Mister Guru

Listening

Picture

1. Menentukan pernyataan lisan dengan tepat tentang kegiatan yang sedang berlangsung di dalam ruangan (indoor) / di luar ruangan (outdoor) sesuai dengan gambar.
2. Menentukan pernyataan lisan dengan tepat tentang lokasi suatu benda / posisi seseorang sesuai dengan gambar.
3. Menentukan pernyataan lisan dengan tepat tentang penampilan (ciri-ciri fisik) seseorang / deskripsi benda sesuai dengan gambar.
4. Menentukan pernyataan lisan tentang keadaan / situasi di suatu tempat/gedung/wilayah, sesuai dengan gambar.

Questions-Response

5. Menentukan respons yang tepat terhadap ungkapan saran / permohonan yang diberikan secara lisan.
6. Menentukan respons yang tepat terhadap ungkapan yang mendeskripsikan benda / perbandingan suatu benda secara lisan.
7. Menentukan respons yang tepat terhadap ungkapan yang mengungkapkan kejadian / peristiwa di koran / berita / kejadian yang dialami seseorang secara lisan.
8. Menentukan respons yang tepat terhadap ungkapan tentang arah atau lokasi suatu tempat / keberadaan seseorang yang diberikan secara lisan.

Short Conversation

9. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dari percakapan singkat tentang suatu kemungkinan / rencana yang diberikan secara lisan.
10. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dari percakapan singkat tentang kegiatan sehari-hari / di waktu lampau / di waktu akan datang yang diberikan secara lisan.
11. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dari percakapan singkat tentang pemesanan sesuatu / pemberitahuan tentang keadaan suatu barang yang diberikan secara lisan.
12. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dari percakapan singkat tentang perbandingan / pemilihan benda yang diberikan secara lisan.

Short Talk (Monolog)

13. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu/informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dengan tepat dari monolog singkat yang diberikan secara lisan tentang proses pengerjaan / pembuatan suatu barang / prosedur melakukan sesuatu.
14. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dengan tepat dari monolog singkat yang diberikan secara lisan tentang pengalaman kerja / kegiatan atau aktivitas di sekolah / pusat bisnis.
15. Menentukan gambaran umum / informasi tertentu / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat dengan tepat dari monolog singkat yang diberikan secara lisan yang berbentuk pengumuman singkat / iklan.

Reading

Incomplete Dialog

1. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan permohonan / pemberian saran.
2. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan penanganan tamu / percakapan di telepon / percakapan pribadi.
3. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan kejadian masa lampau / kejadian yang sedang berlangsung.
4. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan undangan / pesan singkat.
5. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan perijinan / pemberitahuan.
6. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan keluhan / meminta / memberi bantuan.
7. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan perintah / permohonan / saran.
8. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan rencana / janji yang akan datang.
9. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan pengandaian / pilihan tindakan.
10. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan penyampaian rasa simpati / persetujuan.
11. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan pemberian arah / lokasi suatu benda / tempat / posisi seseorang.
12. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan kegiatan rutin / kegiatan masa lampau.
13. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan pemesanan suatu barang / jasa.
14. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan suatu kemungkinan / pendapat.
15. Menentukan ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan kegiatan yang sedang berlangsung / suatu rencana.

Error Recognition

16. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan perbandingan benda / orang.
17. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan deskripsi benda / tempat.
18. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan penawaran / persuasi / permohonan.
19. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan deskripsi fisik seseorang (physical appearance) / benda.
20. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan yang berhubungan dengan pengandaian / membuat pilihan.
21. Menentukan kata/frasa yang benar untuk menggantikan kata / frasa yang salah dalam ungkapan yang berhubungan dengan penyampaian perasaan suka / simpati.

Reading Comprehension

22. Menentukan pikiran utama/gambaran umum / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat / rujukan kata / frasa / makna kata / frasa dari surat bisnis / memo / pesan.
23. Menentukan pikiran utama / gambaran umum / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat / rujukan kata / frasa / makna kata / frasa dari tabel / diagram / jadwal / grafik.
24. Menentukan pikiran utama / gambaran umum / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat / rujukan kata / frasa / makna kata / frasa dari teks recount tentang pengalaman kerja / kejadian yang dialami.
25. Menentukan pikiran utama / gambaran umum / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat / rujukan kata / frasa / makna kata / frasa dari teks procedure tentang mengerjakan sesuatu seperti manual / resep / petunjuk.
26. Menentukan pikiran utama / gambaran umum / informasi rinci tersurat / informasi tersirat / rujukan kata / frasa / makna kata / frasa dari teks iklan (advertisement) tentang sebuah produk / tempat / jasa.

Basic Competence for SMA:

Working with procedural texts and monolog: Listening: Understanding simple transactional and interpersonal monologs in the form of procedures. Speaking: Expressing various meanings in transactional and interpersonal monologs in the form of procedures. Reading: Understanding various meanings and rhetorical steps in procedural texts. Writing: Expressing various meanings by developing rhetorical steps in procedural texts.

Basic Competence for SMK:

3.4 Understanding and retelling manuals (procedural texts).

A. What is a procedural text?

A procedural text is a text which is intended to tell the reader how to do, operate, or make something. The information in a procedural text is usually written in the present tense and is arranged in a logical sequence of events which is broken up into several sequenced steps.

Based on its purpose, a procedural text may explain how things work or how to operate things (how to use the scanner, the computer, the camera, etc.), give instrucions on how to do an activity (cooking recipes, rules for games, science experiments, road safety rules, etc), or give advice concerning human behavior (how to be a good secretary, how to live healthily, etc).

B. What is the format of a procedural text?

• Recipes usually consist of two groups of information; ingredients and method.
• Game instructions usually include how to play, game rules, scoring method, and the number of players.
• Scientific experiments usually include the purpose of the experiment, equipment, procedure, observations and conclusion.

C. How to Write a Procedural Text

• State your goals clearly at the beginning.
• List all materials and equipment in order of use.
• List the steps in chronological order.
• Focus on general people by using subject "You" or "We" instead of individuals.
• Use action verbs (imperative verbs), such as cut, peel, plug, turn on, etc.
• Use sequencing words to connect the steps. E.g.: First(ly), second(ly), third(ly), next, then, etc.
• Give detailed information on how (carefully, with the knife); where (into the oven); when (after the water boils).
• Give detailed factual description (shape, size, color, amount).

D. Example of a procedural text

How to Cook Noodles

Many people like noodles for their daily meals. Its delicious taste and simple preparation have made noodles very popular especially in some Asian countries. Here is a recipe to cook noodles.

Ingredients:

1. Noodles
2. Water
3. Salt to taste
4. Stock cube
5. Noodle packet
6. Vegetables
7. Flavoring powder
8. Seasoning sauce
9. Spices
10. Water

Things you need:

1. Cooking pan
2. Strainer
3. Serving plates

Steps:

1. Boil the water in a cooking pan.
2. Add the stock cube or salt if desired. Make sure the stock cube is completely dissolved before adding the noodles.
3. Add the noodles and turn the heat to low or off. This is different for different kinds of noodles. Some just need to be soaked, others require simmering. Check the package of the noodles to be sure.
4. Let the noodles simmer or soak for the required number of minutes. This varies too. Follow directions on the package.
5. Drain off the fluids in a strainer. The noodles are ready for further preparation.

Tips:

1. The flavor of the stock depends on the ingredients you wish to add later. Choose chicken if you want to add chicken, beef if you want to add meat etc.
2. Save the stock for soups and sauces by draining it into a pan.
3. Take care to add the right quantity of water.
4. Let the noodles soak the water for some time after they have been cooked.

n the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Merdeka..!!

Comrades, the humble people throughout Indonesia, particularly those who live in Surabaya, we have all known, that today, the British troops have published pamphlets threatening all of us. Within a specified time, we are required to surrender the arms that we have seized from the hands of the Japanese troops. They have asked us to come to them with raised hands. They have asked all of us to come to them with a white flag as a sign of our capitulation.

Comrades, in previous battles, we have shown them that the Indonesian people in Surabaya, the youth who comes from Maluku, the youth who comes from Sulawesi, the youth who comes from Bali, the youth who comes from Kalimantan, the youth who comes from all over Sumatra, the youth from Aceh, the youth from Tapanuli and all the Indonesian youth in Surabaya, with all their troops, with all the people's forces formed in campongs, have shown them an unbreakable defence. We have shown them a strength which pins them everywhere. Only for their deceitful tactics in inviting the President and other government leaders to come to Surabaya, then we agreed on a ceasefire. However, they have strengthened their power during that time, and now when they are strong, this is what happens.

All my comrades, we, the Indonesian people in Surabaya, shall take the British troops challenge. And if the British troops' leaders in Surabaya want to hear the Indonesian people's answer, the answer of all Indonesian youth in Surabaya, then listen to this, British soldiers!

This is our answer! This is the answer from all the people in Surabaya! This is Indonesian youth's answer to all of you.

Hey, British soldiers! You want us to bring white flags and surrender to you!

You demand us to raise our hands coming to you! You demand us to surrender the arms we have seized from the Japanese and submit them to you!

In spite of those demands, and although we are aware that you are threatening to attack us with all your existing power, this is our answer! As long as Indonesian oxen have their red blood to make a piece of white cloth "Red and White", then as long as that, never shall we capitulate to anyone.

Comrades, the people of Surabaya, be prepared! The situation is critical. However, let me remind you once more. Do not open fire. Not until they fire at us, then we will fire back at them. Let us show them all that we are the people who want to be independent.

And to us, comrades, we'd rather be devastated and destroyed than have no freedom. Our motto remains "Independent or Dead". And let us be assured, comrades, that in the end, victory will be ours. Allah is always with the right people. Let us be assured, comrades. God will protect us all.

Allahu akbar ... Allahu akbar ... Allahu akbar. Merdeka!

Note:

The speech was made by Sutomo or Bung Tomo and was broadcast continuously during the November 1945 Battle of Surabaya by RRI (The Radio of Indonesian Republic) and other revolutionary radio stations. It greatly boosted the moral and heroism of Indonesian troops at that time.

Sixty three years later, on November 10, 2008, Bung Tomo was honored the title "National Hero" according to the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia nbr. 041/TK/Tahun 2008 dated November 6, 2008 and signed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Never did Bung Tomo realize that this nation would later regard him as a national hero. He passed away in Padang Arafah (The Arafah Desert) during his pilgrimage on October 7, 1981, twenty-seven years before this nation started to regard him as a hero.

By request of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Tomo was buried in his motherland, the land of the Republic of Indonesia. His grave is located in a public cemetery in Ngagel, Surabaya.

Updated 1:00 a.m. June 13th, 2013

Kompetensi Dasar:	Reading: 5.2 Merespon makna dan langkah retorika teks tulis esei secara akurat, lancar dan berterima dalam konteks kehidupan sehari-hari dan untuk mengakses ilmu pengetahuan dalam teks berbentuk: recount, narrative, dan procedure.
Basic Competence for SMK:	2.4. Talking about past events / actions and future plans..

The Battle of Surabaya - November 10, 1945

The landing of the Allied forces under the command of Brig-Gen. A.W.S. Mallaby in Surabaya on October 25, 1945 formally was intended to disarm the Japanese military. However, it became a dishonor upon the Indonesian sovereignty since there were the Dutch NICA forces behind the Allied forces. This provoked Surabaya people and led to small revolts which continued until November 3, 1945.

When the commander of the Allied forces, Brig-Gen Mallaby, was killed in an incident near Jembatan Merah (The Red Bridge) on October 30, 1945, the heated atmosphere was swept up. Without prior negotiation with President Soekarno, the Allied command issued an ultimatum forcing Surabaya people to surrender their arms at specific locations before 18:00 on November 9, 1945. If the order was not met with, the Allied forces would bombard Surabaya from the air, sea, and ashore.

After consultations with the central government leaders in Jakarta, the decision was entrusted to the leaders in Surabaya. East Java Governor Suryo then formally announced the refusal to surrender, which was welcomed by all layers of the fighters and people of Surabaya with the independence yell: Merdeka!

Independent or Dead

At dawn on November 10, the famous Battle of Surabaya broke out. British troops with an additional two brigades (9th and 123rd Indian) of the 5th Indian Division led by Major General Robert Mansergh deployed with Sherman and Stuart tanks began a methodical advance through the city under the cover of naval and air bombardment. They attacked Surabaya from all sides. Two cruisers and three destroyers including HMS Cavalier were in support. From the seaside at Tanjung Perak harbor, their gunfire was directed at the center of the city, while Allied bombers were sweeping from the air.

The allied forces, spearheaded by the British (Gurkha) troops and equipped with modern arms, found themselves up against a force of 20,000 troops of the newly-formed People's Security Army (Tentara Keamanan Rakyat), and more than 100,000 irregular fighters, all dedicated to the cause of Indonesian independence.

The battle was fierce. Ktut Tantri tried to picture the battle poetically in her book "Revolution on Peace Island", but could not avoid the tragic and heroic nuance. "... Surabaya was continuously bombarded by the Allied for three nights. Hundreds of victims fell down. The streets were moisted by blood. Women and children died in the drains. Campongs became seas of fire, and the people ran bewildered to the ricefields to save their lives. But the Indonesian people refused to capitulate ...."

The Republicans fought fearlessly in defending Surabaya, with only two words in their mind, "Independent or Dead". Lieut.-Col. A.J.F Doulton described the bravery in his book "The Fighting Cock": The Indonesian people in Surabaya did not care the victims. If one fell, another one came forward. Bren firing continued. The heaps of dead bodies piled up, but the Indonesian people continued to arrive in greater numbers, pushing on and on ....

The violence of the Indonesian resistance in Surabaya was also indicated by the decision of General Mansergh, requesting for 8 more Thunderbolts and four Mosquitoes as well as 21 Sherman tanks and a great number of carriers.

After three days and nights of the insolent assault, the hospitals and roads were full of victims. More than 6,000 Indonesian troops died and 200,000 civilians fled the devastated city. British and Indian casualties totaled approximately 600. The Allied forces lost another general in this battle when Brig. Gen Robert Guy Loder Symond was WIA on November 10, 1945 and died on the following day.

The battle of Surabaya was the bloodiest single engagement of the war demonstrating the determination of the nationalist forces. Their sacrificial resistance became a symbol and rallying-cry for the revolution. It made the British reluctant to be involved in another war. In fact, Britain openly supported the Republican cause in the United Nations. For the Dutch, it showed that the Republic was not simply a gang of collaborators without popular support, and that they were no longer a colonial power.

The "Heroes of November 10th" monument in Surabaya commemorates this battle. November 10 is now commemorated in Indonesia as "Heroes' Day", in memory of the battle.

Also read English Transcript of Bung Tomo's Speech During the November 1945 Battle of Surabaya.

When using English, especially in conversation, English learners usually make mistakes when they describe places. This is because there are different "rules" in their native language and when they use English, the "rules" are still applied by mistake.

In talking about specific locations, English learners often confuse the use of "in front of", "in the front of", and "at the front of". Probably, it is because those three phrases have one meaning in their native language. For example, "in front of", "in the front of", and "at the front of" in the Indonesian language have the same meaning, that is "di depan". There will be a confusion in saying "di depan" in English if we don't know the correct use of "in front of", "in the front of", and "at the front of".

To avoid such mistakes, let's learn how to use "in front of", "in the front of", and "at the front of" correctly. It can also help us in TOEIC test, especially in the Listening Section" Analying Pictures, in which we often have to identify the specific location of things in a picture.

Common Mistakes in using "in front of"

The most common mistakes in using "in front of" happens when people talk about things which are on opposite sides of a road, street, river, room, etc. "Opposite" or "facing" should be used instead.

In Indonesia, when people want to say "Dia tinggal didepan rumah saya" or "Rumahnya berada di depan rumah saya", they usually say:

• He lives in front of my house.
• His house is in front of mine.

The above sentences are incorrect. Remember, in front of is not used to talk about things which are on opposite sides of a road, street, river, room, etc. Instead, we should use opposite or facing.

These are the correct sentences to describe the picture:

• He lives opposite my house.
• His house is opposite mine.
• There is a truck parked in front of the house.
• A car is parked in front of the house.

"In front of"

"In front of" is the antonym / opposite of "behind".

• There was a flagpole in front of the building.
• We were delayed by a slow heavy truck in front of us for about thirty minutes until we overtook it.
• Although she sits in front of me, I don't know much about her.
• He couldn't enjoy the movie since the couple in front of him kept talking loudly.
• An old lady was standing in front of me in the queue.
• Shy students always get nervous when they speak in front of the class.

"In the front of"

"In the front" is the antonym / opposite of "in the back".

• My father and grandfather were sitting in the front of the car, while the rest of us were sitting in the back.
• The new student sat in the front of the class. (in the front row)

"At the front of"

"At the front of" is the antonym / opposite of "at the back of".

• There's a big advertisement board at the front of the building.
• The car has a distinguished trademark at the front.
• The boy is standing at the front of the queue.

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with "in front of", "opposite", "in the front of", or "at the front of".

1. She was very surprised and stood there ... him for a moment.
2. You will be able to find the office easily. There's a big billboard ... it.
3. I can't see the writing on the board clearly. I think I'll sit ... the class.
4. Walk along this street. The office is ... the museum.
5. Watch out. The car ... us is swaying in and out carelessly.
6. When traveling, my daughter prefers sitting ... the car.
7. I enjoyed watching the sunset from the balcony ... my room.
8. He lives in a big old house ... a vocational school.
9. Who is the young girl sitting ... Anna? I've never seen her before.
10. A police car was ... the convoy.

Reference: Swan, M. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.

Idioms and Expressions With "Work"

Idiom	Meaning	Examples
All in a day's work	A usual part of the job / routine; nothing special.	Air raids and artillery barrages were all in a day's work for the soldiers.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy	You need to have fun in order to be a happy, healthy person.	Go out and have fun! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Close (good) enough for government work	Done just well enough.	There was little time left, but it was good enough for government work.
Dirty work	Necessary, but uninteresting, or difficult work. Dishonest or underhanded actions; treachery.	Everybody knows about all the dirty work they do in that project.
Get down to work / business	To stop relaxing; start to seriously conduct business.	We're running behind schedule. Now, stop joking and let's get down to work!
Get worked up (over something)	To become angry / annoyed / agitated about something.	He seemed to get worked up over the new policy.
Make short /fast / light work of something	To finish something quickly	He made short work of his breakfast so that he would not be late for work.
Make hard work of (doing) something	To work in a way which makes it more difficult than it should be	The repair took a long time because they made hard work of it.
Work against the clock	To work fast because there is a limited period of time to do something	We had to work against the clock since the deadline was very close.
Work away (at something)	To continue to work industriously at something	They kept working away despite of the rain.
Work like a horse/a slave/a beaver/a mule	To work very hard	He was exhausted after having to work like a horse all day.
Work out for the best	To finish well	Don't worry. Things will work out for the best.
Work someone or something over	To give someone or something a thorough examination.	The doctor worked my father over but couldn't find anything wrong.
Throw a monkey wrench in the works	To cause a disturbance in something that seems clear and understandable	Let's talk to him about our plan. I'm sure he won't throw a monkey wrench in the works.
Work wonders (with someone or something)	To be very helpful with someone or something	The new coach has worked wonders with the team. They have won five matches fo far.

1. I'm afraid we have to .... The report is due the day after tomorrow.
   
   
   1. work out for the best
   2. work it over
   3. work against the clock
   4. make hard work of it
2. Being a single parent, she has to ... to support her children.
   
   1. work her over
   2. get worked up
   3. work out for the best
   4. work like a horse
3. We only have 10 minutes. You'd better ... of it.
   
   1. make fast work
   2. make hard work
   3. work away
   4. work out
4. Dealing with customers' complaints is ... for her. It's part of her job.
   
   1. a work of art
   2. all in a day's work
   3. a work out
   4. dirty work
5. I think you should go out and have some fun. ....
   
   1. Don't work against the clock.
   2. Make hard work of it.
   3. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
   4. Throw a monkey wrench in the works.
6. The medicine has ... with him. He is recovering.
   
   1. worked over
   2. worked wonders
   3. worked up
   4. work away
7. Despite of my carelessness, I was lucky that everything ....
   
   1. worked against the clock
   2. worked me over
   3. worked out for the best
   4. worked away
8. The room redecoration finished two days before the event. Although the time was short, it was ....
   
   1. working up
   2. a work-away
   3. close enough for government work
   4. a work-over

Reference: The Free Dictionary

Pernah mendengar istilah "ndeso", alias "ndesit"? Istilah berbau diskriminatif yang bermakna "dari desa" atau "seperti orang desa" ini pernah populer pada dekade 1980-an. Belakangan, istilah "ndeso" menjadi populer lagi setelah seorang pelawak terkenal muncul dalam sebuah iklan terbaru penyedia layanan telekomunikasi di televisi. Dalam iklan tersebut, sang pelawak dengan nada mencemooh mengatakan "ndeso" kepada mereka yang belum tahu tentang internet. Tidak cukup di situ, tayangan iklan tersebut ditutup dengan kata-kata "Yang punya rumah ini artis! Mukamu ndeso!". Entah apa maksud mereka dengan kata "ndeso". Yang jelas iklan tersebut memberikan kesan bahwa istilah "ndeso" memiliki konotasi negatif, yaitu semacam gaptek, atau ketinggalan jaman.

Masih "Ndeso"kah "Ndeso"?

Berbicara tentang istilah "desa", pasti kita akan membayangkan suatu daerah atau wilayah yang jauh dari hiruk pikuk perkotaan. Lingkungan pedesaan identik dengan lingkungan yang masih alami dan hanya sedikit tersentuh oleh pembangunan, dengan penduduk yang hidup dalam keluguan, kesederhanaan, dan kekeluargaan yang jarang kita temui pada masyarakat perkotaan.

Dulu, sebelum hasil pembangunan dan kemajuan dibidang teknologi informasi menyentuh wilayah pedesaan, keterbatasan akses terhadap pengetahuan dan informasi membuat masyarakat pedesaan sangat jauh tertinggal dibanding masyarakat perkotaan. Tidaklah mengherankan jika masyarakat pedesaan saat itu diidentikkan sebagai masyarakat yang lekat dengan keluguan dan kebodohan, tertinggal dan terbelakang dalam hal pengetahuan dan informasi.

Kini, jaman sudah banyak berubah. Pembangunan infrastruktur dan perkembangan teknologi informasi telah membuat wajah pedesaan di Indonesia telah banyak berubah. Kita sering mendengar istilah "desa net", "desa internet", atau "cyber village", di mana penduduknya secara bergotong-royong membuat server wifi agar masyarakat sekitar bisa mengakses internet. Kehadiran internet hingga ke pelosok wilayah pedesaan membuat masyarakat pedesaan tidak lagi terisolir dari ilmu pengetahuan dan informasi. Dalam hal pendidikan, kualitas sekolah-sekolah pedesaan di masa sekarang juga sudah bisa disejajarkan dengan sekolah di daerah perkotaan.

Memang, seiring berkembangnya peradaban, perbedaan antara desa dan kota sudah tidak lagi sejelas dulu. Pengertian dan karakteristik yang mendefinisikan istilah "desa" menjadi sulit untuk diberlakukan di era seperti sekarang ini di mana hasil pembangunan serta akses terhadap ilmu pengetahuan dan informasi tidak lagi menjadi monopoli masyarakat perkotaan. Hubungan yang erat antara perkembangan kota dengan desa-desa di sekitarnya telah menciptakan kondisi yang sangat beragam antara satu desa dengan desa lainnya sehingga berbagai pengertian ilmiah untuk mendefinisikan istilah "desa" tidak lagi dapat diterapkan secara menyeluruh untuk desa-desa di Indonesia.

Dengan demikian, stigmatisasi "ndeso" bagi orang yang kurang up-to-date dalam hal pengetahuan rasanya sudah tidak tepat lagi. Di jaman sekarang, tidak sedikit masyarakat pedesaan memiliki tingkat kesejahteraan, pendidikan, wawasan, dan pengetahuan yang setara, bahkan lebih, dibandingkan dengan masyarakat perkotaan, terutama di pedesaan-pedesaan pulau Jawa.

Jika istilah "ndeso" adalah sebutan bagi orang yang gaptek, maka banyak juga orang kota yang layak disebut "Ndeso" karena kegaptekan mereka, yang meskipun tinggal di area perkotaan namun kurang cukup beruntung untuk bisa menikmati kemajuan teknologi karena faktor ekonomi. Jadi, tidak manusiawi rasanya jika label "ndeso" ditujukan kepada orang-orang yang tidak cukup beruntung untuk bisa menikmati kemajuan teknologi.

Dampak Stigmatisasi "Ndeso"

Di saat pemerintah tengah berjuang untuk mengangkat dan memberdayakan masyarakat pedesaan, pemberian julukan atau stigmatisasi "ndeso" ini bisa menjadi simbol pelecehan terhadap "wong ndeso' dan dapat membawa dampak yang kontra-produktif. Labelling "ndeso" hanya akan memperparah ketidakpahaman tentang masyarakat pedesaan dan mempersempit sudut pandang terhadap "wong ndeso". Mereka yang berasal dari pedesaan, atau yang dijuluki "ndeso" mungkin akan merasa minder, malu, dan takut dianggap "ndeso". Bagi pelakunya, stigma 'ndeso' dapat menjerumuskan mereka ke dalam sikap diskriminatif terhadap "wong ndeso", yang bersumber dari ketidakpercayaan serta pemahaman yang salah bahwa orang desa selalu lebih bodoh dan terbelakang daripada orang kota.

Karena itu, sudah saatnya kita hentikan stigma 'Ndeso" terhadap orang yang kita anggap out-of-date, lebih bodoh dan tertinggal daripada kita. Mari kita hapus semua labelling yang berbau keterbelakangan yang selama ini identik dengan masyarakat pedesaan. Mengapa? Karena "Ndeso" bisa jadi tak lagi se'Ndeso" yang kita bayangkan.

Salam dari wong Ndeso :) Updated Oct 17, 2011