v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
junaidi Mistar is a
lecturer of Islamic University of Malang (Unisma) and now is the chief of
English Education Program at Post Graduate Program (PPs) in Unisma.
He is an example of how a student’s life totally changes
because of the magic words from his professional teachers. This report
investigates about the role of teacher’s professionalism as the pivotal point
in English language teaching in Indonesia.
Pak Jun, when I look at your prevailing career as an
English lecturer, I guess you are a very successful learner. Would you please
share your experience in learning English?
Well,
my English learning can be categorized as unique because I experienced being
very frustrated for
the first time I studied in the English Department in
IKIP MALANG (now
it
is UM) in 1986. I felt as an
underdog. This happened because I did not get enough training of English during
my Senior High School. I was not a graduate from general Senior High School but
I graduated from a Vocational School for Teacher Training
(SPG). In my SPG, English was only taught during the first year. After that, for
the second and the third year, there was no English subject. That is why when I
joined the English classes in the first semester at IKIP MALANG I was shocked
and I could not follow the class well. The lecturers always spoke using English
and I could not grasp the meaning at all.
Then
what did you do to overcome this situation?
Well,
because I still could not manage my problems I failed almost all the subjects,
except Structure with the score C. Once again, I was terribly depressed with
the result. I came to my academic advisor to discuss the possibility to move to another department. Of course, she refused that idea. On the other hand,
she motivated me very much. She
told me that I will be successful as long I’m persistent in learning English
Were you motivated with these words?
Sure, it raised my awareness to study much harder. When I was at the second semester, I
made a learning group named as Underdeveloped Students and continued practicing English. We spoke English to each other even
though we continuously made mistakes. What made us maintain self
confidence was that the students surrounding us were not English students.
So, they would not understand if there were mistakes.
What
was the result of learning together?
My achievement
increased quickly and I could complete my study well . Soon after that, I
taught in Unisma and beside that I also
continued my study in IKIP MALANG and after finishing my S2 in IKIP MALANG, I
completed my Ph.D. in Monash University, Australia.
Wow,
great! Did you also find
problems in teaching English?
Yes,
of
course. I often deal with low motivated students. Many methods that I try to
use seem fail to raise their motivation. But I
never give up,
Why?
This is part of
the teachers’ jobs. Besides teaching and facilitating students, one of
prominent role of teacher is motivating the students. A professional teacher is
not only the one who is good at English but also owns a capability to motivate
the students.
What
is your recommendation for the teachers?
For the teacher,
they must be aware that instead of mastering English and pedagogy, they must
always motivate and build good relationship with their students. Good
relationship means that both the teacher and the students trut each other. This
is very important to make the teaching and learning successful
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-style-parent:"";
line-heigh t:115%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:" Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNew Roman";}
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-style-parent:"";
line-heigh t:115%;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:" Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNew Roman";}
table.MsoTableGrid
{mso-style-name:"Table Grid";
border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}