May 18th, 2026- The English Education Department of Institut Pendidikan Indonesia (IPI) Garut organized an international online teaching program as part of the Teaching Indonesian to Foreigners (BIPA) course. This program involved IPI Garut students teaching Indonesian language learners from various parts of the world as a form of authentic teaching practice integrated into higher education learning activities.
The program was conducted throughout the academic semester and successfully engaged 29 international participants representing more than 10 countries, including the United States, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Chile, Brazil, Cyprus, Afghanistan, Sudan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, China, Nepal, and Türkiye. The activity reflected IPI Garut’s commitment to strengthening global engagement and intercultural communication through language education.
In this program, students worked collaboratively in groups consisting of one to two members. Prior to the teaching sessions, the students received intensive instruction and guidance regarding Indonesian language pedagogy for foreign learners, cross-cultural communication, classroom management, and online instructional strategies. Following the preparation stage, each group designed its own learning materials and teaching plans based on the specific needs and language proficiency of the participants.
The learning materials used in the program were determined through a placement test administered before the classes began. Based on the results, participants were categorized into different proficiency levels such as B1 and B2, allowing the student teachers to develop more appropriate and targeted instructional approaches. The students also conducted learner needs analysis to identify participants’ motivations, learning goals, and linguistic challenges in studying Indonesian.
Throughout the implementation of the program, the student teachers conducted interactive online classes focusing on speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural understanding. Various communicative and collaborative learning methods were applied to encourage active participation and meaningful language use. The classes also became a platform for intercultural exchange, where both students and international participants shared perspectives, experiences, and cultural insights from their respective countries.
The teaching activities were continuously supervised and evaluated by course lecturers through feedback sessions, classroom observations, and reflective discussions. This mentoring process enabled students to improve their pedagogical competence, teaching confidence, and professional communication skills in an international academic environment. The evaluation results demonstrated positive responses from the participants, particularly regarding the students’ creativity, adaptability, and interactive teaching approaches.
This international teaching initiative is expected to strengthen IPI Garut’s role in promoting Indonesian language and culture globally while enhancing students’ practical teaching experience in real international contexts. The program also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by fostering inclusive global education and international academic collaboration.
As a follow-up initiative, the English Education Department of IPI Garut plans to expand the program by involving more international participants and developing collaborative partnerships with overseas institutions and communities. The program is also expected to become a sustainable international learning platform that provides broader opportunities for students to develop global teaching competencies and intercultural communication skills in the future.