Among the varieties of methods in learning any kind of languages, one of them is getting source from the origins whose the language belong to. Recently, the interesting of learning language for students has been in the top chart, especially for foreign languages. The atmosphere is endorsed by the needs of searching and looking up the new knowledge and studies that mostly comes from overseas.
In educational terms, the discourse has plotted as the main issue to improve the way of teaching language. We just invite the foreigners to the class and then ask them to explain or to show what they want to share about their languages. There are many mediums and contrivances for them to achieve the goal. They can make some simulations for the students to have practice of it; give flow charts or just play a game. Seems it is old school and we used to know it in the courses.

But now it is the time to reveal that, even I am not sure that what I am telling is new for some people, the students of elementary school can apply the method to achieve the way of teaching language. It must not only take place in private school, but in public school as well. As Tunas Unggul invited three foreign guest teachers in last April, the students of fifth grader learnt about the culture and the language from the main source, from the person who had lived there. At the moment, fifth graders have been learning about five continents. The objectives is to know and identify the diverity of characteristics among nations. It includes the flag, the identity, the geographical sites until the famous places and the scenery view of landmarks. Here are the reports of Levine, one of the students about the guest teachers who visited her school.
“The first guest teacher who visited our school is Mr. Daigo Ogasawara. He comes from Japan, exactly from Hokkaido, the very northern island of Japan. He was funny, really Japanese outlook. He doesn’t speak English or Indonesian, even he has stayed here for a year. That’s why we have an interpreter, Ms. Dina, who can speak Japanese and a forth grade student named Hafizh who had been lived in Japan for three years. They realy helped us to understand what Mr. Daigo said and explained about his country.
Mr. Daigo, or we may say Sensei, is a foreign lecturer in STBA Bandung. He explained a lot about his country. He taught us how to speak Japanese, like “good morning” in Japanese is “ohayo gozaimas”, and the way we introduce simply ourselves in Japanese. Moreover, he sang for us Kimigayo, a national anthem of Japan. One giggly thing for me is that when he said that in Japan, people, mostly the children there hardly can sing the song. It’s need special skill, he said. And he was so suprised when we easily can sing Indonesia Raya. That’s odd isn’t it?
In the last session, he taught us how to make origami, a famous art craft from Japan. He guided us to make “shurinken”, a star blade ala Ninja and a special hat ala Samurai. I didn’t know what its name. It is rather hard especially when he directed us in Japanese and when we asked something, he answered in Japanese! But finally, I made it. Mine is not as good as my friend’s. Before leaving, he accepted many gifts brought by some students for him to keep. He seemed happy so were we.
Another next guest teacher is different. It was woman, her name is Valerie. She is French and she is so beautiful with the white veil. Ya, she is muslimah and she married Indonesian many years ago. She came from Poitiers, a small city in France. She was charmed for me. Tall, white and pointed nose. Unlike Mr. Daigo, she can speak Indonesian fluently so we didn’t need interpreter. Ms. Valerie brought a lot of equipment. I wondered what would she do with them.
As usual, she told us a story of her country. It was interesting. When she drawed a scetch of France, I realized the reason why France has a call of hexagon state. In language teaching, we learnt a simple sentences of introduction like “bonjour”, “Je Mapell Levine” etc. I luckily was pointed to pratice it with her in front. I was so glad because I could learn French and apply it directly. In the middle, she played a kid French song that ordered us to make a funny game. When the song was being turn on, we ought to pinch our couple friend’s chin and so does our couple. As one of us caught to laugh, he would have a light slap who stand not to laugh.
But the most interesting is when she showed us how to make a French food. Wow, she brought a Baget, a famous French bread. It’s big and long. Then we shake a kind of liguid white cheese or milk as mayonese. We had a turn to try cutting the bread and mix the mayonese. After few minutes, we ate it. Hmmm, it tasted rather unfamiliar. There was no taste at all. No sweet no salty. She explained that French people used to eat it and they sometimes brought it by armpit whereever they went. Maybe it’s about our tongue. It’s not used to. But I admitt, I like it!
The last guest teacher was awesome! His name was Louis Frederick. He came from Madagascar. He represented our being-studies about Africa. He was unique and funny. I thought he was the only guest teacher who had well-prepared and complete explanation about his country. He also got multitalented in language. Mr. Louis, who now works as IT teacher in Cendikia Leadership, can speak six languages; English, French, Madagascary, Indonesian, Sundanese and Javanese! Can you imagine how great he is.
Mr. Louis firstly made a slide show presentation. He sang well his national anthem by waving the flag of Madagascar. He seemed so proud when he did that. And then he explained that Madagascary and Indonesian language had a comon and same root. It just differed in one or two letters or a way of pronunce it. For example, “i” in Indonesian is replaced by “y” in Madagascary, like “maty” has the same meaning with “mati” which both means “death”. And then “satu/esa”, “dua” and “tiga” is “isa”, “roa” and “telu” in Madagascay. Wow, it was new from me and it enlightened me.
In the final session, he showed us a traditional toykids from Madagascar that resembles “domino” ala Indonesia. After that he answered many questions from us. He always could answer. At the end, before he accepted many gifts from students (alike Ms. Daigo and Ms. Valerie), we asked him to sing again the national anthem and he willingly did it with his magnificent voice.”
That’s the report. I personally thank to Levine who had given her essay about the journal of guest teachers visiting in the school. I really expect that the similar occasion can be implemented regularly and can be meaningful method for students to achieve the objectives of learning and the materials within.