University of PGRI Semarang

In 2023, I collaborated with Universitas PGRI Semarang (UPGRIS) as a guest lecturer for the course Cross-Cultural Understanding for fifth-semester students of the English Education Department. The course was designed to introduce students to culture not as a static collection of customs, but as a living system of values, behaviors, communication styles, and unspoken assumptions that shape how people perceive the world and one another.

The lectures explored core issues in cross-cultural studies such as cultural identity, verbal and non-verbal communication, high-context and low-context cultures, cultural stereotypes and prejudice, culture shock and adaptation, and the negotiation of meaning in intercultural encounters. Particular attention was given to everyday cultural practices often taken for granted, including attitudes toward time, personal space, hierarchy, politeness, food, climate, and social rituals, and how misunderstandings can arise when these norms collide.

The class atmosphere was notably dynamic and dialogical. My personal background as an Indonesian who has lived abroad since 2006 allowed theoretical concepts to be grounded in lived experience. Students were especially engaged when discussing culture shock, seasonal depression in winter climates, differences in eating habits, and the subtle emotional challenges of living between cultures. Questions flowed naturally, reflecting both curiosity and self-reflection, as students connected global theories to their own local realities.

This course proved particularly crucial for students who have never lived outside Indonesia but may one day work as BIPA teachers or cultural mediators for international learners. Cross-cultural understanding, in this context, was not framed as abstract knowledge, but as an ethical and professional competence. The collaboration underscored the importance of preparing future educators to navigate cultural difference with empathy, critical awareness, and confidence, qualities that are essential in an increasingly interconnected world.