Teaching better English (Issue 23, 2011)
Ana Nurul Laila is from Indonesia and has come to Australia to study a Master of TESOL at La Trobe University. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) was an easy choice for Ana, as the English language has played a big part in her life.
Ana chose La Trobe University for her Master degree for three reasons, they are:
- the broad range of subjects in the course;
- La Trobe’s reputation for being a big university surrounded in natural bushland yet still close to the city; and
- the fact that she wanted to make friends with people from different countries.
She found her transition to Australia very easy and stress free, being introduced to the city by another Indonesian student.
‘My adjusting period was quite smooth. I stayed with another Indonesian student who was very helpful and kind. He showed me everything I needed to know about Australia and how to live in Melbourne,’ says Ana.
Ana loves her life in Melbourne, which she shares with her husband and son. She enjoys the different pace and lifestyle of Melbourne from that of Indonesia. Melbourne’s quintessential icons – AFL football and trams – are some of her favourite things.
‘My most enjoyable experience here in Melbourne is the trams. I travel a lot on trams. I really like to go from end to end of a tram line. Just so I can go places and see how Australia really looks and sounds.’
When recalling her first experience with AFL, Ana can’t help but laugh.
‘It was a game between St Kilda versus another team that I cannot remember. I was asked by my Indonesian friend, who has been here in Melbourne for five years and who is a huge fan of St Kilda FC.
‘The atmosphere [at the game] was crazy. I could still feel it even when I was on the train home. Black and red was everywhere. It was loud and crowded. I didn't understand the rules of the game, and I still don't, but really enjoyed myself. I could scream and shout and laugh at I don't know what!’
When Ana is not enjoying the Melbourne lifestyle, she is hard at work studying for her degree. She also volunteers in Ikatan Australia Nusantara (IKAN), a student association that helps people who want to learn Indonesian.
Ana has great plans for her future and is keen to help her institution back home develop and grow.
‘In five year's time, I see myself doing my doctorate in Australia or somewhere in Europe. Finishing my Master degree, I will go back to my home country in early 2013. I will help my institution improve their curriculum and syllabus and do one or two research projects. In around 2015, I will try to find a doctoral scholarship. After that, I will go home again to my institution to teach, to improve lessons, and to do research. Fingers crossed!’