All’s well that ends well for the second class of English Conversation Class 1st Step which reached the end of the term at Erlass Institute on Tuesday evening (3/10/2015). The 1st Step themed Indonesian Heritage Discovery gave the participants the opportunity to explore topics about textile traditions, film, music, food culture, travel destination and lifestyle in Indonesia today.
The 12th session of English Convresation Class 1st Step was the last session but provided a fun, lively, touching discussion about the film project 40 Days in Europe based on a book by the film’s writer and producer Maulana Syuhada. The film project 40 Days in Europe is based on a true story of an angklung group on a cultural exchange program in Europe and shows the various challenges faced by the group including lack of money, angklung left behind in the Middle Eastern country Bahrain while the group was in Germany and one difficulty after another. The group consisted of 10th and 11th grade senior high school students and their surprise, they found a light at the end of the tunnel in the face of so many challenges.
The film project 40 Days in Europe is made through Bandung-based production company Sembilan Matahari and is seeking RP. 10 billion (USD 850,000) with 10% of the funds to be secured from crowdfunding site Indiegogo and the remainder through investors or sponsors. The company plans to show the movie at international film festivals and also distribute in movie theaters and online.
The 5 participants came to class amidst the rain often covering Jakarta during the monsoon. One of the participants, Nawfalsky Bagis Muhamad Karangpuang is a student at Universitas Islam Negeri in Ciputat, south Jakarta and a regular for this class. Completing the group are 3 staff including 2 account executives Miss Widy and Miss Riri and purchasing manager Miss Maurina Gurning from printing company PT Gelora Aksara Pratama and Muhammad Januarsyah Basri “Januar”, a recruiter from the human resources department of educational publisher Erlangga.
The rain did not dampen their spirits during the class, taught by local English teacher Liany Miyanawati. She patiently guided them with pronounciation and grammar. Pre-reading activity in the form of vocabulary exercises were sent previously to all participants to complete. The participants enjoyed watching the audition at the Film Park (Taman Film) in Bandung. But they were impressed with the young production team’s video pitch of 40 Days in Europe which aims to inspire Indonesia’s younger generation about leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity and working together for the common good. Miss Riri liked the film’s idea about today’s youth to rediscover the beauty of angklung and Indonesia’s 5 main values, the values of Pancasila.
During the question and answer session, Bagis believes that through this film project nothing is impossible and we will never know unless we try and if we tried then we did our best. He would be interested to make a hero movie as today’s Indonesian youths need heroes acting as saviors. Most of all he believes the film’s message is about the young generation must work hard for the best reward. Miss Widy likes the film’s concept about inspiring today’s young generation. Januar was correct to mention the film project’s location in Bandung and various European cities. Miss Maurina was inspired with the angklung group winning 1st place and audience award at 50th International Highland Folklore Festival in Zakopane, Poland.
The topic of leadership, entrepreneurship was the ultimate satisfaction in English Conversation Class 1st Step and provides the pathway to the next level, English Conversation Class Walking Step with the theme of Personal & Professional Development with regards to entrepreneurship in the technology and creative industries. For more information about English Conversation Class, please contact :
Erlass Institute
Pejaten Office Park Blok D
Jl. Warung Buncit Raya no. 79
Jakarta 12510
Ph: (021) 7918 0467
Fax: (021) 7919 5157