TEFLIN Workshop on Magic Tricks for ELT: Integrating HOTs and Gamification into Classroom

TEFLIN Kalimantan Barat Chapter held a workshop on using the magic trick for English language teaching. This workshop was held as a response to the English teachers’ classroom challenges to engage learners in their teaching and learning process. The workshop was held on March 8th, 2023 at IKIP PGRI Pontianak campus on Jalan Ampera, Pontianak City. The workshop was organized by the TEFLIN Kalimantan Barat Chapter with a joint-funding by the TEFLIN Central Board and IKIP PGRI Pontianak.
The workshop was opened by the IKIP PGRI Pontianak Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Dr Aunirrahman, M.Pd. In his opening speech, the vice-rector appreciated the organizing committee and TEFLIN for organizing the workshop in collaboration with the institution. He also supported the lecturers of IKIP PGRI Pontianak to actively participate in TEFLIN’s agendas.

The chief organizer and the resource person of the workshop, Dr Ikhsanudin, said that this workshop was organized to help teachers integrate higher order thinking skills (HOTs) and gamification into ELT classrooms to create a new atmosphere of English language teaching. HOTs are essential to improve the learners’ capacity and gamification is necessary to make the classrooms more joyful. He, who is also one of Universitas Tanjungpura lecturers and the Coordinator of TEFLIN Kalimantan Barat Chapter explained that to present such a challenging workshop, the committee did some pre-activities. The most important pre-activities were preparatory discussions and a technical meeting among the committee members.
In the presentation, which was also the scaffolding stage of the workshop, Ikhsanudin explained the current issues of ELT, pedagogical aspects of magic tricks, sources of magic trick materials, strategies for incorporating magic tricks into the ELT classroom, and basic techniques of magic trick performance. Then, the learners were given opportunities to work in groups where they could practice the presented technique, engaged in group discussions, and prepare their group performances.

English teachers from various schools and English courses in Pontianak city participated in the workshop. Every participant was engaged in every single program of the workshop enthusiastically. They were involved in the presentation, class discussion, group work, and whole-class presentation. The group work was facilitated by three facilitators who are also IKIP PGRI lecturers and run smoothly. One of the facilitators, Malikul Hafiz, said that every group prepared their presentation enthusiastically. Two other facilitators of the workshop, Finny Anita and Rahayu Meliasari, added that all of their presentations were creative, detailed, and amusing.