So, it’s official, I’m a teacher now. Didn’t think you’d be getting a Sophie edition of Conservation Education Station so soon? Quite frankly, I didn’t either. This wonderful opportunity presented itself to me quite unexpectedly, but I am thrilled it did.
Let me give you some background. Before coming out to Java, I tried my best to get to grips with some basic Bahasa Indonesian on duolingo, but let’s be honest, learning a language is far easier when you’re not on the other side of the world. As soon as I arrived, I knew that this was something that I would need to dedicate some time to. With an intensive course on the cards for early next year, I was impatient. After some digging, I was introduced to Dika at Primary English in Garut. He explained that if I was willing to give some English lessons, I would be given Bahasa Indonesian lessons in return. Without any experience of teaching English, but with a whole lot of enthusiasm, I happily agreed and was eagerly awaiting my first lesson.
Picture the scene. I arrive at my first lesson with eight, somewhat-confused teenagers sat in front of me. I immediately knew that the lesson plan I had made was probably more suitable for a bunch of three-year-olds who had never watched a television before. Seen as I was pretty sure these guys knew how to say “Hello, how are you?”, I chucked my naïve curriculum out of the window. With that gone, I resorted to what I know best… slow lorises.
To say these past couple of lessons have been enlightening would be an understatement. The enthusiasm that the anak-anak (kids) have for our lovely lorises is beyond refreshing. I mean, slow lorises are pretty cute, it’s not a huge task to get people excited about them. But it goes so much further than that. After one lesson, the students not only learnt some of the threats that lorises face, but they also left having been introduced to the essential part slow lorises play in the ecosystem here around Garut. You should have seen their faces when they heard that lorises were venomous.
What was meant to be a humble English lesson turned into a whole new, loris-loving curriculum. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress. Who knows? I might be able to give lessons in Bahasa soon… (hold your horses, Sophie). I’ll leave you with a particular highlight. I was interested to know whether these city school kids thought that lorises would make good pets. “Yes, of course! They’re cute!” came booming from the back. Before I could say anything I was beaten to it by one particularly spunky student; “No! They’re almost extinct!”, she retorted. You could practically hear my heart singing. To know that this relatively-unknown and, quite frankly, strange little creature is getting the attention and the coverage it deserves is a reminder that our work here at LFP is not only needed, but is truly making a difference.
P.S. I just want to let you all know that I did my entire first class with whiteboard marker all over my face. Safe to say I’ve learnt my lesson.
