Program Goals

[Who can apply?][Security Issues][In-Country Experience][Participant Selection]
[Linguistic Immersion][Fees, tuition, and fellowships][Health]

This program is designed to provide intensive and specialized instruction in Indonesian. One of the primary goals of the program is to provide an in-country experience whereby participants learn to use Indonesian on a daily basis while at the same time developing the social skills appropriate for residence in the region. Participants will be required to carry out a field project under the supervision of a faculty member of UKSW. These field projects do not entail a great deal of library research. Rather, they provide an additional opportunity for the participants to interact with the community both within and without the university setting. Participants should plan to consider this a full-time educational endeavor and should not plan to carry on any other academic projects for the duration of the program.

On another level, it is anticipated that program participants will work to foster the goals promoted by the Fulbright-Hays group study abroad programs, especially the goal of working towards "the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States and other countries of the world" (quoted from the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961). It is hoped that every participant in his or her own way can contribute to furthering mutual understanding and respect across cultural and religious boundaries. 
 

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Eligibility: Individuals meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply: 

  • A US citizen or permanent resident.
  • At minimum, an intermediate level of proficiency in either Indonesian or Malay equivalent to the level normally acquired after two years of university study and a desire to bring proficiency in Indonesian to an advanced level. 
  • A genuine desire to learn in depth about the cultures and traditions of Indonesia. 
  • Demonstrated interest in building bridges of cultural understanding between persons of different ethnicities and religious traditions. 
  • Psychological preparedness to adapt oneself to a different culture. 
  • Willingness to pursue a rigorous language training program for the entire duration of the ten-week program. 
  • Possible classification as one of the following:
    1. An undergraduate of junior or senior standing in an institution of higher education who plans a career in modern foreign languages or area studies.
    2. A graduate student in an advanced degree program in modern languages or area studies.
    3. A faculty member who teaches modern foreign languages or area studies in an institution of higher education. 
    4. A teacher in an elementary or secondary school. 
    5. An experienced education administrator responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern foreign languages or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level. 

We note that it is sometimes possible for independent scholars not currently studying or teaching in a participating institution to receive funding, though approval of such fellowships must be granted by the Department of Education on a case-by-case basis. We therefore encourage independent scholars to contact the secretariat to discuss the matter of eligibility. 
Depending upon funding constraints, it may be possible to arrange individualized programs with different program dates for educators at any level. Persons interested in this option should contact us before applying.
Participants should be aware that the granting agency funding this program stipulates that the participants may not be accompanied by any family members, domestic partners, or friends who have not been admitted into the program. 

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Health

We encourage all applicants at the time of application, if not before, to contact their local travel clinics and begin getting inoculations for Hepatitus A and Typhoid fever, as well as any other inoculations suggested by the health care provider.

Security

Although we recognize that there are safety concerns, we are of the opinion that there are no serious reasons for concern for the safety of participants studying in Salatiga in the summer of 2010. The participants in past programs maintained a low profile and experienced absolutely no problems of a security nature.

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The in-country experience

Living in a different culture presents a fine opportunity for one to understand one's own culture and values. Nevertheless culture shock is inevitable for any person living in a second culture for the first time, though some aspects are only very subtle. If one is aware of the issues before confronting them on an emotional level, accommodation is an easier process. You may want to visit the site: http://www.juliaferguson.com/shock.html (opens a new window - close it to get back here)

Linguistic immersion

The COTIM experience affords the opportunity for participants to immerse themselves linguistically into an Indonesian-speaking environment. To take full advantage of this opportunity, however, we ask that all participants use Indonesian in the classroom and in the classroom building. There will however be weekly sessions in English during which participants may discuss any issue with the on-site coordinator. We have observed in past programs that the greatest progress was made by those taking fullest advantage of surrounding linguistic environment. 

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Participant selection 

Persons applying to this program are ranked primarily on (1) academic qualifications, (2) level of competence in Indonesian and/or Malay and language learning ability, (3) career objectives and/or professional pursuits, (4) emotional maturity, (5) willingness to adapt to local customs and conditions and unforeseen inconveniences and difficulties, (6) willingness to put the overall objectives of the program first and to work towards maintaining harmonious relationships between participants, teachers, and administrators, and (7) commitment to build bridges of cultural understanding between persons of diverse ethnicities and religions. The COTIM consortium is committed to both cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the text of which will be made available in accessible formats upon request. 

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Fees, tuition, and fellowships 

Program participants are responsible for their own transportation, health insurance (required) and appropriate pre-travel inoculations, visa application expenses, books and living expenses. Citizens or nationals of the United States, as well as permanent residents of the United States, may apply for fellowships providing a per diem allowance under the Fulbright-Hays Group Study Abroad Program.Graduate students, undergraduates of junior or senior standing Juniors by June 30, 2011), faculty members, teachers in elementary and secondary schools, and educational administrators are eligible for Fulbright-Hayes fellowship support. The financial support will be sufficient to cover the tuition and program cost, round-trip plane tickets, and some spending money. The program will cover room and board, and meals. All applicants should have achieved by May 2011 at least an intermediate level of proficiency in Malay or Indonesian, equivalent to the proficiency expected at the end of a fourth-semester course.

The United States Department of Education stipulates, however, that no one person may be a funded fellow in any Fulbright-Hays group study program (or seminar abroad program) more than once in any given three-year period, nor ever be funded for more than two such programs. Applicants not eligible for Fulbright-Hays fellowships may contact the COTIM president to inquire about other possible funding sources.

To apply for funding under the Fulbright-Hays program, applicants need only to so indicate on item 14 of the application form. There are no special forms to fill out. A select number of US universities offer summer FLAS (Foreign Language Area Study) fellowships funded by the US Department of Education. Although by a nation-wide agreement those FLAS fellowships offered through centers for Southeast Asian studies can only be used in the SEASSI (Southeast Asian Area Studies Summer Institute) program, FLAS fellowships offered by international studies centers usually do not have that restriction. Check with the international studies program at your institution to see whether such unrestricted FLAS fellowships are available. 

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updated Aug. 12, 2010