Tips on Improving English

 

Hello folks, 

I hope this time that I am able to reach students audience who are eager to continue their study, attend free summer schools in other countries or simply those who want to be able to speak English for working. 

Well, let me say that I am just a person who love to improve my skill. I once could not understand English at all.Just some basic knowledge in Senior High School. Just love to pick up a new vocabulary and use it so I can remember it. This writing is a genuine reminder that the skill will be present for those who seek. The important is setting goals and knowing how to get there. I am a hometown girl, born and raised in small town of Bajawa, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara attended a local average high school. Our area has no English courses institution (during my school days)- This information is to energizes you, to motivate you that we all can dream, can make it happen. I can so you too.

Firs of all is setting your goals. Whether you want to continue your study or simply to put it in your CV. By this goals as example,  you know that you have to pass certain TOEFL score. 

It is said that aim step by step. You can reach a top of mountain (speaking and writing very well) but maybe reach for a certain score first.  

Graduating from high school, I entered uni my TOEFL score was around 300 (2007). At that time I didnt event know it is good or bad and I didnt care. When it was time to graduate, it was required to test again and mine was around 400(2011). During that time, 2007-2012 of course I attended English Uni course, well the goal is just to pass the course and at least can read English literature while attending uni. At least to get a B and so all good. Somehow. While there are some student who have awared the important of TOEFL score in getting abroad scholarship or attend summer scholarship. I recommend you to look for opportunities. If you think you are still far away from that at least you know TOEFL score it's quite important.

Real life, adult life came. You don't have time to play, get lazy or ask your parents. There is yourself to be fed, bills to be paid. I somehow was forced to find a way to improve my CV. Why? I don't have an outstanding GPA (and no, its not the only requirement nowadays), I don't want to work in Chemical industry, but I love to learn new things and don't limit myself for opportunities. My short goals was I wanted to work in INGOs at the time then continue study so I can back home. I don't see myself working longer time in Jakarta. Since I know my goals I then try to improve my TOEFL score. 

How? Consulting and borrowing my friends, other fellow student who passionate in learnings English materials and apps. At the time, they have tried  official TOEFL test/IELTS and they had planned to go for master degree abroad.

 Lucky me, that I have a really good friend that love to teach, share and believe and motivate fellow friends that they can if they want. He said that once someone graduate, it is easy for them to get above 500 score. They are willing to share their tips and how they learn so if it suits your learning style you can copy them or adapt in your convenience. 2. Attend TOEFL prediction test ( its cheaper then the official one/ITP 

Secondly, use all the resources you have. Nowadays, we can have all the apps for learning in our mobile phone. Use your time wisely. Realizing that I have difficulties in understanding and catching English words in listening section, I then listened do the sound of TOEFL listening section for months, really for months every night even I don't understand. I become familiar with the question, how it sounds and it really helps me facing my TOEFL test. 

After all, the last tip that I can share is that being yourself, being brave to  practice, learn, to make mistakes. I wrote simple daily life story in English in this blog in my early days focusing. I join an English club. I was in Jakarta at the time and joined Brithzone in Senayan while I was working in West Jakarta. Well, if you know how the hectic during weekend in transJak Harmony Kalideres but I managed because I have a clear goal.

Once you know your objectives, set your goal, you can use your resources well and don't be shy to practive.  My friend ever say to me, no don't posts in English, its like you brag about yourself.  I mean do like I care? All I do is learning. From that, I can get job easily, I can feed myself and my family and I can catch my dream. Follow your gut, always!

Keberangkatan ke New Zealand 1

 

I am humbly thanks and grateful for beautiful words,support and advice you have shown along the way, God, dear friends and the universe. 

Halo readers, di post kali ini saya akan membahas cerita perjalanan saya ke New Zealand.  Puji Tuhan, bisa mendapat pengalaman berkesan seumur hidup seperti ini. Once in a lifetime to have such leisure experiences. I know a lot of friends are happy for me, especially those who knows that how many times I have been trying to such an opportunity. I have been failed many then finallygot this amazing trip before 30. 😊 I am humbly thanks and grateful for beautiful words,support and advice you have shown along the way. 

Kok bisa ke New Zealand? Sekolah lagi kah? Pertanyaan ini akan dibahas dalam postingan ini.
Semoga postingan ini,  bisa memberi pencerahan dan berbagi inspirasi untuk mereka yang punya keinginan untuk ke luar negeri.

Program yang saya ikuti adalah program  INSPIRASI untuk pekerja NGO ( LSM)  yang belum berusia 30 tahun. Target peserta adalah pemuda dari kawasan timur Indonesia.  Program ini merupakan program kerja sama UNIONAID dengan pemerintah New Zealand. Berikut adalah requirement yang harus dipenuhi oleh calon peserta:

Saya kebetulan bekerja dengan WISE-WASH in Southeast Asia, semacam start up ( jadi masih muda dan baru, foundernya anak TL ITB), social enterprise yang bergerak di bidang lingkungan, air, dan sanitasi. Fokus utama WISE adalah pengembangan komunitas, perubahan perilaku dan pengembangan kapasitas. Layanan kami mulai dari bergerak bersama komunitas juga menjadi konsultan dan melakukan penelitian. Dua tahun pertama saya lebih akrab dengan konsultan & penelitian juga internal organisasi )  dan belum maksimal di pengembangan komunitas.  Untungnya di program INSPIRASI New Zealand ini kami akan belajar banyak mengenai pengembangan komunitas juga peningkatan kemampuan berbahasa Inggris. Masih banyak kekurangan saya dalam menulis laporan berbahasa Inggris. Jadi kalau sering postingan bahasa Inggris itu karena memang lagi belajar menulis.

Perjalanan dengan WISE dimulai dari 2015 sebagai volunteer kemudian part timer di Agustus 2017 ketika sidang selesai sambil menunggu wisuda ( field manager) .  Lalu Oktober 2017 menjadi full timer di WISE ( core team member). Thanks to technology, semua tim WISE bekerja dari  jarak jauh. Jadi saya bekerja dari mana saja, kadang di Mbay, Kupang dan juga New Zealand, selama ada akses internet. Kemudian teman saya, Yoke, salah satu founder WISE bekerja dari Singapura, juga teman-teman lainnya ada yang dari Palembang, Berlin, Kamboja dan Bandung.

Saya juga sebagai volunteer di Yayasan Sao Mere  (Yayasan Solidaritas anak, orang muda dan perempuan) yang berlokasi di Mbay, Nagekeo, fokus sebagai tim fundraising. Namun belum maksimal. Proposal masih gagal, haha, tapi tak apa, berproses.

Namun baiknya adalah selama proses pengembangan diri di sini, job desk utama adalah mengikuti kegiatan dengan baik selama 6 bulan. Lainnya paling menulis dan posting aktivitas harian. Thanks WISE for the good working environment & support. 

Proses seleksi berlangsung ketat karena banyak sekali kandidat yang tertarik. Setelah mengirimkan persyaratan administrasi juga menjawab beberapa pertanyaan penting, pada tanggal 19 Maret 2018 saya mendapat email dari ibu Sherly dari Yayasan Bhakti kalau saya masuk shortlisted. Puji Tuhan! Kami kemudian diberitahu untuk mengikuti proses selanjutnya  pada tanggal 12 April 2018 untuk mengikuti proses wawancara di Hotel On the Rock, Kupang. Sekitar 8 peserta shorlisted dibagi ke dalam 2 kelompok wawancara.

Berfoto bersama pewawancara. 1 vs 5 pewawancara (BaktiID, UNIONAID, Kemenpora RI,  & NZ Embassy) juga peserta lain dari Sumba & Kupang. 

Pembukaan proses seleksi

Proses wawancara terdiri dari 3 tahapan dan dilakukan secar abergantian oleh kanditat. Tes Bahasa Inggris yang terdiri dari writing dan grammar. Kemudian semacam focus group discussion dan berakhir dengan wawancara 1vs 5 (quite surprise on this, biasanya 1 vs 3). Saya sempat pesimis tidak terpilih, karena pada saat wawancara saja sudah dikasih tahu kalau akan ada program yang sama di tahun depan, jadi semacam firasat, gagal lagi nih.

Lalu yeayy, ada email masuk dari Laila di 21 April 2018. God, really, I am going to New Zealand! I coulnt believe it! 

Sempat galau karena saya sempat membantu mengajar di salah satu perguruan tinggi di Kupang sekitar 2 bulan  Untunglah masih awal semester, jadi bisa digantikan dosen lain), mengajar mk Kimia Lingkungan, Kimia dan sedikit mengenai Pencemaran Udara. I miss the class but definitely have to choose NZ.

Passpor OK, visa OK, lalu kegiatan pre departure di Jakarta  selama 2 hari dengan materi oleh Kemenpora RI & Kedutaan New Zealand.

Kiri Ke Kanan : Sherli ( Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia), Citra ( Burung Indonesia), Tirsa (Heka Leka), Ete ( Perkumpulan Pikul), pak Imam ( Kemenpora), Trevor D Matheson, Duta Besar NZ di Indonesia., Ifa ( Yayasan Lemina), Tiwi (LBH Makassar) dan Fauzan ( TenunID) ---OUR HAPPY FACES BEFORE DEPARTURE

See you on the next post. 
Posting from AUT Library, 2.22 pm.