We are happy to hear the goal of the conference is to improve teachers' skills, knowledge and confidence in exploring new approaches to teaching, as stated by Kenneth J. Cock, director of the Sampoerna Foundation Teachers Institute organizing the conference. More than that, we can learn from advanced countries how to boost teaching skills. American, Chinese and Japanese teachers say they deliberately choose teaching as a profession. Why do they opt to nurture careers in teaching in the first place? The primary reason is the culture in the three countries respects the desire to work with children. Salary, prestige, working conditions and summer leave are judged less important. The teachers simply like teaching children.

Good teachers are born, not made. Good teaching happens if the teacher has a knack with children and keeps them reasonably attentive and enthusiastic about learning. It is commonly accepted in many colleges of education that teaching is an art that cannot be taught. It is assumed that teachers will discover a little from training on how to design and teach effective lessons based on students' needs. Courses in teaching methods are designed to serve different purposes.