UNIDA Gontor — Universitas Darussalam Gontor (UNIDA Gontor) reaffirmed its commitment to academic engagement beyond institutional boundaries through the participation of its lecturer, Faiz Rizki Muhammad, M.Pd., from the Department of English Language Teaching, as a keynote speaker in a guest lecture organized by the English Education Study Program of Universitas Muhammadiyah Muara Bungo (UMMUBA). The online academic event, held via Zoom Meeting on Thursday, 25 June 2026, brought together lecturers and students from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education to discuss contemporary perspectives on second language learning.
The lecture, entitled “Integrating Second Language Acquisition into Language Teaching,” provided a comprehensive discussion on the integration of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theories into English Language Teaching (ELT) practices. During his presentation, Faiz Rizki Muhammad explained how empirical findings in SLA research can be translated into effective pedagogical practices. He emphasized that instructional design should be grounded in research-based evidence, as language acquisition is shaped by complex cognitive, linguistic, and interactional processes. He further highlighted UNIDA Gontor’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its academic reputation through national and international scholarly collaboration, reflecting the university’s vision of becoming a leading Islamic higher education institution.
The presentation continued with a systematic overview of major SLA theories proposed by prominent scholars, including Stephen Krashen, Michael Long, Merrill Swain, and Richard Schmidt. The discussion covered fundamental concepts such as the Input Hypothesis, Interaction Hypothesis, Output Hypothesis, and Noticing Hypothesis, all of which provide important theoretical foundations for understanding how learners acquire a second language. He emphasized that these theories remain highly relevant for informing learner-centered approaches to English language instruction in contemporary educational settings.
Furthermore, the speaker underscored the importance of translating theoretical knowledge into practical classroom strategies. He encouraged prospective English teachers to design learning environments that promote meaningful communication, learner autonomy, and authentic language use. According to him, effective language instruction should provide learners with ample opportunities to negotiate meaning, interact collaboratively, and engage in communication that reflects real-world contexts.
The guest lecture concluded with an interactive discussion session in which participants actively raised questions concerning classroom challenges, instructional methodologies, and the application of SLA theories within the Indonesian educational context. The high level of participation demonstrated the attendees’ strong interest in deepening their understanding of language acquisition and evidence-based language pedagogy.
The event served as a valuable platform for strengthening academic collaboration between UNIDA Gontor and UMMUBA while fostering intellectual exchange among lecturers and students. It also reflected UNIDA Gontor’s continued commitment to contributing to the advancement of English language education through scholarly collaboration, academic dissemination, and professional engagement at the national level.
Author: Muhammad Azrul Amirullah
Editor: Ahmad Ma’ruf Muzaidin Arrosit
Editorial Team: UNIDA Gontor
