PROGRAM ETA (English Teaching Assistantship) Program kerjasama antara pemerintah Indonesia dengan Negara Amerika Serikat dibidang pendidikan merupakan sebuah nuansa baru dalam dunia pendidikan khususnya Belitung. Melalui program The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) yang disponsori oleh American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) adalah sebuah pendekatan baru dalam teknik pengajaran bahasa Inggris yang efektif. Kehadiran The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) ditengah era globalisasi saat ini sangatlah tepat dimana perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi yang semakin pesat tentunya membutuhkan tenaga-tenaga pendidik yang terampil dan handal guna menciptakan sumber daya manusia yang berkualitas dan peningkatan mutu pendidikan. THE FULBRIGHT ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANT (ETA) THROUGH AMERICAN INDONESIAN EXCHANGE FOUNDATION (AMINEF) By Jawardi, S.Pd ( ETA’s local counterpart ) A New Approach to Education in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) program in the first year. This innovative international exchange program represents a new and exciting dimension of formal English language instruction throughtout Indonesia. Fulbright is recognized worldwide for its success in promoting mutual understanding and creating new generations of leaders in the countries. Educational opportunities and new initiatives and opportunities are the trademark at AMINEF. All the programs are developed and designed to not only provide premier educational opportunities, but also promote mutual understanding between the people of the Republic of Indonesia and the people of the United States of America which is the true essence of Fulbright and related programs. The English Teaching Assisttant assigned to our institution, SMA Negeri 1 Tanjungppandan, Miss Amirah Hannih Nelson from Smith College, Massachussets, U.S.A, has been specifically chosen for this program based on her intelligence, motivation, maturity and commitment to English language instruction within the context of international education.Having a great concern in the field of education and strong motivation to enhance the quality of human resources at SMA Negeri 1 Tanjungpandan, she is deeply commited herself to her duty. Miss Amirah Hannih Nelson was available to begin her ETA program in Indonesia up to one year starting on August 4, 2012. She has been in Tanjungpandan Belitung since September 2012 and began teaching at SMA Negeri 1 Tanjungpandan September 4, 2012. The first few days that Miss Amirah Hannih Nelson was on campus that she be given an orientation to her teaching and office settings as well as the surrounding community in which she now finds herself. During this period she be afforded ample time to meet her colleagues, confirm expectations and clarify work assignments. Kind assistantance during this transition period would be most appreciated and will do much to insure the effectiveness of Miss Amirah Hannih Nelson program at our school. Based on A letter of Agreement between SMA Negeri 1 Tanjungppandan and the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF). Englsih Teaching Assisstant (ETA) is limited to 20 hours of work per week in the classroom, Monday through Friday, inclusive of meetings and other co-curricular activities that may occasionally be assigned, ETA is also expected to adhere to the normal holiday and vacation leave periods normally afforded regular teaching staff at our institution. ETA will collaborate with the English teachers to improve teaching English in class. Through this program, Miss Amirah Hannih Nelson performs her duty as a mentor in English club activities, and join other extracurricular activities that involve students and teachers.