Teachers in Lampung Practice Creatively Bringing Regional Languages ​​to Life

The revitalization program involves elementary and middle school teachers using creative methods in teaching regional languages.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

The head of the Lampung Province Language Office, Desi Ari Pressanti, opened a training event for 251 Lampung language teachers in Bandar Lampung on Sunday (28/4/2024) afternoon.

BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS – The Lampung Provincial Language Office is again running a regional language revitalization program involving schools and regional language activists. A total of 251 Lampung language teachers at elementary and middle school levels received training on regional language learning models from experts.

Head of the Lampung Province Language Office, Desi Ari Pressanti, said that the training activities for teachers from 15 districts/cities in Lampung lasted three days, Sunday (28/4/2024) to Tuesday ( 4/30/2024). Teachers receive training on regional language learning models that have been prepared by experts.

Regional language learning for the younger generation will be carried out, among other things, by reading and writing poetry, short stories, speeches, as well as designing stand up comedy in regional languages. It is hoped that this creative method will attract young people's interest in using regional languages ​​again.

In the future, teachers will be given the freedom to choose teaching materials in accordance with students' interests. In addition to teachers, local language activists will also be involved as sources in the learning process. "After receiving training, these teachers are expected to spread it to their fellow teachers and students," said Desi.

According to him, this is the second year Lampung Language Office has trained teachers. In 2023, as many as 251 Lampung language teachers will take part in similar training.

VINA OKTAVIA

The Chairman of the Lampung Province Lampung Language Subject Teacher's Forum, Heriyadi, demonstrated the process of Lampung script digital learning at his home on Sunday (7/2/2021).

The number of people who speak the local Lampung language that is recorded is estimated to be only 6,250. Compared to the total population of Lampung, the number of speakers of the local language is very small.

The revitalization of regional languages is important for maintaining the vitality of these languages. In 2021, the Language Development and Supervision Agency studied 24 regional languages. The results showed that all of the regional languages studied have declined. Languages that were previously secure are now threatened with extinction, while languages that were already in critical condition are becoming even more critical.

Currently, the number of Lampung language speakers is also decreasing. "The recorded number of speakers of the Lampung regional language is estimated to be only 6,250 people. When compared to the total population of Lampung, the number of regional language speakers is very small," said Desi.

From a study by the Lampung Provincial Language Office, there are at least seven regional languages ​​in Lampung, namely Lampung, Balinese, Javanese, Sundanese, Bugis, Ogan, and Basemah/Semende. The main regional language used by the indigenous people of Lampung is Lampung. Meanwhile, the other six languages ​​are regional languages ​​brought by the transmigrants.

In addition to providing training for teachers, the Lampung Language Office will also hold the Provincial-level Mother Tongue Language Festival in 2024. The event, which is planned to be held in October-November 2024, is the pinnacle of the regional language revitalization program.

The Mother Tongue Language Festival is held to encourage young people to use regional languages ​​again. The festival will feature various storytelling, speech, and poetry writing competitions using the Lampung language. In addition, there is also a competition for reading Lampung letters.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

Visitors see the roof of a building decorated with Lampung script in Tulangbawang Tengah District, West Tulangbawang Regency, Lampung, Thursday (16/2).

Through this activity, these young people are expected to become speakers of Lampung language. In the future, young people are encouraged to form communities and spread the use of regional languages to their friends in school or their place of residence.

The Chairman of the Language Teachers' Assembly of Lampung Language in Pringsewu Regency, Syaiful Hilal, stated that not all Lampung language teachers have a background in regional language education. Therefore, teachers are in great need of training on how to teach Lampung language appropriately.

Moreover, nowadays, the younger generation is becoming less interested in learning local languages. Teachers are required to be more creative in delivering lesson materials in order to attract students' interest.

Also read: Lampung Revitalizes Regional Languages

VINA OKTAVIA

Meizano Ardhi Muhammad (40), a lecturer at the Computer Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung, demonstrated the use of the Lampung script keyboard on Friday (12/2/2021) at his home in Bandar Lampung.

Since 2021

The regional language revitalization program was initiated in 2021 by the Language Development and Development Agency Kemendikbudristek. Initially, the program only covered three provinces and five regional languages, namely Javanese, Sundanese, Makassar, Toraja and Bugis.

In 2022, the program's coverage will expand to 30 regional languages in 13 provinces. Some of the revitalized regional languages at that time included the Kenyah language (East Kalimantan), Maanyan language (Central Kalimantan), Yamdena language (Maluku), Tobelo language (North Maluku), Kamoro language (Papua), Mbojo language (West Nusa Tenggara), and Panai Malay dialect (North Sumatra).

In 2023, the revitalization program will be carried out again for 59 local languages in 22 provinces. Among them are Gayo language (Aceh), Bulungan language (North Kalimantan), Bakumpai language (South Kalimantan), Ogan language (South Sumatra), Enggano language (Bengkulu), Lampung language (Lampung), Javanese in East Java dialect (East Java), Pamona language (Central Sulawesi), as well as Moi and Sough languages (West Papua).

The Head of the People's Welfare Bureau of the Lampung Regional Secretary Yulia Megaria stated that the local language is a valuable cultural heritage for the Lampung community. It's not just the local language, Lampung also has local script which is still being preserved until now.

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Heriyadi, the Head of the Lampung Language Subject Teacher Conference in Lampung Province, demonstrated the digital learning process of Lampung script at his home on Sunday (7/2/2021).

As an effort to preserve the local language, the Lampung Province has issued Governor Regulation of Lampung Number 39 of 2014 regarding the Language and Script of Lampung as a Mandatory Local Content Subject in Primary and Secondary Education Levels. In addition to regulations, the Lampung Provincial Government has also formed a development and promotion team for the Lampung language and script.

"This training activity is a form of central government attention to regional governments in efforts to preserve the Lampung language," he said.

Also read: Lampung Language Speakers Continue to Decrease