The 3rd National English Language Teacher and Lecturer (NELTAL) Conference
Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
Arsip Berita
lc.umm.ac.id
The 3rd National English Language Teacher and Lecturer (NELTAL) Conference
Tanggal: 2011-04-04
The latest annual agenda “National English Language Teacher and Lecturer (NELTAL)
Conference was held on March 26, 2011 at State University of Malang. This year, 40 teaching staff of
Language Center (LC) University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) attended the 3rd NELTAL Conference
entitling “Best Practices in the Teaching of English.” The two Plenary Sessions were led by Prof. Utami
Widiati and Prof. Siusana Kweldju from State University of Malang as the key note speakers. The agenda
was then continued by thirty parallel presentations of English teachers and lecturers from all over
Indonesia. They offered various enriching teaching techiques, media, and research findings.
The First Plenary Session focused on the issue “Action Research to Develop Reflective Teaching
Practice” presented by Prof. Utami Widiati, Ph.D. She began by exploring the concept of action research in
relation to the broader concept of teacher research. She, then, recommended that action research be
conducted by classroom teachers to explore, investigate, and implement innovative teaching techniques. In
other words, the best researchers are the teachers themselves since they directly interact with students and
are involved in classroom activities.
After Plenary Session I, the participants headed to Parallel Sessions in which they freely chose
sessions they wished to participate. Parallel sessions were conducted in five sessions in four different
rooms. Some issues raised were multiculturalism in ELT, instructional media development, students’
learning style and strategy, teaching approach and strategies, and many more. In general, the presenters
shared their teaching techniques, methods, media, and research findings in attempt to provide best
practices in the teaching of English.
The conference, as a final remark, ended with the Second Plenary Session inviting Prof. Dr.
Siusana Kweldju, as the key note speaker. She emphasized the importance of Extensive Reading as a tool
for character building, which led to Education for International Understanding (EIU). Through EIU,
Extensive Reading was expected to shape the characters of next generation where educators need to
equip learners with knowledge about eternal truth; help them choose books that convey the values of
peace, multiculturalism and pluralism, sustainable development, and human rights and fundamental
freedom. Besides improving students’ reading skill, this teaching technique may foster students to read
with curiousity; accordingly, themes and approach of readers must be carefully selected. Closing her
presentation, Mrs. Kweldju restated that EIU themes potentially boost students’ character development
and prepare them to be good international citizens.
Finally, as stated by the Director of LC, Ms. Dwi Poedjiastutie, M.A., attending conferences in both
national and international scopes equip LC teaching staff with broad knowledge and insights on conducting
creative, innovative, and aspiring ways of teaching English.
page 1 / 1
Arsip Berita
lc.umm.ac.id
The 3rd National English Language Teacher and Lecturer (NELTAL) Conference
Tanggal: 2011-04-04
The latest annual agenda “National English Language Teacher and Lecturer (NELTAL)
Conference was held on March 26, 2011 at State University of Malang. This year, 40 teaching staff of
Language Center (LC) University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) attended the 3rd NELTAL Conference
entitling “Best Practices in the Teaching of English.” The two Plenary Sessions were led by Prof. Utami
Widiati and Prof. Siusana Kweldju from State University of Malang as the key note speakers. The agenda
was then continued by thirty parallel presentations of English teachers and lecturers from all over
Indonesia. They offered various enriching teaching techiques, media, and research findings.
The First Plenary Session focused on the issue “Action Research to Develop Reflective Teaching
Practice” presented by Prof. Utami Widiati, Ph.D. She began by exploring the concept of action research in
relation to the broader concept of teacher research. She, then, recommended that action research be
conducted by classroom teachers to explore, investigate, and implement innovative teaching techniques. In
other words, the best researchers are the teachers themselves since they directly interact with students and
are involved in classroom activities.
After Plenary Session I, the participants headed to Parallel Sessions in which they freely chose
sessions they wished to participate. Parallel sessions were conducted in five sessions in four different
rooms. Some issues raised were multiculturalism in ELT, instructional media development, students’
learning style and strategy, teaching approach and strategies, and many more. In general, the presenters
shared their teaching techniques, methods, media, and research findings in attempt to provide best
practices in the teaching of English.
The conference, as a final remark, ended with the Second Plenary Session inviting Prof. Dr.
Siusana Kweldju, as the key note speaker. She emphasized the importance of Extensive Reading as a tool
for character building, which led to Education for International Understanding (EIU). Through EIU,
Extensive Reading was expected to shape the characters of next generation where educators need to
equip learners with knowledge about eternal truth; help them choose books that convey the values of
peace, multiculturalism and pluralism, sustainable development, and human rights and fundamental
freedom. Besides improving students’ reading skill, this teaching technique may foster students to read
with curiousity; accordingly, themes and approach of readers must be carefully selected. Closing her
presentation, Mrs. Kweldju restated that EIU themes potentially boost students’ character development
and prepare them to be good international citizens.
Finally, as stated by the Director of LC, Ms. Dwi Poedjiastutie, M.A., attending conferences in both
national and international scopes equip LC teaching staff with broad knowledge and insights on conducting
creative, innovative, and aspiring ways of teaching English.
page 1 / 1