Papua Culture-Based Teaching Materials for Indonesian Language Learning

Abstract

 This study aims to develop Papua culture-based teaching materials for Indonesian language learning at the junior high school level. The research was motivated by the limited use of local cultural content in Indonesian language teaching materials, which often makes learning less relevant to students’ daily lives and cultural backgrounds. Integrating local culture into learning materials is considered important for preserving cultural values while improving students’ learning motivation and understanding of the subject matter. The study employed the Research and Development (R&D) method involving several stages, including needs analysis, product design, expert validation, revision, limited trials, and implementation. The participants consisted of Indonesian language teachers and junior high school students in Sorong, Papua Barat. Data collection techniques included observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation. The findings revealed that Papua culture-based teaching materials significantly improved students’ learning engagement, cultural awareness, and comprehension of Indonesian language materials. Students showed greater enthusiasm during classroom activities because the learning content reflected their social and cultural experiences. Teachers also responded positively to the developed materials because they supported contextual and student-centered learning. The study concludes that Papua culture-based teaching materials are effective and appropriate for Indonesian language learning and contribute to preserving local cultural values in education.