ACS (International) Jakarta has been abuzz with activities since its entry into the ACS family earlier this year. With the move to the brand new 5-hectare campus at Cilangkap, the school now boasts of a dedicated and creative team of teachers and world-class facilities that are second to none in Indonesia.

Among the teachers are two Singaporeans who made the bold move out of their comfort zones to face the exciting challenges of teaching in Indonesia. We caught up with Ms Aileen Tan, formerly of ACS (Junior) and Mr Melvin Sim, Director of Academic Studies, formerly from ACS (Barker Road), and here is what they shared with us.

Echo: What were your first impressions of the school?

Aileen: Sangat besar dan baru! (Very big and new!)

Melvin: It’s fabulous - immaculate building, world-class facilities, and warm and friendly people. I was very impressed!

Echo: What made you decide to join the school?

Aileen: It’s ACS, of course. Having studied in Fairfield Methodist Primary and Secondary, and then ACJC, I felt it was a calling to serve in ACS (International) Jakarta when the opportunity arose. I was excited. I still am!

Melvin: I was looking for a new challenge and I thought this just fit the bill. In addition, I would get to experience a different culture and a different school system.

However, I must say that it was Mr Daryl Forde, the Executive Director, who influenced me most. He struck me as an approachable man who knew what he wanted for the school and was willing to work for it. He has high expectations of the staff and students and he seems happiest working alongside everyone.

Of course, still being a part of the ACS Family made it easier to “jump ship”.

Echo: What are the difficulties you faced when you first arrived?

Aileen: None really, apart from the usual challenges one would expect when working in country with a different culture, such as learning a new language and familiarising myself with the transportation and road systems. Coming from a multi-racial society in Singapore has taught me to accept differences and celebrate uniqueness. I learnt very quickly to see each challenge as a learning experience. Definite steep learning curve!

Melvin: I must admit that I felt quite lost when I first arrived as it was smack in the middle of the first quarter and things were already in full swing. I’m still working on putting names to faces. I also had to sort out my housing and work permit, and adapt to my new surroundings - something made more complicated by my miserable Bahasa.

However, all the staff here have been wonderful and helped me to settle in painlessly. Just about everyone came by my office during the first few days to welcome me and to let me know what they do in the school and the various ways that they could help me in the job. Some others provided me with valuable advice and tips on what to look out for when moving about, how to choose a Telco, etc. The very nice gestures made me feel very welcomed.

Echo: What are the differences between the students in Jakarta compared with those in Singapore?

Aileen: Like those in Singapore, the students here are inquisitive, curious, and yearn to learn. Having a student-teacher ratio of 23 here helps to make our lessons highly interactive, inquiry-based and student-focused, and I am able to individualise my lessons to cater to the different learning styles of the students.

Melvin: For some students, English is a problem but not an insurmountable one. Other than that, I would still see the same cheeky grins on boys; the girls will cluster together for chit-chats; and the younger kids would be dashing down the corridors towards the fields, full of energy. In short, kids will be kids no matter where you go.

Echo: What do you think makes the school unique?

Aileen: The school is unique because the students, teachers and parents have traits of the ACS spirit inherent in them. It feels like a family with the little kids from Early Childhood through to Primary School to the bigger brothers and sisters in Secondary School all under the same roof. There is a strong and almost equal emphasis on the liberal arts and sports too.

Students are given many opportunities to direct their own learning, make mistakes, and be risk-takers. They are all given equal opportunities to be vocal, and are able to present their views confidently and responsibly.

The multi-racial mix of teachers means that our school is always abuzz with the exchange of teaching ideas and resources and multi-cultural experiences.

As in the other ACS units, parents play an important role in their children’s learning journey. They support and participate in the school’s activities, and are also encouraged to be involved in the school’s decision making process for certain programmes.

Melvin: This school has an exciting mix that is unlike any other within the ACS family. There is a part of it that’s understandably Indonesia, another that is Singapore and with the mix of staff and students here, there are parts of the school that are from all over the world.

For the moment, we can fit the entire school into the Performing Arts Theatre for Assembly and it is a good sense of family to see the very young fidgety, excitable and energetic kids in the same place as the more mature young adults. It’s like the combined ACS celebrations that are held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in miniature.

Echo: Do you have any wishes for the school?

Aileen: My wish is that in achieving its goals, the school will be able to stride through the challenges it meets in true ACS spirit.

Melvin: I hope the school’s transition into the ACS family will be a smooth one, which should not be a problem as I reckon the school already embodies most of what ACS stands for. I believe the school will grow and be yet another Beacon of Truth and Light in these Islands of the Main. It is the first unit outside of Singapore and I believe it will be the first of more to come.

Echo: What do you wish for yourself at ACS (Jakarta)?

Aileen: As a Singaporean and an ACSian, I hope to value-add to the school, in whatever way I can.

Melvin: I hope the ideas and philosophies I gain from new colleagues from different cultures will enrich me.

Echo: What is your advice to other Singaporeans who might be thinking of joining the school?

Melvin: It’s definitely something to try out for oneself. I can’t describe the whole experience and still do it justice. Of course, it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you have a streak of adventure, wish to immerse yourself in a different system of education, want to work in a community of professionals from different countries where cross-pollination of ideas takes place, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. We’re trying to work out something that will allow teachers a short stint here to see what it’s like and to exchange ideas and teaching methodologies. Who knows, some might even like it enough to want to make the stay permanent.

Aileen: If you’re still wondering if you’d like to join us, wonder no more, because ACS needs you!

Back to contents