Puppet Show in an English Class

HOLDING a puppet show is an idea for teaching English used by Ibu Hanik Shofia, S.Pd, an English teacher at SMP 2 Boyolali, who also happens to be a DBE3 District Facilitator. This method uses the ICARE technique, which consists of Introduction, Connection, Application, Reflection and Extension.

In 2006 Ibu Hanik participated in the national competition on using learning media. She won the fourth place with her paper entitled “Making Use of Abel Macho to Improve Students’ Speaking and ‘Twelve Sided Dice - an novel teaching aid to improve student competencies in speaking English’

“Since joining DBE3 program, I feel that I have become more creative in using the local environment to give enjoyable lessons in my classes, “says Ibu Hanik. The puppet show is one example of her creativity in teaching. All equipment for the puppet show is made from recycled materials. Ibu Hanik made the stage from a wooden crate and, as for the puppets, they are made of plastic bottles, paper and material.

During lessons the students are actively involved, starting with brainstorming and then making up a story which they have to act out with puppets. All the characters are created by students. By actively involving students in the lessons, Ibu Hanik hopes that her students’ life skills including their personal, social and academic skills will improve.

Karsa Mandiri Community Learning Center

THE community Learning Center (CLC) Karsa Mandiri, a community-based organization located in Beku village, Karanganom, Klaten, Central Java, is one of DBE3’s partners. The cooperation between this organization and DBE3 has been in the form of their involvement in the Non Cash Grant program, focusing on sewing training for people living near the CLC.

The sewing training program began in February 2009 and ended in April 2009. DBE3 supported this activity by providing equipment with the value equal to IDR 15 million. Support for the training also came from the community which gave IDR 3,959,000 in cash.

Now CLC Karsa Mandiri has developed a bag production business. The bags produced by CLC Karsa Mandiri are not only marketed locally but also sent to Yogyakarta. The bags can be found at Toko Swalayan Progo in Yogyakarta. In addition, CLC Karsa Mandiri get orders from institutions which conduct training programs.

Hasanudi, S.Si, manager of CLC Mandiri, said that he was optimistic that CLC Mandiri would expand its activities and businesses. He said that what has been achieved was the result of hard work and support from DBE3 Central Java. “By partnering with DBE3 I hope that CLC Karsa Mandiri will become a more self-reliant organization,” says Hasanudi.