2. Background of Study One of the ways to develop English Teachers’ professional competence is by sending them to study in a graduate program in English language education (Cahyono, 2008a; 2009)
3. Background of Study The policy of the Government of East Java: To improve English teachers’ professional competence. To develop the quality of education.
4. Background of Study To improve English teachers’ professional competence Government of East Java selected 22English teachers of Pre-Internationally Standardized Schools (RSBI) join to “sandwich study” program.
5. Background of Study 2. To develop the quality of education Establishing Internationally Standardized Schools (SBI) which are started by the implementation of RSBI.
6. Expectation To examine how the English teachers see the opportunities that they have got to study overseas.
7. Method Three open-ended questions raised as follows: How do you feel with regard to the opportunity study overseas? What do you expect to learn when they study overseas? How do you see the education overseas in relation to their professional development?
9. Findings 2. Expectations of Studying Overseas The three top responses showing that the English teachers expected: Getting new experiences Understanding cross-cultural value Searching for references
11. Conclusions The results of the study: Contribute to professional development of the English teachers participating in the sandwich study program during their graduate program.
12. Conclusions 2. The opportunity to study overseas was cheerfully with various expectations favorable for the important of the teachers’ academic and professional competence.
13. Conclusions 3. Academic and cultural benefits of attending the sandwich study program overseas surpasses the reward of getting a piece of certificate for portfolios required in the teachers’ certification program.
14. Conclusions In short, with these findings showing the success of sandwich study program in improving English teachers’ academic and professional competences by studying in a graduate level of education.
