Thursday 17 December 2009

A LANGUAGE SCHOOL WITH LIVING VALUES


Independent English Course is introducing "Living Values Project" to all students in 2010.


The idea is simple: Independent wants to be an English course which not only teaches English but also helps and gets involved in developing the nation, especially in the field of moral and ethics education. Independent wants to help students and parents and all partners to preserve universal values highly upheld. There are some worries that throughout modernization, people will forget their living values. With the project to be launched in 2010, Independent wants to take part in preserving local wisdom as well as universal living values.



There are 12 living values known so far and internationally recognized by the United Nations. They are: peace, love, responsibility, modesty, responsibility, cooperation, honesty, humility, tolerance, ...., .... and ....



We hope that in the future we will have young generation who maintain and practise living values to change the world to be more peaceful and lovely world to live in.

Sunday 6 December 2009

UT SCHOOL ENGLISH TRAINING PROGRAMME-BATCH 2

On Monday 30 November 2009 Batch II Students of United Tractors School finished their 30-day intensive English training. The closing ceremony was organised on the fourth floor of UT Learning Center building.

During the closing ceremony, all students performed their English competence through songs, marching, parody, drama, documentary films, speeches and so on. Teachers and students had worked together to prepare those performances.

During the closing ceremony, Mr Musyawir and Mrs Djuni Utami, on behalf of board of school directors, gave some motavation to students. They encourages all students to keep practising their English in their everyday life. Mr Thomas A. Sutadi, director of Independent, also stated that the closing ceremony was just a starting moment for students to use English intensively in their life.

Mr Thomas also explained about the modules for the students' OJT (On the Job Training). For the next 11 months, the students would have to go to their job sites in Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Adaro and Batu Kajang. During their OJT programme, the students would have to study English individually or in groups and they would have to do some assignments. In October or November 2010 the students would be back to UT School Jakarta for English final examinations. We wish them good luck.

Tuesday 24 November 2009

NON SCHOLAE SED VITAE DISCIMUS

Since 1 November 2009 Independent has put a banner with the following words:
"Non Scholae sed Vitae Discimus
Independent English Course
a language school with living values".

Some students and people ask what those words mean.

Non Scholae sed Vitae Discimus
It means : We study not only for school itself, but for life.

We study not only for getting good marks, certificates, diplomas or transcripts... but we study to be able to live and to add to the quality of life... not just to survive. Studying should be a process of finding oneself, recognising the weakness and strength, the potential and the talents and everything that can be developed so that you can improve them, develop them, make them better and use them to make your life betterand more useful, to make your neighbours and society better, and to create a better world. Studying just for good marks, certificates, diplomas and transcripts is only creating false development, low-class society, stupid people, underdeveloped people... One thing for sure... if you study at schools, universities, boarding schools, pesantren, or study at home, you must know what to achieve: LIFE.. a better life, a more human life, a more civilised life.

A language School with Living Values
Independent is established not only for an institution which introduces English to students and help them to master it, but also an institution which encourages students to uphold and apply 12 living values. The living values here are the ones stated in all religious teachings and implicitly contained in Pancasila. Students learn English at Independent and at the same time apply honesty, hard work ,loyalty, respect to others, and so on. The 12 living values are encouraged through some activities... and will be done intensively for the next twelve months.

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Today, Tuesday 27 October 2009, Independent English Course Bogor started to organise the intensive English language training for the second year students of Batch II of United Tractors School in Jakarta.

The programme started with an opening ceremony. There were some speeches from Director of UT School Jakarta, Mr Amin Santoso, from General Manager of PT United Tractors Service Division, Mr Idot, from Service Division Mr Teguh and from UT School Mr Musyawir.

Sixty students are put in 4 different classes. After a week, the students will be put in different classes so that they can get along with other students from different sites. Like the first batch joining the training in July-August 2009, the second batch is also handled by Miss Siti Wastunnahari (coordinator), Miss Ramadhani Nuryunawati, Miss Sri Rejeki, Mr Dwinanto Nugroho and Mr Muhardi. Students are expected to be active during the training, also during their On the Job Training programme held from December 2009 to October 2010.

Saturday 10 October 2009

NEW PART-TIME FEMALE TEACHERS REQUIRED

Independent English Course Bogor is now opening a situasion vacant for some female English teachers who can handle classes in November 2009. The candidates must be very good at English (at least Diploma III in English) and able to teach children... They must be friendly and able to work independently. Application letters and CVs must be sent to Independent by 17 October 2009.

Saturday 3 October 2009

BATIK DAY

UNESCO has declared that Indonesian batik is one of the world culture heritage that must be preserved. The government urges Indonesian people to wear batik on Wednesday 2 October 2009 so show our love and care about batik... Independent teachers and staff wore batik yesterday, also to show that we love batik and we love our nation. Viva Indonesian batik!!!

Thursday 1 October 2009

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES 2009

Today, Thursday 1 October 2009, Independent English Course Bogor starts the working days and course activities after a two-week holiday. There will be some activities done in October:

1. UT School intensive English training programme for batch II will start on Tuesday 27 October 2009. Miss Siti Wastunnahari will manage the programme together with all teachers.

2. Meanwhile, the English distance learning for batch I of UT School is still running. The students are in their respective job sites in Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

3. Living Values learning activities will be conducted in October. Miss Cicilia E Atmintarsih will give the training and all teachers and students will take part in the activities related to one point of the 12 living values.

4. Classroom activities will run as usual, with new students joining and new classes opening.

Sunday 27 September 2009

ACTIVITIES IN SEPTEMBER 2009

1. Idul Fitri Holidays
Independent English Course closes from Saturday 19 September to 30 September 2009 for Idul Fitri holidays. Classes and office hours will resume on Thursday 1 October 2009.

2. Breaking of the Fast
On Friday 11 September 2009 Independent teachers and management held a breaking of the fast. It was a simple "breakfast" but organised well to honour all Moslem teachers and partners who had worked together with Independent so far.

3. Go green
Independent facility support manager, Mr Lilih, has been working on Independent's "go green" project by planting tomatoes and chillies in polybags. The plants make Independent look greener than before. The project is aimed at introducing students to organic farming and saving environment.

4. UT School English Intensive Training for the first batch finished on 28 August 2009. The students later join an 11-month on the job training (OJT).

5. UT School English Intensive Training for the second batch will start on 27 October 2009 and will last till 30 November 2009.

For further information about Independent English Course activities, please come to visit us at Jl. Taman Cimanggu 50 Kota Bogor.


HAPPY IDUL FITRI


In conjunction with Idul Fitri Holiday,
Independent English Course management, teachers and students
would like to wish you
a very happy Idul Fitri 1 Syawal 1430 H.
May the holiness of Idul Fitri and the spirit of Ramadhan strengthen your faith, hope and love so that you will serve God by loving others more seriously.

Friday 21 August 2009

RECENT AND NEW CLASSES

In August 2009 Independent opens new classes for new students. As usual, Independent provides small classes so that students will have more opportunities to express themselves in English. Each class normally has about 3-6 students. Although new students have different timetables, Independent tries to accommodate their need.

Meanwhile, classes at UT School Jakarta are still running. The intensive training will end on Friday 28 August 2009. After that, the students will go to different sites for their OJT (On the Job Training), and Independent will support them with an English distance learning programme. Miss Siti Wastunnahari will supervise the programme, supported by Independent teachers.

Wednesday 29 July 2009

UT SCHOOL ENGLISH TRAINING PROGRAMME STARTED


As planned before, the English training programme at UT School Jakarta started yesterday, Tuesday, 28 July 2009.

The training was officially opened by Mr Amin Santoso, the director of UT School, during an opening ceremony held on the fourth floor of UT Learning Center building, started at 8 o'clock.
Some people such as Mr Amin Santoso, Mr Edot (UT Service Division GM), Mr Bustamamsyah, Mr Teguh, Mr Maryono and Mrs Juni Utami gave speeches. Independent English Course also introduced the teaching staff who would handle the English training: Mr Thomas A. Sutadi (director), Miss Siti Wastunnahari (Training Co-ordinator), and the teachers: Mr Muhardi, Miss Ramadhani Nuryunawati, Miss Sri Rejeki and Mr Dwinanto Nugroho.

At 10.00 the students took the Preliminary English tests in their own group/class.

The intensive training programme will last till 28 August 2009 and will be continued with a long distance learning programme for about 10 months.

Thursday 23 July 2009

UT SCHOOL ENGLISH TRAINING PROGRAMME

UT School Jakarta has trusted INDEPENDENT English Course Bogor to organise a special English training for UT School second year students for acedemic year 2009/2010. The training programme will be held at UT School at Jl Raya Bekasi Km 22 Jakarta.

The training will be given to 128 students and held in two batches:

1. Batch 1 (64 students) will start on Tuesday 28 July 2009 and finish on 28 August 2009.After 23 day training, the students will join OJT (On the Job Training) for about 7-10 months) in different areas in Indonesia. During the OJT, students learn English through distance learning programme that we hold. After OJT, they will come back to Jakarta to join a 3-day English final examination.

2. Batch 2 (64 students) will start 3 months later. The training will be held similarly.

The UT School English training programme is conducted through a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) scheme, and hence it is not business oriented.

This training programme will be held continuously from year to year. From 128 students who join the programme, some of them will continue to join another English training programme for higher level. If we can organize the training successfully this year, UT School will automatically ask us handle all the training programmes.

Wednesday 10 June 2009

WE'RE BACK

We apologize for the technical problems that made this blog unable to renew any posting from March 2009. Now we are back... We hope that we can still help you to improve your English.

Monday 2 March 2009

Independent’s First Anniversary


Sunday, 1 March 2009 is a special day for Independent English Course Bogor. It is the first anniversary…

The history started in January 2008. Mr Thomas rented a house at Jalan Raya Taman Cimanggu 50 RT 03/Rw 01 Kedung Waringin, Tanah Sareal, Kota Bogor. Then he put an advertisement in the Radar Bogor to recruit teachers and administration staff. Some banners were also prepared and made.

There was preparation period from 14 February to 28 February 2008 … At that time Miss Irma and Mr Thomas prepared the classrooms, did the marketing, organised the administrative affairs, etc.

In March 1, 2008 we started the course activities. We had some students… Miss Ramadhani joined and handled the classes… Till then, the course licence had not been issued by Dinas Pendidikan. This lasted until 31 July 2008. Then, at the end of July 2008, Dinas Pendidikan gave a temporary course licence, and effective from 1 August 2008, Mr Thomas handled the course full-time… and together with other staff organised the course.

There have been many achievements so far such as the growing number of the students, the recognition from the government (by the issuance of our permanent course licence on 31 December 2008) and the new interests from personal parties, formal institutions and big companies in having cooperation with Independent. We hope that in the future Independent will grow up and will be able to serve the society better.

Ad multos annos

Friday 13 February 2009

SIX SPECTACULAR TECHNIQUES TO MASTER ENGLISH QUICKLY

ONE: Learn English through simple things. Use the words about things around you… food, drink, utensils, vehicles, feeling, weather, etc. Use simple expressions or phrases such as greetings and daily questions… (How are you? Where are your friends? Would you like some juice? etc.)

TWO: Use your English every day... every time you can use it... on and on... Speak a lot... Write a lot... Listen a lot... Read a lot... In short, be active!

THREE: If you do not have any people to talk to, TALK TO YOURSELF... as if you talk to other people. When talking to yourself makes other people disturbed, do it in your heart and mind.

FOUR: Just talk... Just read... Just write... Just listen... Do not be afraid of making mistakes... Making mistakes is human nature. Anyway… speaking is free... reading is free... writing is free... and listening does not need money.

FIVE: Do it from now. Do not wait until tomorrow what you can do today.

SIX: If you do not agree with these tips, just do tips numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Good luck.

A MESSAGE BY GEORGE CARLIN




Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate?

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done largerthings, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. Atime when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life

Monday 5 January 2009

YEAR END GRAND PRIZE 2008


On Tuesday, 23 December 2008, Independent had a special activity: Drawing Out of Grand Prize Coupon. At about 2pm Independent students gathered to witness the drawing out of the Grand Prize Coupon. The recipient of the prize was Mia Sylvia Sanjaya, a Lower Intermediate II student. Unfortunately she did not attend the event as she still had something important to do outside… For the prize, Mia got a brand new Phillips DVD player. She expressed her happiness when she was contacted through her mobile phone. She finally took the prize from Miss Irma on 24 December 2008 and she told Independent that the DVD player was good.

The coupon was drawn randomly from many numbers. Students who pay the monthly course fee on time (1st – 10th of the month) deserve coupons which will be drawn out twice a year. The prizes could be a hand phone, a DVD player, a VCD player, DVDs, books, or other useful things.
Congratulations, Mia.