Thursday, August 8, 2013

A National Indonesian Holiday: Day of Silence

Day of Silence (Nyepi Day) is a national holiday in Indonesia when Hindu believers, especially those who live in Bali, celebrate their new year called Tahun Saka
.
Nyepi is derived from the quiet (silent). Nyepi Day is actually a celebration of Hindu New Year based on Saka calender, which began in 78 AD. Unlike New Year celebrations, Saka New Year begins with a retreat in Bali. There is no activity as usual. All activities are limited, including public services, such as International Airport is closed, but not for hospitals.
         The main purpose Nyepi is pleading before Ida Sang Hyang Wasa Widhi, to purify Bhuana Alit (human nature / Microcosmos) and Bhuana General  (macrocosmos of the universe). Before Nyepi Day, there are a series of ceremonies performed Hindus, particularly in the area of ​​Bali.

(http://niiapanpan.blogspot.com/2013/03/hari-raya-nyepi-tahun-baru-caka-1935_12.html) 

The following is a dialogue about the holiday performed by students of state high school SMA Negeri 5 Balikpapan.



Monday, August 5, 2013

How to Prevent Global Warming


LIST OF ENGLISH BASIC COMPETENCE



LIST OF ENGLISH BASIC COMPETENCE
FIRST SEMESTER OF GRADE XII
ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2013/2014

No.
Skills
BC Num
Basic Competence (BC)
1
Listening
1.1
Responding to the meaning in transactional conversation (to get things done) and formal and sustained interpersonal (social) accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life and involves expressions:  proposing, requesting, complaining, discussing the possibility of doing something, and giving orders.
2
Speaking
3.1
Expressing the meaning in transactional conversation (to get things done) and formal and sustained interpersonal (social) accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life and involves expressions:  proposing, requesting, complaining,  discussing the possibility of doing something, and giving orders.
3
Listening
1.2
Responding to the meaning in transactional conversation (to get things done) and formal and sustained interpersonal (social) accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life and involves expressions:  admiting mistakes, promising, blaming, accusing, expressing curiosity and desire, and expressjng various attitudes.
4
Speaking
3.2
Expressing the meaning in transactional conversation (to get things done) and formal and sustained interpersonal (social) accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life and involves expressions:  admiting mistakes, promising, blaming, accusing, expressing curiosity and desire, and expressjng various attitudes.
5
Listening
2.1
Responding to the meaning in formal and non formal short functional text (eg, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc..) using spoken language variety accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life.
6
Speaking
4.1
Expressing meaning in formal and non formal short functional text (eg, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc..) using spoken language variety accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life.
7
Listening
2.2
Responding to the meaning in the essay that uses a variety of spoken language accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life in the form of text: narrative1, explanation2, and discussion3
8
Speaking
4.2
Expressing meaning in the essay that uses a variety of spoken language accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life in the form of text: narrative1, explanation2, and discussion3
9
Reading
5.1
Responding to the meaning in formal and non formal short functional text (eg, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc.) using writtten language variety accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life.
10
Writing
6.1
Expressing meaning in formal and non formal short functional text (eg, banners, posters, pamphlets, etc.) using writtten language variety accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life.
11
Reading
5.2
Responding to the meaning in the essay that uses a variety of written language accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life in the form of text: narrative1, explanation2, and discussion3
12
Writing
6.2
Expressing meaning in the essay that uses a variety of written language accurately, fluently and acceptable in the context of everyday life in the form of text: narrative1, explanation2, and discussion3

Friday, August 2, 2013

The Indonesian 2013 Curriculum Not for All?

The Indonesian Curriculum of 2013 has been implemented at certain elementary, junior, and high schools since July 15, 2013. The implementation is targeted only for the schools decided by the central  government. The central government is "only" responsible to implement the curriculum at the schools decided. In Balikpapan, of 9 state high schools there 3 schools are as pilot projects. They are state high schools SMA Negeri 1, 2 and 5.

Other state and private schools welcome and are motivated to implement the curriculum. But, their principals and teachers haven't got official training from the central government due to limited budget. They didn't give up. They trained their teachers independently. The question is, "does the central government support them?".

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

A Fasting Telephone Operator

It was a fasting month, when Muslims didn't eat, drink, and other prohibitions from dawns to dusks  for the whole month. Muslims had pre-dawn meal before the decided time called imsak, which began before 5 a.m in Indonesia. Generally, Muslims had some sleep after imsak and before going to office.
At 5:30 a.m, I called a telephone operator to report my complain about the internet service. I dialed the popular numbers for help. I had to wait for the reply. When there was an idea to cancel the complain, the operator replied and greeted me. It seemed that he just fell asleep.
He guided me to do some instructions. "Please open the browser. Type the IP address. Type user name and password. Click quick start. Click next.", he continued to guide me until the last step. I had to wait for some time to restart the configuration. He and I didn't say anything. Silent. I was waiting until the system ready. When it was ready, I found my internet connection still disconnected.
I wanted to tell him the problem. But I heard he was breathing like someone sleeping. I was curious whether he was falling asleep. I was waiting. I kept silent. After a few minutes waiting, it was no respond. I didn't hear his closing sentences, "Thank you for calling. We're sorry for the inconvenient services. We'd like to fix it during 3 time 24 hours. Please don't give any tips to the repairman who come to your house." What I was listening was his breathing instead of the last statements.
I knew the operator must be very sleepy after having pre-dawn meal. I was sure he was fasting and so was I. I hung up the phone slowly in order it would not wake him up.
After that I went to office. I forgot I had called the telephone operator. Then, there was a call from home. A technician was at home fixing the internet connection.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

New Curriculum, New Challenge

The first week of the Indonesian Curriculum of 2013 implementation need more time and work to run it smoothly. In senior high school SMA level, there are still a lot to know either for teachers, students and parents.
In Balikpapan, grade ten students had had to choose what is called as interests offered namely, mathematics and natural science (MIIA), social science (IIS), and language science (IIB) when they enrolled at an SMA. After that, they have to decide what is defined as an interest cross in which they must choose two subjects outside their own chosen interest.
Then, the school prepares the teachers, rooms, and schedules to serve based on the student's interests. The students, after deciding the interest cross, must find the teacher, room, and schedule which suit their interests.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Welcome Curriculum 2013

The high school principals of East Kalimatan prapare fo the new curriculum which will be started on July 15, 2013.