Welcome (Me) Again

Hi there !

I am just starting to write again. So, almost two and a half year I stopped writing here as I have to focus on writing mini thesis and doing my job as a Geographic Information System (GIS) operator. Today, I only want you guys to know that on the next day I will start to write (again) maybe some information about my job, travel stories and any kind of recommendation or a review.

Stand by for more ;)

Cheers!💟 

EAP & IELTS Preparation Course (LBI UI)

View inside LBI buillding

This year, I took several course at LBI (Lembaga Bahasa International) Universitas Indonesia. My aim was the IELTS preparation course (As I want to pursue my master degree in foreign countries) and at this place you should have passed the "placement test" that they held around one month before you can join the course. For this test you will ask to pay (eq. administration fee) around 100.000 Rupiah (apx. 7.5 USD). This test includes listening, reading and writing part. One thing to note is that "do well in writing section". Because, later I know that examiner tend to give higher points if you do well in writing task. But, unfortunately, I  failed and the examiner suggest me to take EAP class first. So, I did.

After join that class, I began to improve. For instance, I developed my writing skill as it began to be more organized, I started using more sophisticated words (academic words) and learn to be more confident when converse in English. It takes around thirteen weeks to complete the course and after that I tried to take the placement test again. Finally, I get into IELTS prep class.

Then, I join IELTS preparation class level 2. They have three to four class level and what is the differences? At level 1 you will be given an introduction to IELTS, question-types, band scores, etc. It also purposely a class for people who in the "placement test" get (predicted) band scores 4.5-5.0. At level 2 and 3 the band ranges from 5.0-6.0 and >6.0, respectively. The course fee is presented below.

• IELTS Preparation Course : Rp. 1.650.000/level (apx. 124 USD)
• EAP Course : Rp. 1.500.000/level (apx. 112.5 USD)

source : lbifib.ui.ac.id (2017)

IELTS 2 Book

IELTS 3 Book

In the first day, you will be given a test or they called it as "entry test". Entry test is a kind of IELTS mock test and the results will be compared later (with exit test/final exam).  The teacher did so well even they are not an English natives. You will get two teachers which is one of them is responsible in writing and reading part and the other one for speaking and listening part. They also giving a lot of practices and tips so we will be familiarize with the question types and get higher band score (as you didn't as nervous as before you ever learn them).

Last month, after I finished the course test, I get the results. Thankfully, I increase my band scores! I get one point higher than entry test. Even the band did not reach my target yet, I believe soon I'll reached that. So, I continue to higher IELTS preparation level at LBI UI. Soon I will share what I learn and tips to increase your band!

Keep on believing yourself!

Cheers!💟

Job Clinging vs Job Hopping

Job Seeker

This is one of the essay I wrote for IELTS writing task 2 in my preparation class. Please do not copy for your homework or any assignments because I can not make sure that this essay is "completely" use right grammar or well-organized as I just practice by my own. Do not mind to ask or advice for my essay in the comment box below!

Q : 

Some people work for the same organization all their working life. Others think that it is better to work for different organizations. Discuss both views and give your own opinion!

A : 

Many people think that stay in the same company will bring benefits to their career. However, some people also believe that it can hinder their career journey and start to move into different company. 

One of the reasons why people trying to keep stay at the some company all their life is because their salary and hopes for promotion. It is true that loyalties over one company will help their career development and influence their salary. Some people also get to promote and manage to reach higher position. But, for those people who did not get to promote and already worked for several years, they should try to consider moves into different field or company. Remain in a job for too long can also led into losing the ability to effectively compete against new comers, lose the purpose and excitement in job and decrease the quality of work performance.

Changing jobs will risk some people but it can also give them great advantage in their career path. For example, they might find a job that offers better salary, develop their skill and they can also get a lot of connections. Many people get benefit as a new employee while they can negotiate their salary based on their skills and experiences and they can learn new skill in a new role at the company. When they enter new environment, they also can get to make connection that can also help in their career.

In my view, changing jobs is better option when we can not get what we were wanted and hoped in the old company. Even there are some risk that could happens, exploring new career will enhance the work performance, gives a chance to get better salary and also new connection that can help to develop their career.

Cheers!💟

EAP vs IELTS

Before finishing my last year in University, I started to join English Education Program in Lembaga Bahasa Internasional (LBI) at Universitas Indonesa. At first, I joined English for Academic Purposes (EAP 2). In that class, I learn A LOT. As you know from my old stories (Young Leaders for Indonesia) that I rarely using English in my daily life and obviously I gained a lot from EAP class. And also, I met best teacher who taught me very well. 

After finishing that class (EAP 2), I started joining IELTS 2 preparation program. Each program held for 13 weeks. And last week (12th August) is my exit test so I just finished my exam and hopefully I can increase my band. Because, in the entry test, I only get band average around 4.5 while I aiming for band above 6.5. 

In the IELTS class, I learn more about question-types, how to answer them, several tips and practice. I think it is better to take EAP class before IELTS Preparation class because in EAP class you will get more materials whereas in IELTS class you will be given more time to practice. Later, I will share my stories, maybe some information and knowledge I gained from both these class.

If you interested to take some class in LBI you can get more information in this website!

Cheers!💟

Young Leaders for Indonesia (YLI)

March 2017 - as I wanted to join YLI program, I try to write an "English" essay (for the first time). Because one of the requirement is submit an "essay" with several topic options. At that time, I realize that I never write essay (in complete) using English before. Even I interested in writing since middle school as I started to write in my (old) blog, I never write in English because I rarely studying English and has not confidence in active English. But, fortunately, I love to read -literally "anything"- so even it is write in Bahasa or English, I will read. And that's why even with (only) my basic knowledge, I stubbornly write one and submitted it for YLI program.

Young Leaders for Indonesia

Even though I didn't get accepted, I learn a lot! So, I want to share my essay which is I choose topic number 2 about my recent, meaningful and impactful situation when I was leading teams. As I write about this topic, I find out more about myself and it is really interesting as I getting know about my own view and really refresh my mind. And this "very first essay" lead me into one new hobby! Write.

This is my essay (without any replacement and modification) :

------------------------------

Nelson Mandela said that “It always seems impossible until it is done”. This quote has engraved in my heart since two years ago. It is started when I was being appointed as a leader of academic division in Rumah Belajar BEM UI. It is an educational and social program where anyone can learn and plays together. In this place, I learn a lot about how a leader faced an impossible thing.

At that time, I have already teaching in Rumbel for one year but neither experience nor courage I have to accept the position as a leader. I was in a deep thought as I was really afraid to take the challenge. Meanwhile, I also feel excited because the team was looks so fun and reliable. Also, the children in my class supported me to do so. Then, after discussed with the former committee, colleagues and family, I decided to join the team. And suddenly, unpredictable crisis came to us.

Our team leader, the head of Rumbel decided to leave with unpleasant ways which he just disappeared without saying anything to the team. My heart was stopped and I started to remember all the face of children in the third grade that I have taught before. I’m afraid if we as a team can’t solve this matter what will happen to them? Is the program will be stopped? The vice-team leader, our last hope, looks so worried as she only a freshman students. I started to chat with her as I didn’t want her to be afraid and give up in this program. I convince that we will be alright and she shouldn’t worry too much because everyone in this team will help with anything we could. And I didn’t realize that this crisis has affect and fortunately increase my own self-esteem.

In academic division we have three responsibilities, manage the class every Saturday, provide an adequate number of teacher and for Kejar Paket groups we have to help them accomplish their target. And personally, I think that provide a sufficient amount of volunteer to become a teacher is not easy. At the beginning, the number of teacher was only 25 people. In contrast, the total childrens are four times more than teachers which makes the class inefficient and hard for the teachers. So, besides I ask help to another committee to take turns for teaching in the class, I also discussed the problems with the team members. And then, we started to hold a Rumbel open days or “YukNgerumbel” where anyone can get an experience to teach in Rumbel. And finally, they get to know and interested to join in Rumbel so in the second enrollment we can get 38 people with a good integrity. To sum up, sometimes we think that the impossible things are impossible to do. But, if we look back, we are always faced this problems. The only differences are whether we give up or built up the courage so we can accomplish it.

------------------------------

 

With writing we can learn and gain many positive attitudes and I hope this story will help you to start write your own essay! Good luck!

Cheers!💟