Many things have happened these days, but I have not had time to absorb, sink in, and reflect on them. There was no time to sit a while and make a note. The break semester, which I thought could be a peaceful and relaxing time, did not turn out that way. Instead of having “me time” to read and write, I had to attend many online meetings. The big thing that came up this semester is Ekspedisi Patriot, a program held by Kementerian Transmigrasi. This year, they called UI to conduct community service in transmigration areas in Kalimantan and Papua. Of course, UI is not the only university. Others, such as IPB, ITB, and ITS, are also given the mandate to fulfill the duty. This call makes me remember what my team did last year in Masamba, South Sulawesi. At that time, we helped transmigrants in Lantang Tallang Village analyze the main commodity that supports their family economy. We realized that our activity did not address their main problems, which were far broader than academic studies alone could address. They need infrastructure, like roads and bridges, to transport agricultural products from villages to markets. Recently, I heard that infrastructure programs for Lantang Tallang Village are being implemented. In the era of state budget efficiency, that is heart-warming news.
It needs a compulsion to run away from tasks, duties, and the “must-do” matters. No plan, no ifs, just act. That was what we did when we went to Garut, one of tourist destinations in West Java. Garut was famous for its natural spots, hot springs, and culinary delights. The city is surrounded by Mountain Papandayan, Guntur, and Cikuray, so we can enjoy the morning breeze and warm nights. We have not had time to go to the hot springs and tea hills. We picked Rose Garden in Sukakarya, Samarang District, and we are not sorry for that! The garden was very beautiful with lots of blooming roses, orchids, begonias, and many more. We took a break at a cozy cafe near the entrance gate. But for coffee lovers, you might be a bit disappointed with the taste. However, the souvenir shop was very good. You can find a variety of hats, T-shirts, wallets, and other handmade goods from local artisans. The stitching is good, and the color is not gaudy. Three days in Garut were wonderful.
Another oasis during my semester break was a teacher-training course on EMI: English as a Medium of Instruction. The next semester, the Department of Biology will open the International Class, or Kelas Khusus Internasional (KKI). The KKI Program is being implemented broadly in the Study Programs at UI. Many Departments can no longer avoid this top-down regulation. Part of our preparation for KKI is taking the EMI Training Course. For me, taking EMI is more than just KKI’s preparation. Last year, I registered for the program, but I was very disappointed when they canceled. So, I was relieved that this program finally took place this year.
Taking a course in teaching is always fun and fruitful. First, you learn new things about pedagogy. It may be about how to build up confidence, how to deliver teaching materials, or what applications we can use for student assessments. Second, we get the student perspective as we ARE the students in the EMI class. This perspective is important for self-reflection. For example, we often think that our instructions were clear, either in formative or summative tasks. However, based on the evidence, students might find them confusing, biased, or not well-constructed. So, in the EMI course, we learned how the teacher delivered lectures and instructions. Lastly, because all of EMI’s participants were lecturers, we learned from each other, which was the most interesting part. I found many interesting topics outside Biology, especially in the social sciences and humanities. A lecturer from International Relations gave a talk about war. The other talked about climate change injustice. Even lectures on science, such as welding and gravity, became fascinating. The teaching techniques and English proficiency of younger lecturers are also valuable lessons for me, as I come from an older generation.
Well, eventually, my semester break was nice. If something does not go as you want, you can always put it in another way so that it still benefits you. Remember, as Darwin said, survival of the fittest is the matter. It is the process, not the result, that we should be happy for.
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