Closing Ceremonies Mark the End of a Transformative Journey of English Language Training Assistance (ELTA) in Four Cities

In a significant milestone, the English Language Training Assistance (ELTA) program successfully concluded its 3-month training sessions in four different centers across Indonesia. The centers include ELTA NTT in Kupang, ELTA NTB in Mataram, ELTA Maluku-North Maluku in Ambon, and ELTA Bali and ELTA Papua Region in Denpasar.

The closing ceremonies took place on specific dates at each ELTA center, with a total of 120 participants successfully completing their ELTA programs in December 2023. The participants celebrated their achievements at various locations, including Nusa Cendana University in Kupang, MALFI in Mataram, BPSDM Provinsi Maluku in Ambon, and IALF Campus in Denpasar.

The recently concluded closing ceremonies marked the end of a comprehensive 3-month program that began in September 2023. The program did not only cover the standard 3-month classes but also introduced a pilot 6-month class in Denpasar, providing participants with an extended opportunity to strengthen their English proficiency for Australia Awards Scholarships.

The ELTA program in 2023 witnessed participation from three aimed categories of individuals: those from Equity Target Provinces (ETP), people with disabilities from any province in Indonesia, and disadvantaged women from any province in the country. The ETP category includes participants from East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua, West Papua, Southwest Papua, South Papua, Highland Papua, Central Papua, West Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, and Lampung.

The ELTA program, provided by the Australia Awards in Indonesia and managed by the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation (IALF) Bali, aims to support potential applicants for Australia Awards Scholarships. Participants who meet the scholarship criteria but have English language proficiency below the minimum IELTS 5.0 requirement undergo intensive training to enhance their skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Local trainers, predominantly recruited from Australia Awards alumni, facilitated the training sessions.

The success of the ELTA program in 2023 did not only highlight the commitment to improving English language skills but also signified the broader impact on participants' academic capabilities, independent learning techniques, and confidence in communicating in English—a crucial aspect in both academic and social contexts.