ELL PhD Candidate Ow Yeong Wai Kit presents his research with the Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Indonesia

ELL PhD candidate Mr Ow Yeong Wai Kit and moderator Ms Sri Sumaryani

 

On 21 February 2025, ELL PhD candidate Mr Ow Yeong Wai Kit was invited to be the keynote speaker and main discussant at an online webinar organised by the Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Indonesia. The session, conducted via Zoom and arranged by Ms Nadia Sigi Prameswari, brought together faculty members and graduate students from diverse study programmes, including English, Indonesian, Mandarin, French, Arabic, and Javanese.

Following a welcome by the series emcee Mr Mohammad Dipta Aditya, the session began with opening remarks by Dr M. Yusuf Ahmad Hasyim (Vice-Dean of Business, Research, and Partnerships) and Prof. Puji Astuti, the latter sharing Rudy Francisco’s evocative poem "Silence". Moderated by Ms Sri Sumaryani, the webinar also featured insightful presentations by discussants including Dr Henrikus Joko Yulianto, Ms Girindra Putri Dewi, Mr Dany Buyung Yudha, Ms Qurrota Ayu Neina, and Dr Nur Hanifah Insani. During his presentation entitled "Learning by Heart as a Pedagogy of Hope: Envisionment-Building through Poetry Memorisation and Recitation", Wai Kit shared about his primary research interest: how secondary school students can engage with poetry through memorisation. His presentation delved into the intersection of language, memory, and emotions, particularly examining the value of reading and learning poetry by heart in today’s age of AI, in which information is instantly accessible online.

The presentation inspired a lively dialogue and Q&A session with participants. Questions ranged from the role of visualisation and imagery to the distinction between learning by rote and learning by heart. There was also a comparative discussion of the Singaporean and Indonesian education systems, especially in terms of differing mediums of instruction. Wai Kit underscored the importance of thoughtful text selection, effective scaffolding, and tailoring teaching approaches to students’ profiles. He described poetry as a vital repository that can grow in individuals' minds, taking root over time, and which can be enhanced through deliberate practice and immersive experiences, based on the interplay of imagination, emotions, and intellect.

We look forward to strengthening research partnerships and international collaborations that promote innovation in language teaching, literary studies, and arts education, while fostering greater cultural exchange and understanding.