MIPA BILINGUAL PROGRAM IN SMPN 1 BANJARBARU

   In the end of 2007, our school headmaster started to introduce new program in our school, SMPN 1 Banjarbaru. It is a program of using English language not only for English subject but also for mathematic and science subject (MIPA). It is a government program for certain high schools in Indonesia. And our school is the first junior high school in the district which starts to apply this program. It is not an easy job for a school to have bilingual program. Therefore, the former headmaster of our school chose not to apply this program, although it has been offered to us since two years ago. Fortunately, the new headmaster of our school agreed to start this program in our school. But actually, the beginning idea came from teachers to have it applied in SMPN 1 Banjarbaru.

In November last year, all English and MIPA teachers of our school were so busy attending some trainings of bilingual program. We invited some speakers who had known more about this program to share their knowledge to us. There were speakers from The Educational Department, from Unlversity of Lambung Mangkurat, also teachers from school that had applied bilingual program earlier. Then, we also held an urgent English course. English teachers of our school had to give English lessons for our mathematic and science teachers. We can actually send the MIPA teachers to follow an English course at a bona fide English course in town, but because our school has very limited budget for this program so we prefer to use our own human resource, that English teachers, to do this job. Later, when the government have supported our school with enough budget, we will send our MIPA teachers out to learn English.

As one of the English teachers in our school, I take part seriouslyto have this program run successfully. During the preparation of this program last year, my English colleagues and I helped the MIPA teachers up grade their English by giving them extra lessons after school. These lessons included the material about common English language used in teaching and learning process. Also, material of general English to help them accustomed to speak English in daily activities.

In January this year, our headmaster chose some English and MIPA teachers to be in a core team of the bilingual program. Mrs.Fakhriati, the first English teacher, was chosen to assist two mathematic teachers, Mrs.Dasmi Nil Wardah and Mrs.Titi Wahyu. And I,the second English teacher, was chosen to assist two science teachers, Mrs.Rusmilu Gaya Murti and Mrs.Lisna Fara Wahdini. Each of the English teachers has to help the MIPA teachers to teach mathematic and science lessons well in English.

I, automatically, have double jobs now, my main job as a second grade English teacher and my additional job as English colleague in science team. I have 28 teaching hours a week now; 16 hours from the main job and 12 hours from the additional job. I try to cooperate well with Mrs.Rusmilu and Mrs.Dini. They mostly need my help in translating the Indonesian science material into English. They also need me to help the students to use correct English answers for each questions from them.

Compared to mathematic team, science team have more English language to comprehend. It is because in mathematics there are more numbers to deal with than language to deal with. Fortunately, symbols of number are the same both in Indonesia and in English. I give my salute to my science colleagues who have good enthusiasm in doing their jobs. They really work hard to perform science lesson in English language. Mrs.Rusmilu might feel this job is a big respondsibility for her, that is why she thinks hard of it most of the time. And it might be the reason why she is not in her fit condition now. Mrs.Dini and I are very sorry for her. A week ago Mrs.Fakhriati from the mathematic team, was also similar. She had to get a medical treatment for over a week, for her unhealthy condition. She works very hard for this bilingual program. from the beginning she was one of the teachers who made a hard effort to have this program applied in our school. Now, she also has 28 hours to teach in a week. In the future, we hope we will be able to be strong enough to do this job well, so that in the year 2010 our school will have the real bilingual program that requires all teachers of all subjects to speak English during the teaching and learning process. Amiin…

Sumaryani

February 28,2008