declared of Indonesian Global Gateway. Tony Blair hoped that there would be one thousand link up between Indonesia and UK. It will be a good chance to some Indonesian schools for having partner from UK.
At the same time, Marc Jessel gave a prize for the winners of Montage-Bandung Competition. SMAN 24 as the first winner, SMAN 23 as second winner and SMAN 5 as third winner. Each winner got a digital camera which will be very important for the teachers to join projects..
They came to SMAN 24 Bandung on april, 8, 2006 for experiencing teaching in class and then made discussion forum for sharing experience in teaching.
Some teachers from some schools joined this forum such as I.Ida from SMAN 5, I.Yanti from 23, I. Elly, I.Santi, P.Sofyan and me from 24 Bandung, I. Dede from SMAN Karawang 1, P.Yusuf from SMA ALOYSIUS, and I.Helly from SMPN 13 Bandung..
We finally decided to make 2 projects. They are Flat Stanley exchange and Tourist object exchange.
In flat Stanley exchange, Avon Valley College brought 12 stanleys which were exchanged with various flat from 7 schools in Bandung.. Some students in Bandung will make adventure to some places in Bandung and take pictures. Finally they will send them including their report. So do students in UK. Finally they will exchange information about both countries and we hope they will learn many things from the differences as well as similarities. This project will end in the end of July,
Our second project is exchanging tourist objects such as building, food, handcrafts and many things that are popular in each country. We will put them in the same website so that students in each school can see it. Finally we will download all students report and make a booklet of it. It will be a good result of our Link up between Wiltshire in England and Bandung in Indonesia. We will end this project in the end of October 2006.
We ended the meeting at about 3.30 pm and took them to Saung Angklung Udjo.
At the end of the meeting,
Lucy who is an English teacher from Avon Valley College wrote a comment in SMAN 24 website. Here is what she wrote:

. I feel very privileged to have been invited to SMAN24 to visit. I have been overwhelmed at how friendly and welcoming both students and staff are. I had so much fun talking to the class 3 Science 2. They all wanted to learn and understand about schools in England. I was so surprised by the size of the class. In England the classes are half the size with about 28 students.At snack time I was introduced to traditional Indonesian snacks. With all the different colours and tastes, i thought they were delicious. As well as enjoying my snack I was entertained by students who were playing traditional Indonesian musical instruments. I was so impressed. The students at SMAN24 seem very happy to be at school. As a teacher it is really good to see.I have enjoyed myself so much at your school this morning that i would like to come back and teach here again. Thank you for being so welcoming.

We would like to say thank you all. Your visiting make our students were happy. May we will be a good partner in a good relationship.

Special thank to Ibu Teriska, the head of LPMP Batujajar, west Java, who has welcomed the visitors so well. At farewel party held by West Java LPMP , the head of LPMP gave a present to each teachers from Avon Valley College and They gave a present from their school in return.

Dedeh Suatini
English teacher at SMAN 24 Bandung
Bandung Montage Coordinator