So You Want to Be a Teacher in Indonesia? Here’s What You Need to Know

Teaching in Indonesia can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. With an incredible range of natural beauty and culture, you can find yourself working and living in some of the most interesting cities and towns on the planet. However, before you take that first step into becoming a teacher in Indonesia, here’s what you need to know about the unique challenges you may face as an expat educator in this country.

The Application Process
o become an English teacher in Indonesia, you need to apply for an EAI (English as an International Language) certificate. To do this, you will need your tertiary degree from an accredited university and at least two years of teaching experience. The process is time-consuming, with many steps and requirements that must be followed.

The Cost of Living
teaching abroad is attractive because of the opportunity to live and work in another country. But before you pack your bags, there are many factors that must be considered including: where you want to teach, what your qualifications are, and what type of teaching position you’re looking for.

Costs vary considerably around the world, so it’s important to research each destination fully before making any commitments. Below is an overview of some of the costs teachers may face if they decide to take on this challenge. The cost of living will largely depend on where in Indonesia you choose to live; with the capital Jakarta being more expensive than other parts of the country due to its high cost of living.

The Culture Shock
there are many cultural differences between the United States and Indonesia. Language, culture, social norms, and values can all be different depending on the region of the country.

Some things that you may find shocking when first arriving in Indonesia are:

• The high level of poverty: nearly 30% of Indonesians live below the poverty line.
• The lack of public transportation: people usually walk or bike everywhere they go. In big cities like Jakarta, some people use motorcycles for short distances. Cars are expensive and most people cannot afford them, which means it is difficult to get around if you don’t know where you’re going or how to ask for directions.

The Language Barrier
the challenge of teaching in Indonesia is that many students only speak Indonesian. This makes it difficult for them to learn from you and for you to learn from them. To help with this, it may be beneficial for the teacher and the school to work together on developing lesson plans which are structured so that they can easily be taught in English or Bahasa (the language spoken by Indonesians).

In addition, if the teacher is able to speak both languages fluently, then they can teach lessons exclusively in either language depending on the needs of the class.

Another issue that arises when teaching students who only speak Indonesian is how poorly prepared many teachers are when it comes to teaching English speaking students. This results from not having been educated abroad or having experience with an international education system.

The Classroom Management
When I first started teaching, I often found myself using fear tactics and punishments as a way to control my classroom. I didn’t realize that this type of behavior has the opposite effect of what we want to achieve with our students.

The best way to manage your classroom is by being approachable and fair with your students. When you are clear about the expectations you have for them, they will be more likely to do what you ask. This might mean establishing rules before class starts, or giving students time at the beginning of class to fill out an agenda so that they can check off what they did during the lesson after it ends.

I recommend coming up with a system where students get positive reinforcement when they follow the rules or show good citizenship (i.e. getting to go first, extra credit). It’s also important to give negative reinforcement when students don’t follow the rules or act out (i.e., sending them outside for some free time). When it comes down to it, discipline is just like any other part of teaching: you’ll find what works best for you and your specific needs!