38 recipients of LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) scholarship joined an excursion to several tourism objects in Yogyakarta, Saturday January 17th 2015. The recipients, who mostly come from East Indonesia for attending English test preparation at YSU Independent Language Learnign Center (ILLC). YSU IILC (Independent Language Learning Center) is part of YSU Center for Language Development at the Institute of Educational Development and Quality Assurance (LPPMP Building).
They were introduced closely to Yogyakarta culture by visiting Baron and Indrayanti beaches and Prambanan temple. During the program they were required to listen to local guides explanations which were delivered in English. This served as one of the activities in the English learning processes. It was also obligatory for the participants to communicate in English during the class at ILLC and the excursion program. . The excursion was held to improve their English skills authentically by practicing the language with people around them as well as enriching their vocabulary.
The recipients were guided by several lectures and instructors of ILLC. They were enthusiastic during the excursion because for some of them, this was the first time to visit Yogyakarta. “Some of them are new in Jogja,” one of the instructors said.
According to the Coordinator of ILLC, Zayin Adib Muhammad, there will be occassions in which they can participate in cultural events when they study abroad. By knowing the cultural diversity in Indonesia and learning how to explain it in English, they will be able to promote Indonesian culture to other international students. “They visited some tourism objects in Yogyakarta to practice English with the local guides,” he added.