Oleh: Achmad Yudi Wahyudin
The “Kurikulum Merdeka” (Freedom Curriculum) initiative marks a groundbreaking innovation in the Indonesian education landscape, specifically aimed at granting schools greater autonomy in designing their own curricula. One subject that has embraced this concept is English language education. The implementation of the Freedom Curriculum in English language learning offers significant advantages for the educational development in the country. This approach allows teachers to be more creative in their teaching methods, selecting approaches that align with their students’ learning styles, making the learning process more engaging and efficient. Teachers can also incorporate local resources, such as folk stories or cultural elements, to make English language education more relevant and captivating for students.
Read too : FOSTERING CRITICAL THINKERS: ARE TEACHERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION READY FOR PROJECT-BASED LEARNING?
In the ever-evolving digital era, English language education has undergone significant transformations, positively impacting students’ communicative competence. The utilization of technology and digital media has opened new avenues to strengthen speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English.
Firstly, easy access to digital resources, such as online learning platforms, language apps, and social media, has facilitated intensive practice in speaking and listening to English. Video tutorials, podcasts, and YouTube channels focusing on English language provide diverse audiovisual materials that support the development of listening and speaking competencies, exposing students to various accents and conversational contexts.
Secondly, English language learning in the digital age encourages active communication with native speakers or other English language speakers through chat applications or language exchange platforms. This real-time interaction allows students to experience authentic language interactions, practicing vocabulary and grammar they have learned in relevant contexts, thereby boosting their confidence in English communication.
Lastly, the use of digital media in English language education enables students to explore various types of English texts, such as news articles, blogs, and e-books. This enhances their reading and writing skills, teaching them to interpret information from different sources and articulate their ideas more effectively in the target language. Consequently, English language learning in the digital era promotes more effective and competent communication, a valuable skill in our increasingly interconnected global world.
