On 8 September 2026, SMAN 1 Teras Boyolali visited the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM as part of a Campus Tour for 11th-grade students. Around 150 students attended the visit, which took place from 09.00 to 10.00 WIB at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium.

The event began with welcoming remarks from the Principal of SMAN 1 Teras Boyolali. He encouraged his students to actively ask questions while they had the chance to visit FIB UGM. “Come on, ask plenty of questions later while we are at UGM; when else will we get this opportunity,” he said.

Swety, representing the Public Relations team, presented the study programs available at FIB, which comprise 22 programs in total, including 11 undergraduate programs that high school students can choose in the future.

The event then proceeded to an interactive Q&A session. Three female students from SMAN 1 Teras Boyolali eagerly took the opportunity to engage directly with the speaker. They raised several insightful questions, ranging from scholarship availability and opportunities at UGM, various admission tracks, to the acceptance rate and competition percentage for admission to FIB UGM. Furthermore, they also explored information regarding career prospects and job opportunities for FIB UGM graduates in the future.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

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

Yogyakarta — The night at Pondok A. Salam, Kalimasada, grew warmer during Unggunan Cerita, a session featuring writer Mahfud Ikhwan as part of the 2026 Literary Camp with Nature and the Universe. In an informal and intimate atmosphere, Mahfud shared stories from his writing journey, discussed his creative process and research, reflected on his fascination with popular culture, and offered his thoughts on literary criticism.

The session gave participants a glimpse into the “creative kitchen” of a writer who has spent years developing his work through persistence, research, and close attention to everyday life.

Mahfud began his literary journey with the novel Ulid Tak Ingin ke Malaysia (2009). His name became increasingly recognized through Kambing dan Hujan: Sebuah Roman (2015) and Dawuk: Kisah Kelabu dari Rumbuk Randu (2017). These works reflect his sustained interest in ordinary people, particularly rural communities and those living on the margins of mainstream society.

During Unggunan Cerita, Mahfud spoke at length about the way he works. Writing a novel, he explained, is not necessarily something that can be completed in a matter of months. Some projects take years—up to nine years for a single novel.

For Mahfud, every novel calls for its own treatment, working process, method, and research. There is no universal formula that can be applied to every book. Literary research, he noted, cannot simply be treated in the same way as academic or scientific research. Its approach depends on the story being written, the world the writer wants to create, and what the work seeks to convey.

He also referred to Haruki Murakami’s writing routine as an example of how a writer can cultivate creative discipline through repetition. Murakami is well known for combining regular running with a disciplined writing practice. For Mahfud, the example demonstrates that creative work also demands consistency and persistence rather than simply waiting for inspiration to arrive.

One of Mahfud’s most interesting suggestions was that writers should not necessarily begin a story with a grand idea or grand narrative. A story can instead emerge from something seemingly small: an incident, a scene, an exchange, or a compelling piece of dialogue.

Such small details can become an entry point into a much larger story. What matters is whether the scene or event can draw readers in, make them want to stay with the story, and leave them curious about what comes next.

This approach means that writers do not have to impose a grand idea on a story from the outset. A seemingly ordinary conversation or minor incident can grow into a complex fictional world when handled with care.

The same sensibility can be seen in Mahfud’s attention to forms of culture outside the established cultural mainstream. He is comfortable engaging with what he calls “low culture and entertainment”—forms of popular culture that are often dismissed or looked down upon.

The lives of ordinary people and communities on the margins, for instance, have become the raw material for his fiction. One example is Dawuk: Kisah Kelabu dari Rumbuk Randu, a novel about life in a rural community that went on to receive a prestigious literary award.

Mahfud’s fascination with popular culture does not remain merely a matter of personal consumption. Dangdut, Indian films, and football have all found their way into his writing.

His interest in football, for example, inspired the novel Bek: Sebuah Novel (2024). His love of Indian cinema became the subject of the essay collection Aku dan Film India Melawan Dunia (2017). His fascination with dangdut and other forms of popular culture later found expression in Kepikiran Dangdut dan Hal-hal Pop Lainnya (2024).

These works demonstrate that literary material does not always have to come from what is considered “high culture.” Everyday life, popular entertainment, social habits, and things that are often dismissed as trivial can all become sources of literary creativity.

For Mahfud, it is precisely in such seemingly ordinary spaces that stories can retain a strong connection to concrete human experience.

Toward the end of the session, the conversation turned to literary criticism. Mahfud explained that good criticism serves a purpose far beyond simply judging a work or pointing out its weaknesses.

He compared literary criticism to singing practice and singing off-key. A singer may not realize that a particular note is slightly out of tune. In much the same way, a writer may not be aware of everything taking place within their own work.

“There are things that even the writer does not know or realize.”

Literary criticism, therefore, can reveal possibilities that remain invisible to the writer. With the right perspective, theory, and method, criticism can become a productive way of reading a work more closely and thoughtfully.

For Mahfud, literary criticism should not be reduced to what is increasingly associated with arguments on social media: sniping at others, trading personal attacks, or creating noise without a clear intellectual basis.

Mahfud has also practiced criticism himself through his book Melihat Pengarang Tidak Bekerja (2022). The book reflects his own approach to criticism: staying close to the literary work while examining authorship and the creative process from a critical perspective.

Ultimately, Unggunan Cerita became more than a conversation about writing techniques. From the long gestation of a novel to his enthusiasm for dangdut, Indian cinema, and football, Mahfud showed that a writer’s creative kitchen can be found almost anywhere.

Stories can grow out of villages, marginal spaces, football fields, Indian films, dangdut stages, or even a seemingly insignificant line of dialogue. What matters is how a writer observes, processes, researches, and gives form to what they encounter.

Under the night sky of Kalimasada, Unggunan Cerita offered a reminder that literature does not always emerge from grand ideas. Sometimes, it begins with something small that someone takes the time to notice—and then patiently works on for years.

Author: Khotibul Umam

YOGYAKARTA, August 11, 2026 – The Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held an orientation session for its 2026 new students as part of an introduction to the academic environment and university life. The event provided new students with an opportunity to learn more about the study program, understand the academic system, and gain an overview of the various opportunities for personal and academic development available during their studies in Arabic Literature at UGM. The session began with a presentation by Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program. During the session, new students were introduced to the academic environment and system of the study program, including an overview of the learning process, the completion of the Study Plan Card (KRS), and other important information they need to know at the beginning of their university journey. The session provided new students with an initial understanding of the academic process while helping them adjust to university life.

The orientation continued with an experience-sharing session featuring Garin Arivian, S.S., an alumnus of the Arabic Literature Study Program at UGM from the 2020 cohort who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sweden. Garin shared his experiences as a university student, including his involvement as a Student Achievement Award recipient (Mahasiswa Berprestasi/Mapres) and as the head of Kampung Budaya, a student-led cultural community. His experiences showed new students that university life can be an opportunity to develop themselves through a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities. During the session, Garin also encouraged new students to be willing to explore the opportunities that come their way during their studies. He emphasized that students do not have to wait until they feel completely ready before taking an opportunity. Participating in student organizations, competitions, campus activities, and experiences beyond the classroom can be valuable processes for discovering one’s abilities and interests. His experience of pursuing further studies abroad also demonstrated how the experiences and achievements built during university can become valuable preparation for taking the next step in one’s academic journey.

The series of activities continued with a meeting with the Academic Advisors (Dosen Pembimbing Akademik/DPA): Dr. Arief Ma’nawi, S.S., M.Hum., Dr. Hamdan, S.S., M.A., Dr. Imam Wicaksono, Lc., M.A., and Dr. Tohir Mustofa, S.S., M.A. During this session, new students met directly with the lecturers who will support and guide their academic journey throughout their studies in Arabic Literature at UGM. Beyond serving as an opportunity for introductions, the meeting allowed students to communicate more closely with their Academic Advisors and gain a better understanding of how academic guidance and support will be provided throughout their university years.

Through this orientation program, new students gained an initial understanding of the Arabic Literature Study Program at UGM from various perspectives. From learning about the academic system and hearing experiences from alumni to meeting their Academic Advisors, the series of activities is expected to help new students adapt to university life while encouraging them to remain open to the many opportunities to learn, grow, and develop throughout their studies.

Author : Indana Zulfa Maulida

On 17 June 2026, students on the Master’s Programme in Anthropology paid an academic visit to the home of the Indonesian writer, Ahmad Tohari, in Banyumas. The visit formed part of the learning process, providing an opportunity for reflection on the importance of literacy, advocacy for marginalized communities, and intellectual responsibility in producing written works that have an impact on society. The meeting was warm and inspiring for the students.

Ahmad Tohari shared the story of his journey to becoming recognised as one of Indonesia’s leading writers. He explained that becoming a writer is not an easy path. Perseverance, sensitivity to the lives of the community, and the courage to give voice to social realities were the key qualities that enabled him to produce works that remain relevant to this day. According to Ahmad Tohari, it is not enough for a writer simply to have the ability to string words together. Writers must also be able to give a voice to those who are often unheard, particularly marginalized communities facing various social issues. He expressed his concern that some contemporary literary works are beginning to lose their connection with the realities of grassroots communities and are becoming more market-oriented than focused on human values.

He urged the students to begin writing about the communities closest to them before seeking out distant or exotic subjects. He cited one of his own works, “Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk”, which draws on the Banyumas community where he was born and raised. This approach ultimately helped us, those present, to embrace the spirit of the decolonisation of knowledge—as an effort to build an understanding of Indonesian society without always relying on Western frameworks of thought. Whilst he did not explicitly mention the term ‘decolonisation’ during the discussion, throughout his career he has written from local perspectives and using local idioms; indeed, through every experience he shared, it was evident how that spirit manifested itself.

“Write; by writing, you exist.”

This message left the deepest impression on the students. For Ahmad Tohari, writing is not merely an academic activity or a profession, but a form of existence and a moral responsibility to document human experience, preserve collective memory, and champion the values of justice and humanity. Furthermore, this session offered a fresh perspective on the importance of ethnography and scholarly writing—work that not only meets academic standards but also brings tangible benefits to society. As aspiring researchers and academics, the students were encouraged to produce writing born of empathy, championing the interests of vulnerable groups, and serving as a bridge between knowledge and social change.

Author: Elsha Pipit Nathalia & Dewi Widyastuti

Photo Credits: Dr. Sita Hidayah, M.A.