I have been teaching English for quite a long time. I have met a lot of different students and people. I have undergone a long process to be a teacher. There have been some disappointing moments and there are also some satisfactory achievements. That’s life. I always hold a principle that a teacher is not everything; a teacher is also an ordinary person who can make mistakes in his job. The success of a student to master English could happen not only because of the teacher’s involvement but also because of the cooperation between the teacher and the student and usually with the support from the student’s parents or relatives. When I can help my students to be able to master English, I don’t feel that this is because of me. However, when I find that my students cannot get their dream to master English, I will accept the responsibility to be the first person to be blamed.
Here are some testimonials and comments from some former students and others about me. I would like to thank them for sending the testimonials via email, SMS, letter or by coming to my office. I am sorry for not posting all testimonials from other students and former students at the moment, but I promise I will write them when time comes.
MR THOMAS IS A GOOD PERSON
By ETTY NUR BAETYY*
“Mr Thomas is a good person. We usually call him Mr T. He’s the best teacher ever. The way he teaches us never makes us feel bored. He usually combines the teaching materials with discussion or games. It’s really fun. The most important thing beside teaching is that he always encourages us & gives us some motivation, the spirit of life. Thank you Mr T for teaching me for 3 years. I love English...”
(Etty Nur Baetty is an IPB graduate, who studied English from me together with Else Ariani, Ruslan Efendi, Aditya Novian from 2005 to 2007; currently works at PT Asuransi MSIG Indonesia in Jakarta; she lives in Bogor. She sent this testimonial via SMS on 1 November 2008 at 19:04:38)
MR THOMAS, YOU TEACH WELL AND NICELY
By RISA GUNTARI*
“Mr Thomas, you teach well and nicely. At the same time, you can teach how to speak, listen, and understand English, including how to write it down. You know how to make people feel confident to show their ability in English. You speak clearly and slowly, but not too slowly. And you also speak with nice intonation and pronunciation, so that it is nice to hear you speaking English, telling stories and so on. Beside that, you also like to bring jokes and ‘lessons’ to every conversation you have, so that I never become bored to hear you.
The course materials are very close and very useful for daily need… some things that are needed to make us know how to communicate with English, in informal or formal conversations or presentations.
As far as I know you, you are a nice person. You are wise, funny, modest, dedicated, and once you concern in something, you will do the best for it. You know how to make people feel appreciated (including remembering people’s names). You see the world with a big spirit and eagerness. You always bring them to every step of your life and you bring them to the people around you.
Through you, English is not something boring, but something fun for me. It is like a game, a worth thing and a need for me to be applied everyday. ”
(Risa Guntari became my students when she was in SMAN 5 Bogor (around 2004-2006), studying together with Adi Purwanto, Disa Pramaristi, Dea Firti and Dian Astutiningsih. The last time she joined my classes in September 2008; currently studying at Trisakti University in Jakarta, studying architectur. She sent this testimonial via email on Sunday, 2 November 2008)
MR THOMAS IS A PATIENT TEACHER
By RINI ASMUNATI*
“Mr Thomas is a patient teacher, disciplined when giving the course materials and flexible when teaching students from various ages and English language levels. When he taught me and my colleagues, he gave us good atmosphere during teaching and made the students feel comfortable and not bored.”
(Mrs Rini Asmunati was former research assistant at International Potato Center (CIP) Bogor. She was my former student who attended an extensive English office-training at CIP from 2002-2004. She lives in Bogor with her husband and two lovely sons: Fathan and Faqih. She sent this testimonial via SMS on Monday, 3 November 2008 at 14:32:20)
HE IS MY FAVOURITE TEACHER
By MARIA ANGELA TURANGAN*
“He is my favourite English teacher. Although now we're not teacher and student anymore, every time we meet he always talks to me in English. That's a good thing, but I think my English is getting worse 'coz I rarely use it anymore, and so I'm a little bit shy to face him now... he…he…he…. Oh yeah, he's good at teaching... He's a nice teacher, who knows when to be serious and when to be joking... And the way he teaches, he does not use books all the time. When I was still in his class, we sometimes played games, had some debates, and did more fun things so we never got bored...”
(Maria Angela Turangan lives in Surabaya and studies in a medical faculty there. She studied in my class when she was still in junior high school. Once a year she still meets me in Bogor. She is a friendly and smiling girl. She has got good voice to sing. I hope she will be a good doctor one day. She sent this testimonial via email on Monday, 3 November 2008)
I’VE GOT SELF-CONFIDENCE
By Mr RAHMAT HIDAYAT, S.Pd.*
“I was one of Pak Thomas’ students about 6 or 7 years ago. From him I learnt a lot of things, especially how to speak English confidently. He helped me to gain my self-confidence to use English for everyday communication. The result is that I can now become an English teacher at three different elementary schools in Bogor although my education background is not the English language. I still have contacts with him and sometimes we get involved in small talks and discussions.”
(Bapak Rahmat Hidayat, S.Pd or Pak Agus as he is usually called by his colleagues lives and works in Bogor. He teaches English and other subjects at SDN Bantarjati V, SDN Sempur Kaler, and SD Semeru IV.He has a wife and two children. Tue-4 Nov-2008-14.30)
MR THOMAS IS A GREAT TEACHER
By ARIEF KURNIADI, AMd.*
“He is the best English teacher that I have ever had. For me his English is just perfect. He has great personality; he is cheerful and he has a sense of humour. When I was still sitting in his classes, I was pleased and I enjoyed being in his class. He could be my teacher, friend and also brother. His course was more than just an English course; it was a family for me. Best regards to you, Sir.”
(Arief Kurniadi was my student about 7-8 years ago when he was still an IPB student. He now lives in Bogor with his wife and he works in Jakarta. We sometimes still communicate with each other… in English)
BECAUSE OF HIM I LOVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH
By LORITA*
“Mr. Thomas is one of my favourite English teachers… He always makes me feel confident to speak English, and he gives me big support… Because of him I love to speak English. Thanks, Mr Thomas. Hope you are always successful. See… you always make me feel happy and confident. You are a good teacher!! Good luck for your English course too!! GBU!!”
(Lorita was my private student together with Lorika her sister about 9-10 years ago. Recently we have met again for some English meetings. Graduated from Tarumanegara University, Lorita (sometimes I call her Ita or Cece) manages her father’s shoe factory… so, she is a manager now. This friendly, cheerful and smart girl still has a dream to be a flight attendant… Good luck, Cece)
I FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS AN “INSINYUR KEHUTANAN”
By N.N. *
I joined Pak Thomas’ class to prepare my six-month course on forestry environmental researches in a university in England. My office asked me to go there. It was a rather difficult assignment for me as my English was not good at that time. Moreover, I only had 1 month to prepare and I could only study in an English course twice a week or 8 times.
For several meetings Pak Thomas and I were involved in some discussions on the topics I wanted to learn in England. To my surprise, Pak Thomas understood what I presented. Even sometimes he proposed some issues that I had never thought before. I believed that Pak Thomas was an “Insinyur Kehutanan” graduated from UGM in Yogyakarta!!! So, I asked him when he had graduated and he said that he had graduated in 1993. I asked him if he was still in contact with some Gadjah Mada University graduates… but he said he did not know any of them. He convinced me that he had never been to Faculty of Forestry… but I did not believe in him.
I thought he was just too embarrassed to be an English teacher, so I gave him some advice, “Pak Thomas, you needn’t feel embarrassed to be a course teacher. It is honourable to be a teacher… although you are a “Insinyur Kehutanan”…” Then he cut my words, “I am sorry, Sir, but I have no other words to convince you that I have never studied forestry in a faculty of forestry in any universities in the world. I graduated from ABA in Yogyakarta… no less no more.” I was surprised!!
Later Pak Thomas told me that he often read some books, magazines, papers and some other publication to prepare his classes so that he could teach his students better. Pak Thomas, thanks a lot for your help. I could attend my six-month course in England successfully. I hope to see you again one day…”
(N.N. For certain reasons, the writer of this testimonial does not want his identity to be disclosed. He is a nice person and always eager to learn something new. I pray for his success in his career and life.)
My Testimonial For You…
By PRAMITA FITRI*
I have known Mr. Thomas since I was in the second grade of junior high school. At that time, he was one of the teachers in an English course. The first time he taught me, I was afraid. He looked like a very serious man who you couldn’t kid with. But after several times of meetings, my view of him changed.
Personally, he is a very nice man, enthusiastic, and a good story-teller. He is also a smart teacher with a wide knowledge. There will be no word of “bored” when you are in his class. Even a very boring subject for you to learn at school could be interesting when he is teaching you. He is always able to find a way to cheer up the class atmosphere.
He really encouraged me to be active in English. I was “forced” to speak English, inside and outside the class. Once he was angry with me because I was so quite in the class. I didn’t want to speak simply because I was afraid to make mistakes. But then, thanks for the “force” that he gave me, I tried very hard to make myself brave to speak English and also learn from the mistakes I’ve made. After all, what’s the point of learning English if you can’t show it, right?
Now, I’ve already graduated from my university and I’m still thankful for the education and encouragement that Mr. Thomas already gave me. Because of him I am able to communicate in English, which is now a “must-requirement” when you apply for a job….^_^…
So, thank you and hope for the best for your future, Mr. Thomas.
(Pramita Fitri graduated from the Faculty of Psychology of University of Indonesia this year – 2008. Her English is very good… She has got good British pronunciation as well… She has tried hard to make her English better and better. I hope she can be a good psychologist to serve the society.)
IT’S HARD TO FIND A PERSON …
By Reynaldy Prabowo*
“It's quite hard to find a person like Mr.Thomas, a reliable teacher with a lot of exps and unique teaching methods. You know, he has his own style... impressive ... Whatever u need ... a teacher, a consultant even a figure, you'll get it within him. Maybe it's hard to imagine, but you'll soon realize when you exactly meet this man. He'll teach you with a lot of lessons that u need.
He'll give you even more than just a theory or an ANCIENT ENGLISH METHOD. Practise English, not to be shy to try it and he’ll give you an example for sure. I think you'll be lucky if u are taught by him.”
(Reynaldy or Aldy as he is usually called is a student at University of Jendral Achmad Yani in Bandung, sitting at the Faculty of Medicine. He was my student for about 2 years. An active speaker of English, he won several English speech contest competitions when he was in high school in Bogor. He is an example of students who are not afraid of making mistakes. I always whish him luck.)
NOT ALL STUDENTS OR FORMER STUDENTS ARE SATISFIED
Not all students like my personality or the way I teach them. Even some of them feel they do not get anything from me. Here are some testimonials from some of them.
ANAK SAYA NGGA’ DAPET APA-APA TUH…
By IBU SOPIAH*
“Saya kursuskan anak saya ke Pa Thomas. Sudah 5 bulan ia belajar.. tapi kok ngga ada kemajuan apa-apa. Nilai raport kelas XI terakhir kemarin malah turun drastis… Seharusnya kan naik, kenapa malah turun. Saya sebagai orang tua pengin anak saya pintar... bukan malah jadi bahan ejekan di sekolahnya. Anak saya juga komplain karena guru lesnya terus-terusan pake bahasa Inggris di kelas. Mustinya kan neranginnya pake bahasa Indonesia dulu.. baru setelah anak ngerti, guru bisa pake bahasa Inggris. Sudah bayar mahal, sia-sia jadinya.”
(Ibu Sopiah, I can understand that you are disappointed. You can claim the money that you have paid. I always guarantee that if you or your son are not satisfied with me, you can take your money back …100% and I will not ask WHY. In your son’s case, I found that his attendance was only 45% altogether. Besides, he rarely did the homework I had given and he never gave me any notice every time he was absent. I hope he is all right.)
STILL AFRAID
By PRASITA ARDANIA*
“I have learnt English from Mr. Thomas for a few months but I still feel afraid to speak English. I do not know how. Mr. Thomas is not angry with me but I just do not know how to be brave to speak. I am afraid that people will “menertawakan” me. Anyone has a “resep” for this? Please help.”
(Prasita Ardania is a high school student. Yes, she is very quiet in the class. But… can you see that the comment above is well structured? I can say that her English is good although she forgot some words; she just needs to accept the fact that nobody’s perfect. Nia, kalau Nia ingin dapat berbicara bahasa Inggris, berbicaralah. Jangan berpikir apakah nanti bicaranya benar atau tidak. Coba bayangkan kalau Nia mau mandi. Nia kan pasti langsung ke kamar mandi dan tidak pernah berpikir apakah nanti mandinya sukses atau tidak… Kalau toh tidak ada sabun di kamar mandi, kan Nia tinggal keluar lagi trus ambil sabun? Sama… kalau Nia salah bicara, kan tinggal mengoreksi sendiri… I hope you can overcome it. You are special, Nia; you can do it!!!)
