Model Answers Band 7-8: Sesi Latihan H-9

Versi bersih tanpa catatan, buat dibaca keras / shadow practice. Analisis dan "yang berubah" ada di Model_Answers_Session1.

PART 1

Do you work or are you a student?

I currently work as a software engineer at Telkom Indonesia, one of the largest state-owned companies here. What I enjoy most is that coding isn't just my job — it's genuinely my hobby too, so I end up building personal projects outside work hours, mostly around high-performance computing.

What kind of weather do you like?

I love weather with fresh, cool air, which we usually get during the rainy season, roughly from June to December. What I enjoy most is how relaxing it feels — I can sit down with a hot bowl of noodles or a warm cup of coffee, and honestly, that feeling alone is really satisfying.

Do you often cook for yourself?

Yes, I cook for myself quite often, mainly because it gives me more control over what I eat. I can choose healthier ingredients, like fish, eggs, or vegetables, which matters a lot right now since I'm trying to get into better shape.

What's your hometown like?

My hometown is Bandung, in West Java. It's known for having some of the freshest air in Indonesia, plus a huge number of coffee shops, universities, and parks. It's also a popular weekend getaway — a lot of people from other cities come here just for the food and shopping.

Do you like art?

To be honest, not really — I'd say I'm quite a logical person, so I've always been more drawn to tinkering and engineering. That's not to say art is useless, though; I just don't naturally see the world from that angle.

Did you learn any art subjects at school?

Yes, back in elementary school I learned some traditional art forms, like batik drawing, and also a traditional Sundanese dance called Jaipong. Honestly, though, I never really enjoyed it — I've always leaned more toward technical subjects like science.

PART 2

Describe a piece of technology you find useful.

I'd have to say my laptop, since it's essentially an extension of my job. I use it every single day — for coding, obviously, but also for running experiments in parallel programming and computational fluid dynamics simulations. What makes it genuinely useful, though, isn't just the everyday tasks; it's that it lets me test ideas I'd otherwise only be able to read about. I remember getting a distributed computing benchmark running across a GPU and an old Android phone using MPI — something that felt completely out of reach a few years ago. So beyond the obvious stuff like writing documents or watching videos, it's really become the one tool that turns curiosity into something I can actually build and measure.

Describe a place you visited that you found relaxing.

The place I find most relaxing is a coffee shop near my house. I go there at least once a week — sometimes with friends, sometimes with family, and sometimes on my own. I often work from there, and I genuinely find it relaxing; it helps relieve stress and burnout. Sometimes I work on personal projects, other times I just study. They also serve great food and drinks, but what makes the place special is the view — it has scenery that most other cafés around here simply don't.

Describe a piece of art or design you think is well made.

I'd like to talk about batik, a traditional textile art from Indonesia that's now recognized internationally. I first saw it up close on a study trip back in junior high, so around ten years ago. What stood out to me was the level of detail — it's made up of intricate geometric patterns, usually in colors like brown and indigo. Every line is drawn by hand using a tool called a canting, which makes the whole process incredibly time-consuming and precise. I'd genuinely like to learn how to make it myself one day, and even teach people from other countries — it's the kind of craft that deserves to be more widely known.

Describe a skill you would like to learn.

A new skill I'd like to learn is mathematics — things like linear algebra and discrete math. I'm learning it through a top-down method, since I think it's the fastest way to master it, rather than starting completely from scratch the way school students do. The way this works is: if I run into a complex equation, like a differential equation, I go back and learn only the specific basics it requires, such as algebra or limits. I'd estimate it'll take about six months to feel confident with it. I need to sharpen these skills for parallel programming, especially in computational fluid dynamics, because I'm planning to pursue a master's degree in high-performance computing within the next two years — specifically in CFD and hypersonic aircraft, so having a solid math foundation is essential for simulating aircraft at extreme speeds.

PART 3

Why do people choose careers in technology?

I'd say it mostly comes down to two things: the pace of change and the problem-solving element. Tech evolves so quickly that there's always something new to learn, which appeals to a certain type of person. Take engineering fields, for instance — many people are drawn in because they enjoy building something concrete and seeing it work. That said, not everyone stays for the same reason; for some it's genuinely intellectual curiosity, for others it's simply that the pay is competitive.

Do you think self-taught skills are as valuable as skills learned through formal education?

For the most part, yes, though it really depends on the field. Self-taught skills tend to be strongest in hands-on areas — someone who's spent years tinkering with devices often develops an intuition that's hard to teach in a classroom. That said, subjects that require structured theory, like advanced mathematics, still benefit from formal education. So I'd say the ideal is really a mix of both, rather than favoring one over the other.

How will workplaces change in the future?

I'd expect a much greater reliance on automation and AI tools handling repetitive tasks, which means human roles will probably shift toward judgment-based work — deciding what to build rather than doing the manual labor of building it. We'll probably also see more flexible, remote-first arrangements becoming the norm rather than the exception. What I doubt will change, though, is the value of deep technical expertise; that's something automation still struggles to replace.

Why do some people find it harder to learn new skills as they get older?

I'd say it mostly comes down to time. As people get older, they tend to take on more responsibilities — a family, a demanding job — which tends to make it harder to find time for something new. My father, for example, tried learning a musical instrument recently, but he kept getting pulled away by work and family commitments.

Why do people work from places like cafés instead of at home?

I think it's mostly about wanting a change of scenery, plus the appeal of good coffee while you work. A lot of people head to cafés simply because home can feel too routine or distracting. That said, I think offices could offer the same thing — a decent coffee machine and a more comfortable environment — so people wouldn't feel the need to leave in the first place.

Do you think physical spaces affect how people feel or think?

I'd say so, yes. It really comes down to atmosphere — when people feel comfortable in a space, like a quiet café, it tends to put them in the right mindset to think more creatively. A cramped, noisy environment, on the other hand, tends to have the opposite effect.

How might workspaces change in the future as remote work becomes more common?

We'll probably see fewer traditional offices in the future, mainly because so much can already be done online — tools like Zoom mean people can join meetings without commuting at all. For many companies, maintaining a large physical office is starting to feel unnecessary. That said, I'd expect co-working spaces to become more popular instead, since remote workers still need somewhere to go when home isn't ideal.

Do you think art is important in education?

I'd say so, yes — mainly because it teaches respect for culture and heritage. For example, when students learn to draw batik at school, they get a firsthand appreciation of their own country's art. That said, I think institutions need to strike a balance between subjects like this and more scientific ones, like maths or physics.

Why do some people think art is a waste of time to study?

I think it's mainly because some people see art as less directly useful for their careers, so they'd rather spend their time on scientific subjects like programming or computer science — especially if the goal is to get a job quickly. That said, I still think everyone should know at least a bit about art, since it's an important way of connecting with one's own heritage.