Palangka Raya (Dayak News) — Reading comprehension is one of the fundamental competencies that determines students’ success in learning English. Amid growing demands for critical thinking skills and the implementation of the Academic Competency Test (TKA), teachers are expected not only to teach vocabulary and grammar but also to equip students with the ability to understand, analyze, evaluate, and appreciate various types of texts.
To address this need, TEFLIN Central Kalimantan–South Kalimantan (Kaltengsel) organized the 2026 Indonesian English Teachers’ Professional Development Workshop (PKGBI) for the Central Kalimantan region at the Graduate School Hall of UIN Palangka Raya on Saturday (July 18, 2026). The event was a collaborative initiative between TEFLIN Kaltengsel and the Master’s Program in English Language Education at UIN Palangka Raya.
The workshop was attended by teachers from various educational levels, including elementary schools, junior high schools, Islamic junior high schools (MTs), senior high schools, Islamic senior high schools (MA), vocational high schools (SMK), Sekolah Rakyat, as well as university lecturers from across Central Kalimantan. The participation of educators from diverse educational backgrounds reflected their strong commitment to continuously improving the quality of English language teaching.
Dr. M. Zaini Miftah, M.Pd., Regional Coordinator of TEFLIN Central Kalimantan–South Kalimantan, stated that enhancing teachers’ competencies is a long-term investment in improving the quality of education. According to him, teachers must continuously update their instructional strategies to keep pace with curriculum changes while meeting students’ evolving needs.
“The enthusiasm shown by teachers and lecturers from various regions demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous learning and adapting to developments in education. We hope PKGBI will serve as a collaborative platform that strengthens professional competencies while expanding networks among English educators across Central Kalimantan,” he said.
The Director of the Graduate School at UIN Palangka Raya, Prof. Dr. Dakir, expressed his appreciation for the workshop. He emphasized that proficiency in English should go hand in hand with a deep appreciation for local languages and Bahasa Indonesia as part of the nation’s identity.
“We must continue to cherish our local languages and Bahasa Indonesia as integral parts of our national identity. At the same time, English proficiency is an essential asset for gaining access to knowledge, technology, research, and various opportunities at the global level,” he said.
The primary focus of PKGBI 2026 was to enhance teachers’ competencies in teaching reading comprehension through four progressive levels of understanding: literal, inferential, evaluative, and appreciative. Through this approach, teachers were equipped with strategies to help students not only identify explicitly stated information but also draw conclusions, make critical judgments, and appreciate the content of what they read. These competencies are essential in preparing students for the English section of the Academic Competency Test (TKA).
In addition to the core sessions, participants engaged in group discussions, practical lesson planning, presentations of their work, and peer teaching activities. The entire program was designed to ensure that participants not only understood the concepts but were also able to implement them effectively in their classrooms.
One participant from West Kotawaringin Regency, Kusrini Oktaviani, said that she had gained many new insights from the workshop.
“This workshop is very important and very beneficial for us. However, the time was too short. Hopefully, in the future, it can be be conducted over a longer period with more comprehensive materials,” she said.
According to Kusrini, PKGBI not only strengthened teachers’ professional competencies but also provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and expand professional networks with fellow English teachers from different regions.
At the end of the workshop, Dr. M. Zaini Miftah expressed his hope that participants would not stop at improving their own competencies but would also disseminate the knowledge they had gained to other teachers through the English Subject Teachers’ Forum (MGMP) and within their respective schools.
“I hope the teachers who participated in PKGBI will become agents of dissemination in their respective regions. The knowledge and experience gained during the workshop should be shared with fellow teachers so that more educators are able to implement reading comprehension strategies at the literal, inferential, evaluative, and appreciative levels. In doing so, teachers will be better equipped to prepare students for the English Academic Competency Test (TKA) in a more effective, systematic, and measurable manner,” Zaini said.
Through PKGBI 2026, TEFLIN Central Kalimantan–South Kalimantan hopes to further strengthen collaboration among professional organizations, higher education institutions, and educators in order to improve the quality of English language teaching. Sustained professional development for teachers is expected to foster more innovative instructional practices while producing students with stronger English reading literacy skills who are better prepared to meet both academic and global challenges. (Rls/Red; Sein Pratama)
This article was originally published on DayakNews under the title “Kompetensi Guru Bahasa Inggris Perlu Terus Diperkuat, TEFLIN Kaltengsel Gelar PKGBI 2026, accessible at: https://dayaknews.com/palangka-raya/kompetensi-guru-bahasa-inggris-perlu-terus-diperkuat-teflin-kaltengsel-gelar-pkgbi-2026/
