First Day of School: Ambassador Visits ETA School in Pahang

Ambassador Jones, Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah, observe an English class facilitated by American ETAs for Temerloh students. (U.S. Embassy Photo)

Ambassador Jones presents a book on American national parks to Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah at a Temerloh community dinner. (U.S. Embassy Photo)

The first day of February also marked the first day of English Teaching Assistants at their respective schools in Pahang, Terengganu and Johor. Under the invitation of Dato Saifuddin abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Ambassador Jones visited the town of Lanchang - located in the district of Temerloh in Pahang state - to see the ETAs in action. Davina Chen and Kristina Renee, roommates and ETAs in two secondary schools in Lanchang, received warm welcomes from the Dato, the Principal of SMK Bukit Damar, which hosted the Ambassador's visit, and words of encouragement from the Ambassador. The people of the community, including teachers, the police, local government officials, joined the Ambassador at the school reception.

The Ambassador also visited the Temerloh branch of the Pahang State Library. Dato Saifuddin and the head librarian led the Ambassador through the library, showcasing its facilities and the community need for English language materials.

The day ended at the Temerloh District Education Office, where more than 100 people attended dinner with Ambassador Jones and Dato Saifuddin. The two ETAs in Lanchang, English Language Specialists from the U.S., Great Britain and Canada, local educators, administrators and members of the public conversed over a traditional dinner of local delicacies. Throughout the Pahang visit, and especially at the dinner, both Ambassador Jones and Dato Saifuddin emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections between the U.S. and Malaysia, and expressed their hopes in the two ETAs in further deepening these relationships in their community.

The Ambassador answered questions from the media. RTM, TV3 and Utusan Malaysia, The Star, Oriental Daily and Berita Harian attended press availability with the Ambassador, Dato Saifuddin, and the ETAs.