UNS – Team Research Group (RG) Indonesian Language Education Study Program (PBI) Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta conducted international community service. This activity was funded by the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNS in 2023 by carrying out activities to strengthen competence in making Indonesian language teaching materials for foreign speakers (BIPA) based on Javanese culture and traditions for lecturers at Fatoni University, Thailand on Thursday (1/6) /2023).
Chaired by Dr. Kundharu Saddhono, M.Hum., the RG Team of the PBI Study Program consists of four members. They are Dr. Muhammad Rohmadi, M. Hum., Dr. Raheni Suhita, M. Hum., Dra. Ani Rakhmawati, M.A., Ph.D., and Dr. Budhi Setiawan, M.Pd. This activity also involved three PBI FKIP UNS students, namely Aldi Dwi Saputra, Maulana Danar Maaliki, and Muhammad Aditya Wisnu Wardana.
In the release received by the uns.ac.id team on Tuesday (13/6/2023), Dr. Kundharu revealed that this activity was an effort to strengthen and internationalize the Indonesian language through a cultural approach.
“The implementation of this service is an effort to strengthen and internationalize the Indonesian language, especially in Thailand with an Indonesian cultural approach,” Dr. Kundharu said.
The BIPA teaching organized by the RG Team of the PBI FKIP UNS Study Program at Fatoni University offers opportunities for Fatoni University students to learn Indonesian in a comprehensive manner. Students who enroll in this program will receive advanced teaching on grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in Indonesian. They will also be involved in cultural activities and direct interaction with Indonesians to better understand diverse cultural aspects.
Dr. Kundharu also revealed that the RG Team of PBI FKIP UNS also provided teaching media in the form of books and flipcharts to support the running of BIPA teaching activities.
“To support the BIPA teaching activities, our team also provides teaching media in the form of books and flipcharts that are attractive to foreign students with interesting and interactive cultural concepts,” Dr. Kundharu said.
Not only carrying out Indonesian language teaching activities for Fatoni University students, the RG PBI FKIP UNS Team also provided assistance in making teaching media which became the foundation for Fatoni University lecturers on a culture-based basis. Assistance in making teaching media is carried out in stages starting with observation, discussion, and determining appropriate teaching materials for teaching BIPA in class so that it is easy for Indonesian language learners to understand and learn.
BIPA program participants in Thailand provided very positive feedback on the teaching of Indonesian students. They appreciated the interactive approach and warmth shown by the instructors. The participants also stated that through this program, they could feel the spirit of friendship between Indonesia and Thailand and feel connected to Indonesian culture through language.
The BIPA program in Thailand has become an important bridge in strengthening relations between Thailand and Indonesia. Through understanding language and culture, participants in this program are expected to contribute to strengthening friendship between the two countries as well as promoting cooperation in various fields. With increasing interest, it is hoped that the BIPA program in Thailand will continue to develop and make a positive contribution to advancing relations between Thailand and Indonesia and facilitating cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Islahudin, a lecturer at Fatoni University, hopes that this activity can enrich students’ learning experiences and inspire them to love and understand culture in Indonesia.
“Through strengthening competence in making BIPA teaching materials based on Javanese culture and traditions, I hope to enrich the learning experiences of students and inspire them to love and understand the richness of Indonesian culture,” Islahudin said.
Not only are they carrying out BIPA teaching, but the RG Team of the PBI FKIP UNS Study Program also signed an MoU between Fatoni University and UNS as an effort to carry out further collaboration in terms of student exchanges. Humas UNS
Reporter: Lina Khoirun Nisa
Editor: Dwi Hastuti