The Bachelor of Science in Education major in English fourth year students of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) joined a virtual microteaching session with Indonesia’s Universitas Mulawarman on August 18, 2025.
The online activity dubbed as “Virtual Microteaching Simulation with Mulawarman University: Conversations in Indonesian Language,” gave UNP student participants a chance to practice conversational Indonesian and learn about culture through themes such as daily life, music, and social media. The students engaged in several activities, including filling in missing words while watching a Bahasa dialogue, reciting their answers for pronunciation evaluation, and answering questions about a video on Indonesia’s Independence Day.
Participants noted a few language barriers that at times made communication difficult, but they recognized that addressing such challenges is part of their preparation for multicultural classrooms.
“I realized that these challenges were not only exclusive to the lecture but also a reality that we may encounter if ever we have plans to engage in a global academic environment,” Jeffrey Urmeneta, a participant, reflected.
The session enabled them to engage with foreign peers, explore different teaching methods, and build resilience in diverse learning environments.
The activity organized by the UNP-College of Teacher Education and the International Affairs and External Linkages Office in partnership with Universitas Mulawarman was designed to strengthen cross-cultural learning and prepare future teachers for global classrooms.
Article by Jamelle Frances Realin
