25/01/2009
Students Exchange Program 2008/2009, a joint program between Pandu -Indonesian Language Course and Australian Indonesia Association Victoria District. Click here for more detailed. 

23/12/2008
New articles and exercises at database.

02/07/2008
Behind the scene. Teaching Indonesian Language is not as easy as people might think. Lets hear your favourite instructors said about what it takes to be successful teacher. Click here for getting up-close and personal with Pandu personnel.

22/01/2008
The third Immersion Program was held on January 7-19, 2008. AIA sent three participants to join the program. For further info, click here

28/12/2007
FUN-tastic Award 2007 are dedicated for 5 students with most outrageous behaviour. Click here for the detail.

IndoAustay Students Exchange Program 2008/2009

This program, which was conducted between December 3rd, 2008 to January 13th, 2009, was a joint project between Pandu -Indonesian Language Course and Australian-Indonesian Association (AIA) Victoria District, supported by The Counsellor (Culture) of Australian Embassy, Jakarta. This program was attended by 9 students (year 10-11) who came from different schools around Victoria, Australia. During this 6-week program, the students went to different high schools in Yogyakarta, which are: SMA Negeri 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, SMA Muhammadiyah 2, and SMA Kolese DeBritto.

( 1st line, from left to right: Bebe Ryan, Caitlyn Walsh, Kelsey Fyffe, and Shalley Robins)   ( 2nd line, from left to right: Lonan Lardner, Timothy Newman, Patrick McLean, Tamsyn Caruso, and Joseph Griffiths)

The objective of this program is not only to learn Bahasa Indonesia, but also to learn the Indonesian culture. The exchangees had to deal with the culture difference and to fit in the environment. There were events which made the exchangees experienced culture shock to the huge extend, especially when they had to deal with Islamic Sacrifice Day (Idul Adha). From the depth discussion following that event, they learnt how to see things from different point of view. They were urged to widen their way of thinking, tolerance, respect to cultural belief, and in the end to be mature.

During the program, the exchangees stayed in Indonesian host families. The platform of host families are those who have at least one child who are in the same age with the exchangees and went to the school where the students were supposed to study in Yogyakarta. The exchangees created bond with their host-brothers and sisters through discussion, leisure activities, and so on.

The exchangee's activities varied from educational to leisure ones. Besides going to school, they were asked to participate in Cross-Cultural Day, where they shared and discussed about youth issue in Australia in comparison with Indonesia. This event was also attended by Indonesian students from various schools. The exchangees also performed a drama which told a story about the History of Australia, from when it was discovered until nowadays situation.

The exchangees also visited some places of interests such as: Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Sultan Palace, Tamansari Water Castle, Mount Merapi Observation Tower, etc. They also had some interview in several radio station to share about their experience. There was a day when the exchangees together with their host-brothers/sisters headed to a traditional village to observe the traditional way of living in Indonesia, including planting rice and so on. 

It was not easy for the exchangees to come to Yogyakarta, away from their parents on the Cristmas and New Year Eve. However, they made their own christmas celebration which also invited their host families. They prepared the food and showed Indonesian how Christmas is celebrated in Australia.

This program is conducted every year. The program is divided into two sessions: Australian Exchangee visit Indonesia in December-January and Indonesian Exchangee visit Australia in July-August. If you are interested in getting more information about this program please email us at info@panduindonesia.com