The Department of English Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), had the honor of hosting Dr. Willy A. Renandya, a distinguished language education expert from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, in a special Visiting Professor Series held online via Zoom on June 20, 25, and 27, 2025. The three-day seminar provided UMS students and faculty with cutting-edge perspectives on English Language Teaching (ELT).
Key Seminar Highlights
Day 1 (June 20): “Teacher Proficiency: What Makes an Effective English Teacher?”
Dr. Renandya explored:
✔ Core competencies of highly proficient English teachers
✔ Balancing pedagogical knowledge and classroom charisma
✔ Case studies of exceptional teaching practices in Southeast Asia
Day 2 (June 25): “Principles for Effective Teaching and Learning”
Participants learned about:
✔ Evidence-based instructional strategies
✔ Creating student-centered learning environments
✔ The role of motivation in language acquisition
Day 3 (June 27): “Critical Thinking: Why Is It Hard to Teach?”
The final session addressed:
✔ Cognitive challenges in developing critical thinking skills
✔ Practical classroom techniques to foster higher-order thinking
✔ Assessing critical thinking in language learning contexts