Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

RETURNING STUDENTS REPORT FROM

ABROAD
Personal Identity

Name

: Rusmiati ZA

Students Number

: 230 414 447

Place/Date of Birth

: Aceh Besar/ Nov 06th 1986

GPA

: 3,6

Programs Name

: International English Language Study Program (IELSP)

Destination/Address

: South Carolina (Columbia) , USA

Permanent Country and Address : Indonesia/ Jl. Blang Bintang Lama Ds. Beurangong Kec.
Kuta Baro Aceh Besar 23372
Duration : 2 months

ACTIVITIES
Study program:
a.

English Class
This is the main goal for students of this program in South Carolina. There are three
classes we have to take : Grammar Writing (GW),

Reading Vocabulary (RV), and

Speaking Listening (SL) with 6 levels and 6 is the highest one. Before starting to study, we
had to take a placement test to measure our ability and to be placed in appropriate classes.
In the class, we are required to participate actively especially concerning to speaking
ability because the students in a class are from variery countries in world so we have to
communicate with them in english. There are the differences when we study in abroad
from in our home country, were required not to postpone our task on the day because our
other tasks are waiting for the day after it so that we have to finish our task in a day.
Besides, the teacher always appreciate the students work and teach us as hard as he or she
can until we understand. The system of studying is little different where they often use
game in studying and a student who win the game will get reward from the teacher.
1

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

b. Weekend home stay

At the first week we were there, there were some families who want us to be in their
house. We were picked up in the morning on Saturday in the apartment where we stayed.
We sleep in their house one night and were returned to the apartment on Sunday at 5.00
pm. What made me impressed here is the style of their house where there is one floor
underground. It looks small but it has complete well-organized furniture in it. I just very
amaze when I were at their area that a sentence turn up in my mind a place where I just
saw it in TV before but now it is in front of me, I am really here now. Our house parent
at the time also took us to play ice skating. It was the first time forms me and my friends
to do it, so it was really interesting that we fell for many times but we enjoyed it very
much.
c. USC class observation
What we did of this is we observed some USC classes in some majors. There is a big
difference from our country where both the student and the teacher are free to do what
they want in the class. I mean that there is no word polite as we mean here. I saw there
were some students who came late, played game in their mobile phone, ate and drunk in
the class, slept, did other works in the class, but the teacher did nothing on it. They also
wear sandal, mini skirt, etc and they can use their mobile phone but not to ring it in the
class. The teacher sometimes also sat on the table in teaching. What I assume of this is
that they are free to do what they want to anytime, anyplace as long as they dont bother
other people.

Cultural program
a.

Presenting Indonesian Culture in DJJ (department of juvenile justice)

DJJ is alike a jail for children who did crime. They not only stay in jail, but also get
illumination. We did two things here : the first is we make such a small exhibition where
we showed many tradional things from many parts of Indonesia from Aceh to Papua such
as Pinto Aceh and Rencong pin, jelbab, wayang, Indonesian currency, and many other
2

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

things. This exhibition was not only from Indonesia, but it also from Japan, Saudi Arabia
and other countries. The children in the jail were divided in some groups and they went
around and stood in each table of a country to see the things for five minutes. The second
thing we did here is to perform our traditional dance : Likok Pulo. They were really
excited with this dance because it is dynamic. They were curious how we can do that fast
movement but it is all at once until they asked us to teach them and tried to practice it in
front of us.
b.

Governor mansion
We were invited to Governor mansion party one day. What we did here is to take some
cakes and a glass of water then gathered with other people (standing) for talk and we also
hear to a short speech of a governor senate. All of us wear Kebaya and Batik or
traditional costume. They like to see us wearing that costume.

c. Indonesian Fiesta
One of our friends house parent suggested us to make a party called Indonesian Fiesta
in his house. We invited our classmates who come from different countries to this party,
so that we cooked Indonesian food such as: fried rice, perkedel, kacang rebus,etc. This
party was held in the yard. They asked many things about the food and it was spicy for
them. After they ate the food, we perfomed Likok pulo dance and they were very glad of
it that they gave the great applause when we stopped one movement all at once.

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

COMMENT
It is not such an easy thing that people can study abroad and not all of the people can
have this opportunity, so that it was a very greatful chance for me to pass this IELSP scholarship
program to study in University of South Carolina, Columbia SC, USA. There are many
usefulness of this program because besides studying English as the International language in
native country and studying the culture of western country undirectly, I also get many very
valuable experiences either with international or with Indonesian friends.
Im glad that I can study English in America with the students of other countries where
we have to speak only with English. I know the system of how they teach the students,
appreciate them in the class. The teacher is really well-prepared when they teach and always give
the comment on our work as a motivation for us. Besides, I saw the western life of how they
dress, how they behave, what they like to do or what they dont like to directly. As a muslim, as
far I noticed that many of them really dont know about Islam at all.
Other best benefit is that I have many friends from different countries and from each part
in Indonesia. It was a great event that we speak each other with our own dialect and language
that sometimes it was hard to understand, even between Indonesian students itself. In this
occasion, we truly use English as a communication tool. Finally, this program is really useful
especially for English students, generally for all students.

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

PICTURES

This is SL5c (Speaking Listening level 5) Class. In this class, we have to practice our
speaking and listening in many ways : watching movie, listening to cassette, games, singing,
etc.

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

This is RV5b class (Reading Vocabulary level 5). This is the last day of studying that we
played baseball with our teacher (in the blue). Our team defeats the teacher team.

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

This is GW6b class (Grammar Writing level 6) at the last day of learning. We studied at
horseshoe, outdoor such as a field. We played some games here.

Returning Students Report From Abroad

2008

This is close to EPI, a center place for students who study English in USC (University of South Carolina)