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Sat, 11 Jan 2025
JIMBARAN — Widiatmika Vocational School launched a Multilingual Program on January 6, 2024, aimed at enhancing students' language skills. The program incorporates four languages used on a rotating schedule: Indonesian on Mondays, English on Tuesdays and Fridays, Japanese on Wednesdays, and Balinese on Thursdays.
“We aim to sharpen the language skills of the entire school community, both in classroom and everyday communication. Implementation begins during recess and daily interactions, such as greetings and small talk,” said Wely Suriya Handika, Vice Principal for Public Relations at Widiatmika Vocational School.
Throughout the program, all members of the school community, including students, teachers, and staff, are required to use the designated language according to the daily schedule. This approach is expected to not only strengthen students' language abilities but also boost their confidence in using different languages in daily life. Wely added that the program is an innovation to address the challenges of an increasingly competitive job market.
“Language proficiency, especially in foreign languages, is a significant added value for our graduates in the workforce, complementing the vocational skills they have acquired,” he explained.
He also mentioned that if the four-language program shows positive results, the school plans to add other languages such as Mandarin, Korean, or French.
“Some students already have basic skills in these languages. We are also considering languages relevant to the needs of the tourism industry today,” Wely added.
The program’s success is being monitored through weekly evaluations conducted by the language instructors. Through the Multilingual Program, Widiatmika Vocational School is committed to producing graduates who are not only skilled in their fields but also equipped with cross-cultural communication abilities, a key advantage in the era of globalization.
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