Prof. Ika Lestari Damayanti, M.A., Ph.D. participated as a featured speaker at the 9th Global English Education China Assembly and the Belt and Road Forum for Language and Culture Collaboration, held at Beijing Foreign Studies University from 23 to 26 July 2026.
The Belt and Road Languages and Cultures Network (BRLCN) is an international cooperation network in the fields of language education and culture, headquartered in Beijing. Its members include professional associations, educational institutions, universities, and cultural organizations from more than 50 countries, including TEFLIN, SEAMEO RELC Singapore, BRAZ-TESOL Brazil, NATE Russia, BELTA Bangladesh, and TESOL Italy. TEFLIN has been a member of BRLCN since 2023.
Through Prof. Ika’s Leaders’ Talk entitled “Rooted in Indonesia, Speaking to the World,” Prof. Ika shared an Indonesian perspective on a question that is increasingly important in English language education: How can learners communicate with the world while remaining connected to their own languages, cultures, and identities?
The presentation highlighted the importance of positioning English not as a replacement for learners’ existing linguistic and cultural resources, but as an additional pathway for sharing local knowledge and participating in wider conversations.
The event also provided a valuable space for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and future collaboration with English language educators and scholars from China and other countries.
Proudly representing Indonesia, UPI, and TEFLIN on the international stage.
