UNU Jogja Lecturer Presents Critical Speaking Research at AsiaTEFL 2026 International Conference in China

Xi’an, China – Harisna Hikmah, a lecturer at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), was selected as one of the presenters at The 24th AsiaTEFL International Conference (AsiaTEFL 2026) held at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, from May 28–31, 2026.

AsiaTEFL, or the Asian Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the largest academic forums in Asia, bringing together lecturers, researchers, teachers, and English language education practitioners from various countries to share research findings, teaching innovations, and recent developments in English language education.

This year’s conference adopted the theme “ELT in a Changing World: Global Challenges and New Opportunities” and featured distinguished keynote and plenary speakers, including Markus Bieswanger (University of Bayreuth, Germany), Shawn Loewen (Michigan State University, USA), Hossein Nassaji (University of Victoria, Canada), Glenn Stockwell (The Education University of Hong Kong), Xu Jinfen (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China), Xu Jiajin (Beijing Foreign Studies University, China), and Isaiah WonHo Yoo (Sogang University, Republic of Korea).

At the international forum, Harisna presented her research paper entitled “Developing a Critical Speaking Needs Analysis Instrument: A Comprehensive Psychometric Evaluation.” The study focuses on developing and validating an instrument designed to identify students’ learning needs and target needs in critical speaking instruction. The development of this instrument represents the initial stage of a broader research project aimed at developing a critical speaking instructional model for university students. 

According to Harisna, critical speaking has become an essential competency for university students in today’s globalized world. Beyond supporting academic achievement, it plays a crucial role in fostering critical thinking, constructing logical arguments, and communicating effectively in professional settings.

“Critical speaking instruction cannot be designed using a one-size-fits-all approach. Lecturers need to understand students’ learning needs first so that teaching strategies can be tailored more effectively and meaningfully,” she explained.

The research aimed to develop an instrument that helps lecturers assess students’ needs before designing critical speaking courses. The instrument was developed through several rigorous stages, including instrument design, expert validation, and reliability testing involving university students.

The findings revealed that the instrument demonstrated a high level of validity and reliability. The analysis also identified eight key dimensions influencing critical speaking learning needs: necessities, lacks, wants, learning activities, learning materials, media, teacher roles, and instructional settings.

These findings are expected to serve as a valuable reference for lecturers and researchers in designing more responsive and student-centered critical speaking instruction. By adopting a needs-based approach, educators can better support students in developing critical thinking, argumentation, and communication skills.

Harisna’s participation in AsiaTEFL 2026 reflects UNU Jogja’s commitment to strengthening its international academic engagement through research publication and dissemination. The conference also provided opportunities to expand global research networks while showcasing Indonesian educational research to the international English language education community.

Through active participation in international academic forums, UNU Jogja continues to promote research and innovation that address the challenges of 21st-century education while contributing to the advancement of teaching and learning practices worldwide. [Latifah]