| Aiming to be Different | | | | Indonesia and from English-speaking |
| | | | countries. They all have several things in |
| The new hi-tech player in Jakarta's English | | | | common: - Internationally recognized |
| language education sector. | | | | qualifications, years of experience of |
| | | | teaching English to Indonesians, and genuine |
| By David Keating. | | | | passion for the English language and |
| | | | teaching. Unlike some less reputable language |
| Jakarta, May 5th 2007 | | | | schools, Aim's native-speakers are 'here to |
| | | | stay' (they're not glorified backpackers with |
| Both learning and using the English language | | | | a job). |
| have now become a major part of the lives of | | | | |
| many Indonesians. From a young age children | | | | Teacher training and development is a |
| begin learning English at schools, meaning | | | | continual process at Aim, and all staff |
| the majority of Indonesians who complete | | | | strive for perfection. |
| formal school education have at least a basic | | | | |
| grasp of the fundamentals of the language. | | | | 1.Range of support services and facilities & |
| | | | 3. Comfortable learning environment |
| Increasingly, families are recognizing that | | | | |
| children who take language education one step | | | | Aim's facilities really help it stand out |
| further are getting a 'head start' on their | | | | from the crowd. Their approach is to go |
| peers when it comes to higher education and | | | | 'hi-tech', implementing 'Smart' touch-screen |
| the employment market. From an early age, | | | | white boards in classrooms and MP3-based |
| some modern Indonesian families (especially | | | | listening activities. Gone are the days of |
| those in the big cities) incorporate English | | | | cassettes and chalk boards; listening |
| into the daily lives of their children | | | | activities are now controlled by the white |
| through family conversation and after-school | | | | board and piped out via 5.1 digital |
| language classes. The result of this upsurge | | | | surround-sound speakers. |
| in demand for language education has been an | | | | |
| increasing number of language schools, and | | | | Aim's custom-designed interior creates a |
| nowhere can this trend better be seen than in | | | | modern, bright stimulating place to relax or |
| Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta. | | | | study. Walk through the door off Jalan Padang |
| | | | into an air-conditioned lounge-café, |
| A bewildering variety of English language | | | | featuring a computer section, a library, and |
| courses are on offer for Jakarta's youth, | | | | plenty of places to sit in comfort and read a |
| from 'private' classes with individual | | | | newspaper with a cup of freshly brewed |
| teachers to the array of different types of | | | | coffee. Once enrolled, students have access |
| programs offered by the multitude of | | | | to Aim's free wireless internet service, |
| commercial language schools in the city. | | | | providing a hi-speed broadband connection in |
| There are now English courses aimed at people | | | | all communal areas and class rooms. |
| from all walks of life, and for an array of | | | | |
| different purposes: | | | | Also worthy of note is Aim's one-of-a-kind |
| | | | 'e-notice board'. The owners of Aim have done |
| Academic English, Business English, IELTS | | | | away with the traditional cork pin-boards, |
| preparation, General English, Conversation, | | | | and now have a giant projector-screen display |
| TOEFL preparation, writing classes, business | | | | on the café wall. This is a portal for all |
| communication, ESP(English for specific | | | | of the latest news, special events, offers, |
| purposes)… the list goes on… | | | | schedules and messages. This innovative |
| | | | solution is part of Aim's drive to save |
| 2 questions will be addressed here: | | | | paper. Other strategies are: emailing |
| | | | homework to students, reusing paper, and |
| 1.What are students looking for in a Jakarta | | | | recycling used paper. This |
| language school | | | | environmentally-friendly policy helps to keep |
| | | | students' fees as reasonable as possible. |
| 2.Where can all of their needs be met? | | | | |
| | | | 2.Close to home/office |
| What are students looking for in a Jakarta | | | | |
| language school? | | | | Geographically, Aim really is at the heart of |
| | | | the city. You only have to look as far as |
| Formal market research, combined with | | | | 'Google! Earth' Aim is right under the marker |
| extensive personal investigation, has shown | | | | for 'Jakarta'! |
| that the 5 highest ranking factors in | | | | |
| choosing a language school in Jakarta are as | | | | There's convenient access for the residential |
| follows (1=most important, 5=least | | | | areas of Jakarta, as well as the main central |
| important): | | | | office districts of Sudirman and Kuningan. |
| | | | |
| 1.Experienced, fun teachers. | | | | Aim's classes are small (usually 6-8 |
| | | | students), so students receive plenty of |
| 2.Range of support services and facilities | | | | personal attention. Out of class, students |
| | | | can contact teachers via email or sms 7 days |
| 3.Comfortable learning environment | | | | per week, and teachers make themselves |
| | | | available for casual conversation in the |
| 4.Reasonable price | | | | café as often as possible. |
| | | | |
| 5.Close to home/office | | | | Aim also features an impartial 'Overseas |
| | | | Study Information Centre', where students can |
| Where can all of the students' needs be met? | | | | find out about overseas study, get help with |
| | | | applications, and receive advice on the |
| With so many schools and so many teachers, | | | | complicated enrollment and student visa |
| Jakarta already caters for each of the above | | | | process |
| mentioned factors. However, very few | | | | |
| institutions are able to offer them all and | | | | So finally it seems like people looking for a |
| more besides. The new player on the language | | | | quality language course which delivers 'the |
| school scene in Jakarta is 'Aim for English', | | | | personal touch' (while embracing the future) |
| a small Manggarai-based centre offering 'the | | | | can find what they're looking for in the |
| personal touch', as well as courses, services | | | | heart of Jakarta. has details of staff, |
| and facilities currently unparalleled in | | | | courses, facilities and current special |
| Indonesia. | | | | offers. |
| | | | |
| Innovative language solutions | | | | Look for the forum too; it's a chance for |
| | | | anyone to get free online advice from the |
| 1.Experienced, fun teachers. | | | | English language experts. |
| | | | |
| Aim for English (Aim) has teachers from | | | | Contact: for more information. |