Joyful Learning
Pusat Pengembangan Bahasa (PPB) of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang hosted an inspiring and interactive workshop titled “From Boredom to Brilliance: Joyful Learning Strategies for PKPBI Classrooms”. The program brought together English lecturers who will teach in the Special English Course (PKPBI) for the upcoming academic year. The main focus was to provide lecturers with new approaches and hands-on techniques to make English lessons more engaging, particularly for students outside language majors. The aim was clear—help students grasp lessons effectively while enjoying the learning journey.
The workshop opened with remarks from Prof. Dr. M. Abdul Hamid, M.A., Director of PPB, who highlighted the particular challenges of teaching English to non-language majors. He stressed that successful teaching goes beyond delivering clear explanations—it also requires keeping students inspired and eager to learn. He noted that meaningful learning happens when lessons are linked to students’ real-life contexts, allowing them to see the relevance of what they study.
The keynote session featured Dr. Maria Hidayati, S.S., M.Pd., Ed.D., a graduate of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and current lecturer at Universitas Negeri Malang, renowned for her creative and impactful teaching approaches. Dr. Maria explained that joyful learning is not simply about doing amusing or lighthearted activities. While fun can energize a class, its effects are often short-lived. Genuine joyful learning motivates students to explore more, participate actively, and retain knowledge longer. She pointed out that this happens when students take part in shaping their own learning process, build self-confidence, connect positively with peers, and learn through authentic, real-world experiences rather than mere memorization.
One standout technique she introduced was the “Mystery Prompt”. At the start of a lesson, the lecturer presents a short, intriguing question or scenario to spark curiosity. Examples include: “Why do we understand concepts better after explaining them to a friend?” or “Why do we sometimes forget answers during exams even though we mastered them during practice?” These prompts encourage critical thinking, collaborative discussion, speaking confidence, and the natural development of English skills without rigid drills.
The PKPBI program is designed not only to help students succeed in exams but also to strengthen their English proficiency for both academic and everyday use. In the workshop, lecturers were encouraged to plan lessons that are stimulating yet enjoyable, rooted in students’ experiences, and interactive, fostering peer-to-peer learning. When students find lessons practical and meaningful, their motivation to learn grows significantly.
As moderator, Dr. Agwin Degaf, M.A., Head of PKPBI, noted that one sign of a truly engaging class is when students feel time passes quickly and look forward to the next session. The workshop wrapped up with a practical session, where lecturers collaborated to design lesson plans for PKPBI, covering learning goals, teaching materials, delivery steps, expected outcomes, and assessment methods. These plans will be implemented in the upcoming semester to ensure that students receive dynamic, enjoyable, and productive lessons from the start.
From the discussions, several key takeaways emerged: involve students in decision-making about their learning, bring real-world contexts into lessons, promote teamwork, use curiosity-driven opening questions, and foster a positive classroom atmosphere with regular encouragement. The workshop marked an important step toward creating more engaging and effective PKPBI classrooms at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang. By applying joyful learning strategies, lecturers can build student confidence, reduce classroom boredom, and inspire a genuine interest in English.
The Language Development Center plays a vital role in improving students’ language abilities, preparing them for both academic challenges and global opportunities. Through initiatives like PKPBI and ongoing lecturer training, PPB ensures that its teaching methods remain current, relevant, and motivating. The From Boredom to Brilliance workshop provided lecturers with practical tools and fresh perspectives to make PKPBI sessions both enjoyable and meaningful. With the right combination of creativity, relevance, and interaction, English learning can transform from a routine subject into an exciting gateway to confidence, curiosity, and real-world communication. Souces (https://www.blok-a.com)