On Friday (June 5, 2026), we had the opportunity to interview Professor Emerita of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof. Dr. Noriah Mohamed, who is also an alumna of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program (formerly Javanese Literature) at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Interestingly, despite being from Malaysia, she possesses a strong affinity for Javanese culture.

In the interview, she shared that she is still deeply connected to her Javanese heritage. “My father’s parents were Javanese. My grandfather was from Solo, while my grandmother was from Kebumen,” she shared. Her interest in Javanese culture also grew from childhood experiences. “When I was a child, my grandfather enjoyed singing Javanese songs (nembang), and that is where my interest began to grow.”

In short, she later enrolled in the Javanese Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and wrote her undergraduate thesis on the Javanese people in Selangor. Her interest in Javanese culture did not stop there. She also enjoys various Javanese literary works, such as the tales of Damarwulan and Panji Jayengtilam.

Her interest in Javanese literature later led her to a manuscript titled Serat Jayengbaya. The term Jayengbaya itself is a combination of the words jaya + ing + baya, which means ‘triumphant over danger.’ There is something unique in this text: Ranggawarsita, as the author, uses hypothetical forms, such as “if I were…”, covering various states of being, ranging from professions and animals to God. She later developed her study of the text into her Master’s thesis in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada, which has now been published.

During the conversation, she assessed that Javanese culture today is experiencing a decline, both in Malaysia and in Indonesia. This condition, according to her, is a shared challenge to revive cultural values that are beginning to erode. Therefore, she emphasized the importance of the younger generation rediscovering their identity. “We need to recognize ourselves, to know who we are. Do not become someone else. Furthermore, culture should not only be studied but also practiced and passed down,” she explained.

Author : Haryo Untoro

The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a public lecture entitled “The Strategic Profession of Sworn Translators.” The event featured Anisa Syifa Amalia, S.S., M.I.S., a sworn translator for Indonesian–Korean and Korean–Indonesian language pairs, as well as an alumna of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Class of 2011. The lecture was open to all students of the study program and was mandatory for students enrolled in the Korean Comprehensive Language 2 course.

During the session, the speaker shared her professional journey as a translator and explained the vital role of sworn translators in supporting legal affairs, business activities, and international cooperation. Students were introduced to various aspects of the profession, including the code of ethics, competency standards, certification process, as well as the challenges and career opportunities emerging in the era of technological advancement and artificial intelligence (AI). The speaker also emphasized the importance of maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and accountability in translation work, particularly when dealing with documents that carry legal implications.

Through this public lecture, students gained broader insights into the profession of sworn translators as a promising career path for graduates of Korean Language and Culture Studies. The event also provided a practical understanding of the competencies that students need to develop early on in order to remain competitive and contribute effectively in professional environments.

It is hoped that this activity will encourage students to continuously enhance their language proficiency, strengthen their professionalism, and prepare themselves for various career opportunities that require linguistic expertise and intercultural communication skills in the future.

Author: Eunike Serafia N.S

Students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, have once again achieved an outstanding accomplishment on the international stage. A team of 12 students successfully won the K-Speech Jingle Singing Contest 2026, organized by the Korea Speech Eloquence Association. The competition brought together individual and group participants from various countries, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Ethiopia, and several others.

In the competition, participants performed the official K-Speech jingle entitled “외쳐봐 한국웅변”, which promotes the courage to speak, deliver speeches, and express ideas in Korean. Through its inspiring and energetic lyrics, the song encourages Korean language learners to improve their speaking skills while building confidence in communication. With a well-coordinated, expressive, and spirited performance, the UGM team successfully demonstrated both strong vocal abilities and a deep understanding of the message conveyed in the song.

The journey to victory was far from easy. The UGM team had to go through five stages of selection over a period of more than six months. The preliminary screening was held in late November 2025, followed by the first YouTube video evaluation on December 15, 2025. The second YouTube video evaluation took place on March 13, 2026. Participants then advanced to an online judging session conducted via Zoom on March 15, 2026, before competing in the final round in May 2026. The winning video is scheduled to be showcased during the K-Speech Grand Final in South Korea on October 8, 2026.

One of the team representatives, Theresia Chindyawati (2nd year student), expressed her gratitude and pride regarding the achievement she attained together with her teammates.

“This was the first time the jingle competition had ever been held, and since the participants came from various countries, we honestly did not expect to win. Throughout the long selection and practice process, there were certainly moments when we felt tired. However, because we spent so much time together, we became closer and more united as a team, which made the practices much more enjoyable.

I would like to sincerely thank all the members of the jingle team for their enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication. At the same time, all team members were also participating in the K-Speech Big Group category, and thankfully both teams managed to win the grand prize. I would also like to express my gratitude to Ms. Alfi as our supervisor and Ms. Anggita as our vocal coach for their patience, guidance, and support throughout the preparation process. Thank you for the valuable experience and all the wonderful memories!”

This achievement demonstrates that students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM excel not only in academics but also actively develop their potential in the fields of arts, language, and culture through various international competitions.

The success achieved by the team is expected to inspire other students to continue developing their talents and skills, seize opportunities at both national and international levels, and actively contribute to promoting Korean language and culture through activities that foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding among nations.

For those who are interested in watching the team’s performance of the jingle “외쳐봐 한국웅변”, the video can be viewed through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_kzsabSxs&list=PLM_kkY5y1vKkwmhuJzxqQR6W2EsSHHTR3

Universitas Islam Indonesia hosted the Qatar Debate Indonesian Chapter, widely known as UNISI Debate. This prestigious competition brought together 16 universities across Indonesia—including public, private, and Islamic higher education institutions—and involved 22 professional adjudicators with expertise in Arabic debate.

The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada participated by sending four student delegates: Hashifa Zara Ahfiyani and Ahsana Matswayasha (fourth semester), as well as Ismail and Rayya Adhiya Syifa (second semester). The team competed in five preliminary rounds held over two days.

During the first three rounds on April 11, 2026, the UGM team faced Institut Darul Ulum Banyuanyar, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim, and Universitas Sebelas Maret. The fourth and fifth rounds, held on April 12, 2026, saw the team competing against a swing team (a combined team from Universitas Islam Indonesia and UIN Sultanah Nahrasiyah Lhokseumawe), before facing UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim once again.

Out of the five rounds, the UGM team secured two victories—during the third round against Universitas Sebelas Maret and the fourth round against the swing team. In the fourth round, one of the delegates, Ismail, was also awarded Best Speaker.

This participation marked the team’s first experience in a national-level Arabic debate competition connected to an international platform. One of the delegates, Rayya, noted that the experience serves as an initial step toward revitalizing Arabic debate activities at UGM. She also emphasized that the preparation process and competition provided valuable lessons, including improving language proficiency, developing argumentation skills, and strengthening teamwork.

Beyond competition, this participation represents an important milestone for students to grow, build confidence, and contribute to reviving the culture of Arabic debate within the academic environment.

Author: Hashifa Zara Ahfiyani

Gadjah Mada University Language Center, through its Foreign Languages Learning Services (FELLAS), in collaboration with the British Council Indonesia, held an IELTS Writing Workshop on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The event took place at the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM, and was attended by students and members of the general public who wished to improve their writing skills for the IELTS exam.

The workshop aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of writing strategies for the IELTS Writing section, including techniques for structuring arguments, developing ideas, and managing time during the exam. Through this collaboration with the British Council Indonesia, participants received materials and insights directly from experts with extensive experience in IELTS instruction and preparation.

During the workshop, participants not only received theoretical instruction but also took part in practice sessions and discussions of sample IELTS Writing answers. This event is expected to help participants improve their academic skills and English communication abilities, as well as increase their chances of achieving an optimal IELTS score for international study or career purposes.

The IELTS Writing Workshop is one example of the UGM Language Center’s commitment to supporting the development of foreign language proficiency among the academic community and the general public. Through various training programs and language services, FELLAS continues to strive to offer activities that are relevant to the needs of education and human resource development in the global era.

This event also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, by providing access to language skills training and enhancing participants’ academic capacity. Furthermore, the collaboration between the UGM Language Center and the British Council Indonesia reflects the implementation of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in expanding learning opportunities and improving the quality of education.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]