On Integrating the Internet Pop-Culture in English Education

 

 

Markus Budiraharjo

 

 

The fact that English plays a role as a foreign language in Indonesia makes English acquisition among most Indonesian students difficult to take place. As a foreign language, English is used in limited areas. Thus, there is only very little English exposure beyond classroom contexts. It obviously makes learning English hardly meaningful because the language itself is introduced and taught in decontextualized ways. However, thanks to Information Technology developments in recent years, various and authentic English learning materials (in the form of texts and audio files) are available. The World Wide Web, or commonly known as the Internet, which was invented in 1993, has greatly changed the face of the world. The gigantic speed of information flow has massively affected many facets of human life. Education is not exempted.  A double-edge sword, the Internet brings about both negative and positive impacts on human life. With a carefully made program, systematic monitoring, and task-based activities, the Internet can provide wonderful resources to keep our class updated and, of course, relevant, maintain our students’ motivation, provide much English exposure unavailable in a traditional class. This paper reviews various learning activities done by classroom practitioners. Concerning such potentials, it is imperative to incorporate the Internet pop-culture in integration to recent educational concerns. Innovative learning activities are expected to appear through such exemplary activities.

 

 

 

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Budiraharjo, M. (2005, December). On integrating the internet pop-culture in English education. Paper  presented at the 53rd TEFLIN International conference, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

 

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