Malang, Indonesia – The Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) Bahasa Indonesia for SMP/MTs Kota Batu hosted a significant event focused on the curation of quality reading materials to promote Deep Learning at SMP Negeri 01 Kota Batu on February 27, 2025. Dr. Ari Ambarwati, S.S., M.Pd., served as the main speaker for the event, which constitutes the first of three meetings.
This initial session was conducted offline, featuring presentations on book curation and the application of Deep Learning principles to Indonesian language education. A second meeting is scheduled to take place online next week, to review the curation results, followed by another offline gathering after the Eid holiday to consolidate data and develop the curation matrix.
“Through this initiative, the MGMP Bahasa Indonesia Kota Batu demonstrates its commitment to enhancing students’ literacy quality and providing more effective and enjoyable learning experiences,” remarked Dr. Ambarwati.
The curation process encompasses the evaluation of various fiction and non-fiction books available from official government resources, such as SIBI, DIVA LITERA, and I-PUSNAS. The aim is for Indonesian language teachers to select appropriate reading materials based on categories like grade levels (7, 8, and 9), learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), and individual characteristics (introverted or extroverted).
Khusnul, one of the participants from MTs Hasyim Ashari Kota Batu, emphasized the importance of ensuring the books provided to students are suitable for their age and needs. “There are instances where some books circulating are inappropriate for middle school age or even contain content too mature or potentially harmful to the development of children's character,” Khusnul stated.
With this curation effort, it is hoped students' literacy will improve, both in reading and writing. This targeted mapping of reading materials will make learning Indonesian more mindful, meaningful, and joyful. “When students read books aligned with their interests and appeals, they find it easier to understand and analyze the content critically,” Khusnul added. “This step is part of our teachers’ efforts to support students’ literacy from an early age, both in structured and unstructured learning environments.”
Mataram, Indonesia – Simultaneously, Balai Bahasa Provinsi NTB welcomed students from SD Lenterahati Islamic Boarding School on the same day, February 27, 2025, for an outdoor class aimed at enhancing their Indonesian language skills through simulating the Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia (UKBI).
During this engaging activity, 36 students, accompanied by two teachers, were greeted by staff from the Balai Bahasa Provinsi NTB at the Aula Cilinaya. Hartanto, the Coordinator for UKBI at Balai Bahasa, outlined key points to keep in mind for the UKBI test and highlighted the benefits of participating.
“Not only does the UKBI test assess and reveal Indonesian language skills, but it is also required when entering higher education for obtaining competitive scholarships,” Hartanto explained.
The students proceeded to listen to and respond to practice questions provided by the UKBI team, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the types and stages of questions they would encounter during the actual test. The students displayed enthusiasm as they took turns answering questions.
Lentera Nurani Setra, who facilitated the simulation of the UKBI, expressed high praise for the students' enthusiasm. “I truly appreciate the eagerness displayed by the students when answering the simulated questions. I hope their Indonesian language competencies will continue to improve with these opportunities,” she shared.
At the end of the simulation, active participants were rewarded with souvenirs from the Balai Bahasa Provinsi NTB. Following the simulation, the students moved to the Kantin Literasi to witness the Exhibition of Children’s Storybooks Written in Regional Languages, including Sasak, Samawa, and Mbojo, held in celebration of the International Mother Language Day 2025.
Bengkulu, Indonesia – Finally, on the same day, foreign nationals participated in Indonesian language learning services at the Balai Bahasa Province. This initiative aims to improve the capabilities of instructors involved in the Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) program.
On February 27, 2025, two foreign nationals actively engaged in word games during their Indonesian language class. Participants included individuals from Ghana, Kenya, Thailand, and the United States. The program serves to boost these learners' proficiency and confidence when conversing and interacting using the Indonesian language.
The Balai Bahasa Province seeks to provide quality instruction, which not only benefits the learning process for foreign learners but also fosters cultural exchanges and mutual appreciation of language among different nationalities.
Collectively, these initiatives reflect Indonesia's commitment to advancing language education and literacy among its youth, as well as welcoming foreign nationals, ensuring language learning is accessible and enriching for everyone involved.