UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP, opened the 2024 Language Month Celebration event held by the Indonesian Language Education Study Program of FKIP, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU). The event was held on Thursday (24/10) at the UMSU Auditorium on Jalan Muchtar Basri No.3 Medan.
A series of activities to commemorate Language Month on 28 October, previously the Indonesian Language Study Program held a Humorous Poetry Reading Festival, a Short Story Creation Competition at the high school level in Medan City, and a National Seminar entitled ‘Indonesian Language Learning in the Independent Curriculum‘.
A number of speakers were also present, namely FKIP UNS Solo lecturer Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rohmadi, S.S., M.Hum, UMSU lecturer Dr. Edy Suprayetno, M.Pd, from UMSU, and an Indonesian language teacher from SMA 1 Takengon Zuliana Ibrahim, S.Pd., M.Pd.
In his remarks, UMSU Rector, Prof. Agussani, appreciated the series of activities initiated by the Indonesian Language Education Study Program. He canceled that the future challenges for Indonesian language teachers are increasingly complex. ‘The development of the digital world must be balanced with the strengthening and understanding of teachers. We hope that this activity will be a positive input for the development of FKIP UMSU, especially the Indonesian Language Education Study Program,’ said Agussani.
He also introduced UMSU and the development of FETT briefly from year to year, which continues to be one of the faculties of interest to students.
Previously, the Dean of FKIP UMSU, Dra. Hj Syamsuyurnita, M.Pd, hopes that in the future, such activities will continue to be carried out and be even better and involve many parties, such as historians and writers.
During the seminar, Prof Rohmadi emphasized the importance of innovation in the face of rapid technological advances. ‘Teachers and lecturers in this century must be facilitators who help the education community find their needs,’ said Prof Rohmadi, who also serves as an APS and APT BAN PT Assessor. He reminded us that Indonesian language teachers and lecturers must be visionary in following technology-based times.
In addition, Prof Rohmadi also invited teachers and lecturers to understand today’s digital generation. ‘It is time for Indonesian language teachers and lecturers to find innovations in literacy learning so that students can respond well,’ he added.
The seminar also received high enthusiasm from hundreds of participants, including students, teachers, and high school students. Some teachers questioned the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, especially in relation to literature learning. One student also expressed his concern about gadget dependence amidst the rapid flow of digitalization.
The head of the committee, Yulhasni, S.S., M.Si, and Head of the Indonesian Language Study Programme, reported that this activity was attended by around 450 participants from various circles, both Indonesian language students and teachers. She also explained that Language Month is an important moment for students to develop creativity in literature and language. ‘We hope that students can translate changes in teaching regulations at school later,’ said Mutia.
At the end of the event, the winners of the poetry reading and short story creation competitions were announced. Jikariel Sybegatullah from SMA Muhammadiyah won first place in the poetry reading competition, followed by Kaisah Filzah Enoita from SMA Al Fitian and Nasywa Yoana Syifa from SMA Ashafiyatul. Meanwhile, the winners of the short story contest were Rafka Alfah Reza (first place), Nafiza Almira (second place), and Nurul Huda (third place).
