Once again, a brilliant achievement was achieved by students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) who are members of Paramadaya (Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM Choir). Yudha Adistira (Batch 2022) and Abimanyu Mahendra Maladeta Darmadi (class of 2023), successfully won first place and the rotating trophy in the choir competition entitled “Christmas Choir Festival.” The competition was held at Galleria Mall Yogyakarta on Sunday (December 17, 2023).

Yudha, Abimanyu, and their Paramadaya colleagues performed the songs “Grown up Christmas List” and “Lihatlah Lebih Dekat.” The choir performance they presented invited the admiration of the audience and the jury. For this reason, Paramadaya was able to win first place and the rotating trophy.

In an interview with Yudha Adistira, he shared his experience, “At first we did not expect to be able to win the championship. Our competitors were from other universities that included the scale of the University Student Choir (PSM), while we were from the Faculty PSM. In addition, many participants were more senior and more experienced than us. Alhamdulillah, we were able to overcome these challenges and win. Hopefully, in the future, we can win first place again so that the rotating trophy can be obtained again.”

This success is proof that the Students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM can develop their potential in non-academic fields through Semi-Autonomous Bodies (BSO) such as Paramadaya Choir. The development of potential, both academic and non-academic, within the scope, of the study program, faculty, and university scope is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, especially in improving the quality of education for the community.

Through an online meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the UGM French Language and Literature study program held a briefing for third-year students, namely 2021 students who will take part in the MBKM (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka) program. This briefing is related to preparing activities that can be followed as a substitute for even semester lectures in the 2023/2024 academic year. This is done to achieve the goals of the curriculum under the two themes of SDG 4, Quality Education, and SDG 17 Partnerships to Achieve Goals.

In this online meeting, students are given information regarding what internal or external activities can be chosen and then can be converted as a value for this even semester lecture. The MBKM activities offered by the study program include internship programs and independent projects in collaboration with several study program partners, faculties, and universities with a cooperation agreement.  Internship activities that students can carry out include ARTraduction translation agency, Institut Français d’Indonésie and Alliance Française throughout Indonesia, publishing agencies such as Mojok Publisher, as well as museums in Yogyakarta and Central Java such as Ullen Sentalu Museum, Radya Pustaka Solo Museum, Kraton Yogyakarta Museum, Tumurun Solo Museum, etc. For independent projects, there are film translation projects in collaboration with IFI Yogyakarta and film centers in France, and French language learning assistance projects in schools in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.

In addition to programs initiated by the study program, students can also carry out MBKM activities funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the form of the Diktiristek Flagship program. Several students have been accepted into the program, including the program Kampus Mengajar at SMKS Piri Sleman as teacher partners, social media editorial internships at Kompas Gramedia Jakarta, internships in statistical cooperation positions at the Directorate General of Higher Education Jakarta, internships in the retail merchandising division at PT AEON Indonesia, independent study activities including mentoring and studying the establishment of digital start-ups with the Ministry of Communication and Information’s 100 Digital Startup Movement, and internships for French translation assistants at the DPR RI Secretariat General.

On January 26th, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada attended the Employee Training Needs Workshop 2024, which was held from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM WIB (GMT+7) in Multimedia Room 1, KPTU UGM, 3rd Floor, North Wing. The event was organized by the Universitas Gadjah Mada Directorate of Human Resources, in order to receive feedback and evaluation of training conducted by the UGM Directorate of Human Resources and to identify training needs that need to be held to achieve organizational goals. The workshop invited a number of academic staff, faculty, and university staff, and had previously requested feedback from invited representatives to provide comprehensive and structured materials and discussion topics. The feedback needed was in the form of employee competency points that need to be improved and training needs that need to be held during 2024.

The series of activities of the Employee Training Needs Workshop 2024 is a realization of the SDG 4 point, Quality Education, and SDG 8 point, Decent Work and Economic Growth. This realization is carried out in improving the quality of employees and staff of Universitas Gadjah Mada for better education. This is followed by the creation of a healthy work environment and helping employees and staff to contribute to the improvement of human resource quality.

An Nuur Khairune Nisa, Delfyan Intan Nurmala Fadin, and Putrisari Oktaviani Gustiarti have written a journal entitled “Experiencing Museum: Eksplorasi Digital Free Tourism di Museum Ullen Sentalu, Yogyakarta,” which explores the concept of Digital Free Tourism (DFT) in the context of experiencing a museum at Ullen Sentalu. The study aims to analyze the implementation of the DFT concept at the Ullen Sentalu Museum in Yogyakarta and its implications for the museum tourism experience. This research employs a qualitative method with an exploratory study approach conducted through data collection methods, including observation, in-depth interviews, and literature review gathered from journals, books, articles, and the Ullen Sentalu Museum’s website.

The findings of this research reveal that the Ullen Sentalu Museum has successfully applied the DFT concept by controlling the on-site technology used during museum tours to protect the collection’s security and create a more profound museum experience, enhancing visitors’ curiosity and well-being. Ullen Sentalu also does not reject digital utilization, instead, they create an innovation by optimizing digital content during pre-site and post-site stages to reflect their commitment to staying relevant in the digital era while preserving traditional values in DFT.

This journal originated from the final assignment of the Tourism Article Writing course conducted at the end of 2023. At the beginning of the semester, the authors sought an interesting issue amid the current development of digital technology. Besides its positive impacts, the massive development of digital technology can also have negative impacts on the tourism sector, giving rise to a new theory known as Digital Free Tourism. Interestingly, this concept has already been implemented around us, as exemplified by the Ullen Sentalu Museum. Due to the limited studies on DFT in Indonesia, especially in the context of museums, they decided to explore DFT at the Ullen Sentalu Museum and its connection to “experiencing museum”. They found that DFT is closely related to the tourist experience and enhances curiosity and well-being. Last, An Nuur stated that this topic is undoubtedly intriguing to delve deeper into, as tourism without digital elements actually adds meaning to tourism itself.

The journal can be accessed through: jurnal.ugm.ac.id/tourism_pariwisata/article/download/92457/3818

Ever wonder why men and women sometimes seem like they’re speaking different languages? Linguists have been digging into this mystery, going beyond vocabulary differences to explore how men and women communicate in unique ways. This article aims to discover the fascinating world of gender-specific language patterns, pulling insights from reliable sources to give you the lowdown on this captivating aspect of human interaction.

Communication Styles: Reading Between the Lines

When it comes to social interactions, men and women often showcase distinct communication styles. Women, in particular, have a knack for using implicit language, especially when expressing their wants or likes. Picture this: you’re on a date, and your girlfriend doesn’t outright say where she’d like to go. Instead, she drop hints, leaving it to you to play detective and figure out their unspoken preferences. This tendency aligns with what linguists have found – women often use subtle communication strategies to get their point across (Lakoff, 1975).

Tag Questions and Rising Intonation: The Women’s Secret Language

One of the landmark studies on gender-specific language use, led by Deborah Tannen in 1975, shed light on the prevalence of tag questions in women’s speech. Tannen argued that women deploy tag questions as a way of hedging, adding a touch of uncertainty or seeking reassurance. She also pointed out that women frequently use rising intonation on statements, making them sound like questions. This linguistic quirk adds a layer of complexity to women’s communication, requiring a nuanced interpretation to grasp their intended meaning.

Different Strokes: Men vs. Women in Language

Linguists have delved into the intriguing differences in emphasis between men’s and women’s language, shedding light on unique communication styles. Research indicates that men typically prioritize conveying information, striving for clarity and directness. In contrast, women often assign a higher significance to social connections and the cultivation of relationships (Tannen, 1990). For instance, women may engage in sharing gossip as a means to foster and maintain relationships among themselves (Tannen, 1991). This communication practice, far from being trivial, serves as a social bonding mechanism, strengthening connections within their social circles. On the other hand, men tend to share information selectively, focusing on relaying pertinent and crucial details.

In conclusion, the use of language between men and women unfolds as a multifaceted phenomenon, intricately woven with various linguistic nuances. Deborah Tannen’s groundbreaking work in 1975 marked a significant milestone, offering a gateway to a deeper comprehension of these distinctive communication styles. The delicacy inherent in women’s language, coupled with their strong emphasis on social connections, contributes to the rich tapestry of human communication. Importantly, recognizing and appreciating these nuanced differences in language aligns with the global pursuit of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – Gender Equality. SDG 5 emphasizes the importance of dismantling gender stereotypes and promoting equal opportunities in various spheres, including communication. As our understanding of gender differences in language continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly crucial to consider these nuances not only for enhancing interpersonal communication but also as part of a broader commitment to fostering gender equality. By acknowledging and valuing the unique ways in which men and women communicate, we contribute to creating a more inclusive and respectful world.

References:
Lakoff, R. (1975). Language and Woman’s Place. Harper & Row.
Tannen, D. (1975). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. William Morrow and Company, Inc.
Tannen, D. (1990). You’re Wearing THAT?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation. Random House.
Tannen, D. (19911990). You just don’t understand: women and men in conversation. 1st Ballantine Books ed. New York, Ballantine.

This article has previously been published by Pusat Bahasa FIB UGM through this link.