Kebumen, October 19, 2024,The Smensa English Club, an English language extracurricular activity from SMK Negeri 1 Kebumen, successfully held a memorable Meet & Greet event.
The event, themed “The Power of Connection: Unlocking Opportunities,” featured a lecturer from Muhammadiyah Purworejo University (UMPwr), Mr. Abdul Ngafif M.Pd.B.I., and five international students from African countries who are also students, namely:
- Lassana Diawara
- Jean Rene Azar
- Mamadou Diakite
- Bakary Sacko
- Soulemane Diawara
The event began with warm welcomes from the Vice Principal for Student Affairs, Mr. Imam Sujarwo S.Pd., representing the Head of SMK Negeri 1 Kebumen, and the Smensa English Club Chair, Mrs. Dwi Rahma Sari.Both expressed their gratitude for the presence of the guests and hoped the event would enrich the knowledge and experiences of the participants.
One of the most engaging sessions was when Mr. Abdul Ngafif M.Pd.B.I., shared tips and tricks for learning English. With a relaxed and enthusiastic teaching style, he reassured the students that “English is easy.” He also encouraged the students to be more active in interacting and not be afraid to make mistakes when speaking. In addition to learning English, participants were also invited to get to know Indonesian culture more closely, especially in Kebumen.
They were taken on a virtual tour of the city, visiting famous tourist attractions through videos, and were also treated to a taste of traditional Kebumen cuisine. This was intended to introduce the richness of Indonesian culture and the beauty of its nature to the international students.
The highlight of the event was the Cross-cultural Understanding session with the international students. In groups, the students were very enthusiastic in asking questions about daily life in the international students’ home countries, ranging from food and clothing to unique traditions.
This question-and-answer session not only broadened their horizons but also honed their English skills and strengthened the bond between SMK Negeri 1 Kebumen students and the international students. “This event has been very beneficial for us. We not only learned English but also learned about different cultures. We are very grateful to the Smenza English Club for providing this opportunity to invite and collaborate with Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo so that we can meet and talk directly with foreigners in English,” said one SMK Negeri 1 Kebumen student.
With the presence of such an event, it is hoped that it can motivate students to study English more diligently and broaden their understanding of the international world, as well as become a platform to introduce Indonesian culture to the world.(Kunny faizah/SEC. red)
