PBI UNU Jogja Holds English Training at RTK Jaban, Promoting Digital Literacy for Young Generation

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - The English Education Study Program (PBI) at UNU Jogja successfully organized an English training program for children at the Creative Thematic House (RTK) Jaban, Sinduharjo, Sleman. Carrying the theme Fun English Language Learning through Integrating Digital Technology, the program ran from 27 February to 21 June 2025.

The Head of the PBI Study Program at UNU Jogja, Khusnul Harsul Lisan, said this training is a concrete effort to support the improvement of English literacy from an early age. “English is the gateway to knowledge. Many sources of science and technology are written in English. Children need to be equipped with this skill, but in a fun and contextual way,” he said.

From the outset, the training was designed with a technology-based approach. The children took a pre-test using the Quizizz app, and daily learning made use of Duolingo as part of the Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) concept. Materials were also presented bilingually to support understanding among participants at the beginner level. 

The instructors, who were PBI UNU Jogja students, were enthusiastic in accompanying the children. Ilham Ramdani, Maratus, Masruroh, Hanif, and Dhea served as facilitators who not only taught theory but also practice through educational games in the RTK Sinduharjo courtyard. This approach successfully created an enjoyable learning atmosphere. Student attendance from start to finish reached 99 percent.

“The children at RTK Jaban showed extraordinary enthusiasm for learning. They were eager to try the apps, learn through play, and even asked for extra lessons,” said Hanif.

Amid the Student Showcase activities, the PBI UNU Jogja program and RTK Jaban also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The signing was carried out by Khusnul Harsul Lisan and Jaban hamlet head Hastungkoro, as a concrete implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) initiative. 

“This collaboration is not only a form of community service, but also a practical arena for our students. They learn directly in the community, honing the competencies they have studied in class,” said Khusnul.

Jaban hamlet head Hastungkoro welcomed the initiative. He hopes the collaboration will continue so that children in Jaban can gain more varied and high-quality learning experiences.

The program culminated in a Student Showcase on 21 June 2025. The event featured a variety of children’s artistic creations, including dance, singing, poetry readings, and English performances before parents, the Jaban hamlet head, and UNU Jogja staff. 

“The children are very creative and confident. This is not just about English, but also about nurturing confidence, creativity, and critical thinking,” said Khusnul.

Pride was evident on the faces of the parents in attendance. One of the parents/guardians of Al Farras King Shaquille Bayanaka even expressed hope that similar activities could continue. “We hope there will be more programs like this because they are very beneficial for my child,” the parent said.

Through this training, PBI UNU Jogja hopes to continue strengthening English literacy from an early age while bringing higher education closer to village communities through an inclusive, technology-based approach. [Latifah]