Yogyakarta, 9 September 2026 — The Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Keluarga Mahasiswa Linguistik Gadjah Mada (Kalingga UGM), held an Expert Lecture entitled “Indonesian for Foreign Speakers” on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. Conducted online via Zoom, the event featured two speakers who explored various aspects of teaching and learning Indonesian as a foreign language.
The first speaker, Nguyen Thahn Tuan from Vietnam National University, Vietnam, delivered a presentation entitled “Teaching Indonesian in Vietnam: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Prospects.” His presentation explored the dynamics of Indonesian language teaching in Vietnam, highlighting the challenges encountered, opportunities for development, and future prospects for Indonesian language learning.
The second speaker, Dr. Wira Kurniawati, S.S., M.A. from Universitas Gadjah Mada, presented “Learning Language, Learning to Use Language: The Acquisition of Pragmatic Competence among BIPA Learners.” Her presentation highlighted the importance of pragmatic competence in language acquisition, particularly among BIPA learners. The discussion emphasized that language learning involves not only mastering linguistic structures but also developing the ability to use language appropriately in different communicative contexts.
The event was moderated by Nur Fahmi, S.S., a student of the UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics.
The Expert Lecture provided participants with an opportunity to broaden their perspectives on the teaching and learning of Indonesian as a foreign language. The presentations offered complementary perspectives on BIPA development, ranging from Indonesian language teaching overseas to the acquisition of pragmatic competence among learners.
Through this event, the UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics continues to promote linguistics scholarship that responds to the growing role of Indonesian in a global context. The event also served as a platform for sharing academic knowledge and experiences to support the wider international development of the Indonesian language.
The UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics extends its appreciation to the speakers, moderator, organizing committee, and all participants for their valuable contributions to the success of the event.
Author: Master of Linguistics
