Learning in the Second Language Acquisition course of the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), provides students with an experience that goes beyond theoretical learning by giving them opportunities to directly observe and engage in the process of second language acquisition.

One of the highlights of the course is an intermediate conversation class involving international students who are learning Indonesian. In this activity, Master’s students enrolled in the Second Language Acquisition course take on the role of tutors, assisting international students in learning and practicing Indonesian.

The activity provides a learning space that connects academic perspectives on second language acquisition with actual language-learning practices. Through interactions between tutors and learners, students can observe how a second language is learned and used in authentic communicative situations. Concepts discussed in the course—including interaction, language environment, individual factors, language transfer, and the cognitive and social processes involved in second language acquisition—can be explored more concretely through this hands-on experience.

The Second Language Acquisition course covers major theories, approaches, and key findings in the field of second language acquisition. Students are encouraged to analyze the cognitive, social, and environmental processes that influence second language acquisition, while also examining the differences between first and second language acquisition. The course further explores individual factors such as age and motivation, as well as language transfer and its implications for language teaching.

The involvement of international students as Indonesian language learners provides an authentic context for Master’s students to understand that second language acquisition does not occur in a uniform manner. Learners may have different needs, strategies, responses, and patterns of linguistic development. These differences provide valuable material for students to connect theoretical concepts with actual phenomena observed in second language acquisition.

In addition to conversation practice, the course incorporates weekly active seminar discussions, critical reading and academic article reviews, case studies based on authentic acquisition data, the integration of second-language (L2) corpus data or recorded interlanguage data, and collaborative mini research projects. Indonesian is used as the language of instruction throughout the course.

Through this learning approach, students are expected not only to explain and evaluate major theories and their development in second language acquisition, but also to critically analyze acquisition data and connect second language acquisition theories with language teaching practices. The experience of serving as tutors in the intermediate conversation class provides an important form of contextual learning that deepens students’ understanding of the complexities of second language acquisition.

The activity also demonstrates that learning in the Master’s Program in Linguistics extends beyond mastering theoretical concepts. Students are encouraged to bring theory into real-world contexts, observe linguistic phenomena directly, and reflect on their observations as part of their academic development and research training in linguistics.

Author: Master of Linguistics Program

Bantul — The PKM-PM Litera-Wayang team held a Wayang Kulit (puppet) performance arts and exhibition at SMKN 1 Kasihan, Bantul, marking the culmination of their community service initiative. The event showcased the students’ creative adaptation of ancient texts and provided a platform for puppetry arts students to demonstrate their talents following the program’s completion.

The showcase featured four young puppeteers from the school’s Puppetry Department performing two main plays: Bima Kutu Walang Taga and Gathotkaca Siyung. Both scripts were creatively adapted by the students from the ancient manuscript Pakem Grĕntĕng during the program.

Twelfth and eleventh-grade puppetry students supported the production as musical accompanists and stage crew. Attendees included the principal of SMKN 1 Kasihan, the head of the Puppetry Department, school members, representatives from the Bantul Regency Cultural Office, and dozens of students. School officials welcomed the initiative, noting that integrating ancient manuscript adaptation into arts education is a first for the institution.

In addition to the performance, a documentation and literacy exhibition was set up outside the indoor arena. The display highlighted the students’ creative journey through visual records and photos, covering script analysis, puppet making, and stage rehearsals. Interactive QR codes were also available, allowing visitors to explore the manuscript adaptation process.

This event marks a successful collaboration between the PKM-PM Litera-Wayang team and the school. Through this program’s outcomes, the team hopes the manuscript adaptation method will be integrated into the vocational curriculum to support cultural preservation and foster creativity among the youth.

Author: Najwa Aulya Aliff Na’im

Yogyakarta — Representing the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), PKM-PM Litera-Wayang team has secured funding for the 2026 Student Creativity Program. The grant was officially announced by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) on May 23, 2026.

The project, titled “PKM-PM Litera-Wayang: Peningkatan Kreativitas Siswa Pedalangan Melalui Transformasi Literasi Manuskrip Kuno Pakem Grĕntĕng di SMK Negeri 1 Kasihan”, focuses on boosting creative skills among vocational students through media adaptation. It aims to revitalize Pakĕm Grĕntĕng, an ancient puppetry (pedalangan) manuscript native to Kulon Progo that is rich in local wisdom but currently facing extinction.

To achieve these goals, the Litera-Wayang team launched a series of structured activities for puppetry arts majors at SMKN 1 Kasihan. Program phases include workshops on ancient manuscript adaptation, script-dissection discussions, leather puppet crafting training, and a culminating student-led shadow puppet performance. To ensure effectiveness, quality assurance is maintained through regular evaluations and progress tracking to monitor student skill development.

Beyond field activities, the team developed a comprehensive guidebook to ensure project sustainability. This module enables the school to independently continue transmitting knowledge of Pakem Grenteng and can be integrated into the school’s curriculum as complementary learning material.

Securing this grant marks a strategic milestone for UGM students to deliver a tangible impact to the community. By leveraging manuscript literacy transformation, this initiative boosts youth creativity while preserving local cultural heritage to keep it relevant in the modern era.

Author: Tim PKM-PM Litera-Wayang

Depok, August 28, 2026 — Achmad Rio Dessiar, Ph.D., Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), served as a guest speaker at the Academic Seminar titled “20 Years of Korean Studies in Indonesia: Reflection and Future Collaboration.” The event was organized by the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI).

Held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Toeti Heraty N. Roosseno Auditorium, FIB UI, the seminar was part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UI. The event provided an academic platform to reflect on the development of Korean Studies in Indonesia over the past two decades and to discuss future opportunities for development and collaboration.

During the event, Achmad Rio Dessiar delivered a presentation titled “The Development of Translation Technology: Utilizing AI Technology.” His presentation explored the evolution of translation technology and the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern language translation processes.

In his remarks, he explained how translation technology has continuously evolved, progressing from rule-based translation systems to AI-driven translation technology. The advent of Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and the advancement of Large Language Models (LLM) have significantly transformed how translation is conducted, improving both the quality of the output and the efficiency of the process.

These advancements hold significant implications for foreign language education, including Korean language education in Indonesia. Today’s students must not only possess strong linguistic and translation competencies but also understand how to utilize AI technology critically, accurately, and responsibly. AI technology should not be viewed merely as a replacement for human translators, but rather as a tool that can enhance productivity while opening new avenues for developing translation skills.

Through this presentation, participants were encouraged to recognize that the future development of Korean Studies in Indonesia must also adapt to technological changes. Integrating AI technology into education, translation, and research represents a potential area for development through collaboration among institutions offering Korean Studies in Indonesia.

The participation of the Head of the Korean Language and Culture Program at FIB UGM in this event is also part of an ongoing effort to strengthen academic networks between UGM, UI, and various institutions developing Korean Studies across Indonesia. It is hoped that the 20th-anniversary milestone of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UI will further strengthen collaborative education and research in Korean Studies, particularly in responding to the future developments of technology and artificial intelligence.

Author: Achmad Rio Dessiar

Yogyakarta, August 19th 2026 – On that day, students of Daito Bunka University, Japan, attend INCULS intensive program’s closing ceremony, which was held at Gedung Soegondo, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

Closing ceremony marks as the conclusion of Daito Bunka 2 weeks Indonesian language and culture learning journey here in Yogyakarta. Through INCULS, learning Indonesian is never limited to the confines of classroom walls, they have the chance to discover the people, language, culture, and also the daily lives of Indonesians on a firsthand basis.

In this ceremony, students as well as teachers look back on the various experiences they had gotten in this short time. With a warm atmosphere and everyone in harmony, enjoying the last seconds before they inevitably part ways. It ends with everyone saying their thanks to all the people helpful throughout their stay in UGM, those include the teachers, tutors, and INCULS team.

For the Daito Bunka University students, this program will be an invaluable experience to further improve their Indonesian language capabilities as well as understanding the Indonesian culture. Firsthand interactions with the locals also gives an insight in not just the language aspects of things, moreover the characteristic and culture of Indonesian people.

We hope UGM’s INCULS continue to be a space for everyone from around the world to explore the language and culture of Indonesia. We hope the academic relations and cultural exchange between both countries will blossom through activities like this. The end of a program is not the end of the student’s learning journey. With hopes that the experience and memories gained at Yogyakarta could become of help to the students of Daito Bunka University in their continuous journey of learning Indonesian language, also serving as a bridge to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Japan.

Author: Suryono (Lin Fan Yu)