Carla’s focus on literacy brings her to USC
Teacher Carla Jensenem wants to make a difference in her homeland of Papua.
She’s among a group of Papuan English teachers who have travelled to Australia to gain professional development through a University of the Sunshine Coast program to boost children’s literacy levels.
The teachers are in the ninth week of a 10-week course held on campus at Sippy Downs and at regional schools.
Carla, who has 10 years’ teaching experience in Papua, said the USC course was very useful and she looked forward to putting into practice the new methods.
“At home we only learn English for exams, not to communicate between people,” she said. “We have to learn three languages at school: first is our native tongue, second is Indonesian and third is English. So it is challenging.
“I will use the interactive techniques and technology we have learnt here to make English more interesting for our students and open their minds to Western culture.”
Carla, who teaches 12-14 year olds, said it was her first visit to Australia and she enjoyed meeting International students from as far away as Japan and China at the USC campus.
She said the value of all children learning languages had been reinforced after a relative’s nine-year-old son won a maths competition in Jakarta but could not compete overseas because of poor English skills.
“He lost interest in maths and now just plays soccer. So I understand how English can change people’s lives,” Carla said.
USC project coordinator Dr Michael Carey and tutor Ann Robertson are helping the leading Papuan teachers develop their English proficiency and improve teaching methods, such as by incorporating technology in their classrooms.
Dr Carey said Papuan teachers had fewer resources, bigger class sizes and different traditions to Australian teachers.
“This enrichment and support aims to enhance the literacy of Papuan children,” he said.
Dr Carey said the USC program had mutual benefits. “There’s potential for USC graduates and academics to continue research and development work in Papua, from language to education, science, engineering, health and sustainability.”
“The Governor of Papua is keen to send hundreds of graduate students to USC,” he said.
The program is run by the International Projects Group within the University’s School of Science and Education.
— Julie Gatehouse