Learning a foreign language is an essential journey for your minds. Research affirms that learning a foreign language not only enhances cognitive prowess, but also build multi-tasking abilities while sharpening memory functions. Amidst the enchanting landscapes of Bali Island, renowned worldwide for its allure to travelers, English is the most foreign language spoken in Bali Island.
The northern side of Bali stands as a lesser developed than the south side. Here, within the undisturbed beauty, the embrace of English remains less pronounced compared to its bustling southern counterpart. In the picturesque village of Les, nestled in the northern reaches of Bali, a gap in English education emerges, particularly felt by young learners in grades 1-3. With a lack of English instructor in local schools, some students find themselves navigating the linguistic landscape alone.
LINI extends its presence among the coastal communities of Les Village through our program at the LINI Aquaculture Training Center. Highlighting the importance of empowering these communities through education and science, our initiatives aim to address their needs comprehensively. Among these initiatives, English classes play a pivotal role. We have observed that the communication barriers often hinder lack of confidence of locals in engaging with the foreigners who come to their village. Without effective verbal communication, valuable opportunities to share their knowledge and culture with global citizens are missed, limiting their experiences and perspectives.
In 2023, the English class at LATC has come back to life after a hiatus induced by the challenges of COVID-19. With renewed vigor, we launched an enhanced English curriculum, based on our learning in the past years. The curriculum encompasses foundational English learning such as alphabets, numbers, daily vocabulary and conversational skill. To ensure an enjoyable learning experience, we have integrated with engaging games to promote rapid understanding and foster a spirit of fun in learning.
Our class gathers every Saturday at 3:00 PM at our Center. We recall our initial gathering, attended by 15 children from grades 3 to 6. We have seen their excitement towards the class as they eagerly invited friends for following sessions. To our delight, the momentum only grew stronger, with an impressive turnout of 36 children in the second week. The English classes continue to attract new participants weekly, driven by testimonials like that of Sofi, a fifth-grade student who improved her performance in English exams at school.
Moreover, our lessons are enriched with relevant topics one example is waste awareness that highlighted through a beach clean-up activity held on February 21, 2024, aligning with “National Waste Awareness Day.” It was heartening to witness the enthusiastic participation of children who eagerly delved into waste classification firsthand. Through hands-on experiences like these, we not only foster English language skills but also cultivate environmental consciousness and civic responsibility among our young learners.
Beyond the English class, the LINI Foundation aims for children to apply English in their daily lives, especially during interactions with foreigners in Les village. Our vision extends far into the future, where we place our trust in the younger generations to leverage their English proficiency to unlock a world of opportunities. Whether pursuing higher education or embarking on career paths, we believe that fluency in English will be a vital tool for success, enabling them to navigate a globalized world with confidence and competence.
In the near future, we are excited to introduce English classes tailored specifically for the fishers of Les Village. This initiative comes in response to a request from a group of fishers eager to enhance their English skills, particularly in the context of eco-tourism. As we prepare for this endeavor, we are developing a curriculum that caters to their unique needs and interests, with a special focus on topics relevant to snorkeling and scuba diving activities. By equipping our fishers with the language proficiency required for sustainable eco-tourism endeavors, we aim to support them in diversifying their livelihoods and ensuring long-term prosperity for their community.
By Fanfuji Ananda, Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley and Eveline Kurniati