April 17, 2025, 6:00 am
From a Small Classroom to a Community-Wide Impact — and a National Award I Never Saw Coming

  A Bold Move in a Quiet City

 In 2008, I opened my own English center right in the heart of Gorontalo, a serene city on the northern coast of Sulawesi. At the time, there was only one other TOEFL prep center in town. I thought, “Why not create another one?” I saw a need and decided to build a space for people who were willing to grow, even with limited access and resources. 

   The Faces Behind the Effort

 My first students came from a wide range of backgrounds. Government employees chasing promotions. General practitioners preparing for specialist exams. University lecturers getting ready for their PhD programs abroad. Watching their progress, celebrating each milestone, and seeing them hit their target scores always felt like a shared victory. As if I had passed the test, too. 

LPK Rezky Gorontalo, 2018
  When a Bookstore Becomes a Lifeline

 But make no mistake — this wasn’t Jakarta or Surabaya. This was Gorontalo. No large bookstores. No instant access to teaching materials. That’s when I discovered Bookstalk, a tiny hidden gem owned by a friend named Ricky. It became my go-to place for pre-ordering textbooks, dictionaries, and prep materials. Without that little shop, our learning journey would've looked very different. 

  A Friend, a Free Room, and a Bigger Dream

 A good friend helped me kick off the center — and not just with words of encouragement. He let me use a space for free. No rent, no conditions. Just pure generosity. But not long after, he came to me with a new idea:
 “Why don’t we start a free English program for underprivileged kids across the city?”
 I didn’t even hesitate.  “Let’s do it.” 

  The Program That Changed Everything

 By mid-2008, the program had launched. In just a few weeks, over 500 students signed up from Grade 1 to Grade 9. I trained seven local teachers and introduced them to creative and practical teaching strategies that made learning English fun and accessible. Our mission was simple but powerful: Make English learning joyful, free, and within reach.  At that time, English wasn’t widely taught in Gorontalo schools. So, for these kids, just knowing that free lessons were available was already a major breakthrough. 

   A “Barbie” and a Room Full of Wonder 

To add excitement, I invited international lecturers from Gorontalo University to meet the students. I’ll never forget the day one little girl looked at a visiting professor and asked,  “Ma’am, are you a Barbie?” 🤭
 We all burst out laughing. That innocent moment reminded me why we were doing what we were doing — to give these children not just language but access to a bigger world. 

Jonna and Peter and our English students in Gorontalo, 2019

English Department Full Team, LPK Rezky Gorontalo 2019

Jonna and Friends at our English center in Gorontalo 2019
   A Local Project Goes National

 What started as a small outreach project turned into something I never expected. In 2009, the initiative earned me first place at the provincial level for non-formal English educators. I went on to represent Gorontalo in a national competition held in Yogyakarta. Standing among passionate educators from across Indonesia was humbling. I wasn’t just there as a teacher but as someone who had built something from scratch — something real, something lasting. 

   From One Room to a Ripple Effect

 It still amazes me. How a tiny room, a handful of students, and a strong sense of purpose could create such wide-reaching impact. All it took was belief, effort, and a shared dream of learning. 

   A New Beginning on the Horizon

 In early 2010, I moved back to Jakarta. It was time to begin a new chapter. A new level. And soon, I would meet my very first foreign student — marking the start of my journey teaching Bahasa Indonesia to expats.  

📖 Curious to know what happened next?
 Stay tuned for Part 4,  From a Small Meeting to a Thriving Network — How One Student Changed Everything, where I’ll share how teaching one student opened the doors to a whole new world of cultural connection, language, and lifelong friendships. 

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 Follow me on Instagram @indonesianwithrestiany or connect with me at restiany.com for more inspiring stories and practical tips about language, culture, and life in Indonesia.

 📌 Disclaimer
 To honor and show my deepest respect and gratitude, only first names are mentioned throughout this post. Each name represents a meaningful connection and cherished memory from my teaching journey. I also want to sincerely apologize for the quality of the photos included. They were taken using an old phone camera, so they may not be the clearest, but they are authentic. These original snapshots carry beautiful stories, and I humbly share them here to celebrate the unforgettable people and moments that have shaped my path. Thank you for being part of this journey. 💛