The Indonesian Language Institute for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) held an international seminar. She was followed by 175 teachers from various BIPA agencies and institutions in Indonesia on Wednesday (6/3) online via Zoom.
The international seminar “Teaching Indonesian for Foreign Speakers Across Countries: Opportunities & Challenges” aims to discuss the opportunities and challenges of teaching BIPA in the era of globalization, when Indonesian is increasingly in demand by the international community.
Presenting experts in the field of BIPA, namely Hidayat Widiyanto, M.Pd. (Head of North Sumatra Language Center), Dr. Agus Sulaeman, M. Pd. (BIPA lecturer at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies), and Dr. Cut Novita Srikandi, M. Hum (Head of BIPA UMSU Institute). It was hosted by Dr. Winona Emelia M. Hum. and opened by Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Pd., the director of BIPA UMSU Institute.
Each speaker delivered exciting and informative material about teaching BIPA at home and abroad. Hidayat Widiyanto, M.Pd., spoke about the role of the Language Center in supporting BIPA teaching in North Sumatra. Dr. Agus Sulaeman, M. Pd., shared his experience teaching BIPA in South Korea. Meanwhile, Dr. Cut Novita Srikandi, M. Hum., explained the opportunities and challenges of teaching BIPA in the digital era.
The Head of BIPA UMSU hopes that the seminar will benefit BIPA teachers and improve the quality of BIPA teaching in Indonesia. Also present was Mrs. Erni Catur Wesni, M.Pd., a BIPA UI activist and member of the central APPBIPA.