(This short speech was delivered to welcome Miss Courtney James to our school, SMAN 1 Haurgeulis, on June 21, 2013)
Assalamu’alaikum wr wb,
First, Thanks to the master of ceremony for giving me a chance to deliver my short speech on this nice occasion.
Before I start delivering my speech to welcome Miss. Courtney James, let me introduce myself, my name is Handi Handana. I am one of the teachers at SMA Negeri 1 Haurgeulis and since 2002 I’ve been teaching the English language in this school.
Now I am standing here on behalf of all teachers and administrative staff of this school want to say Welcome to Miss. Courtney Elizabeth James to our campus, SMA Negeri 1 Haurgeulis Indramayu. Honestly, it is a great honor for us that today there is a nice young woman coming from a very far away country, from Virginia, United States of America, who has made up her mind to become a volunteer as an English Language teacher in our school for the next two years.
It is also a great thing for the community in this educational institution that the students’ dream to have an English native speaker teacher finally has come true. I am sure the coming of Miss Courtney James to our school will lead to significant progress for the students, especially in their English skills.
Miss Courtney James, we have been waiting for you since last year when Peace Corps Indonesia told us that there will be a volunteer from USA to teach the English language for our students here starting from July 2013 to June 2015. And now thanks to God, you have been here among us and I am sure most of the students here are excited, enthusiastic, and ready to study English with you. Your participation as an English teacher for the next two years in SMAN 1 Haurgeulis is a precious gift not only for the students and teachers here but for Haurgeulis people as well.
Personally, I want to say that there are two main things existing in my mind if I talk about your country, the United States of America. First, I have to say about Mr. Barack Obama, the president of USA. This respected man is very popular in Indonesia nowadays since he has ever lived and even studied in Indonesian school for almost five years, from 1967 to 1971. Second, as a person who likes watching sport programs, I must also say about some outstanding USA athlete names especially in Basketball and Tennis. Some NBA superstars like Michael Johnson, Larry Bird, Haakem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, etc must be very popular names for Basketball lovers from all over the world. In tennis, some legendary names like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andy Agassi, Chris Evert Loyd, Billy Jean King, Tracy Austin, were some notable tennis players who have shown their attractive games for the tennis fans in the world.
But now I must add one more thing If I talk about USA that is, I have to say about Miss Courtney Elizabeth James who would like to be a new English language teacher for our students in this school for the next two years.
I do hope that you can adapt yourself to your new environment in Haurgeulis as soon as possible. We also promise to be a nice or good host for you so that you can enjoy living and teaching here.
And last but not the least, I want to express my highest gratitude and appreciation to you, Miss Courtney James for your generous decision to become the first English native speaker teacher in our school. Once again, Welcome or “Selamat Datang” to Miss Courtney James to SMAN 1 Haurgeulis! We are excited, enthusiastic, and ready to study English with you! Thank you very much.
Wassalamu’alaikum wr wb.
