In this era of globalization, advances in technology and information have developed very rapidly. This has made information spread widely and easily, with just one click away. In the process of information transfer, the role of language as a bridge of communication between people is certainly not absent. With such rapid technological development, communication is no longer limited by distance and time. People anywhere and at any time can communicate with each other. Mastery of English as a lingua franca has become one of the essential skills in this era. In Indonesia, the position of “English” is as a foreign language. This fact makes forums, communities, and English language competitions become excellent opportunities for young people to practice English, while also demonstrating their English language abilities.
The Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris study programme at Unsoed then established EDITION (English Education Competition). This event is a competition for vocational and secondary school students, both from public and private schools, to sharpen their abilities and compete in the field of English language proficiency. EDITION itself was initiated by Himpunan Mahasiswa English Education (Himedition) Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. This year marks the fifth year that Edition has been held. The competition consists of four categories: Speech Contest, Storytelling, News Casting, and Poetry Reading. The fifth edition 2022 carries the theme “Improve Your Ability, Surpass Your Limit.” This year, the event was attended by 30 schools from various districts in Central Java.
November 5, 2022 was the day The Fifth Edition was held at Fakultas Ilmu Budaya. The event began as other formal events do, starting with an opening, followed by singing the Indonesian National Anthem, and concluding with prayers for the smooth running of the event. Then continued with speeches starting from the Executive Chairperson, Arni Yulia, followed by Mrs. Tuti Purwati as Head of the Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Department, and finally from Mrs. Ely Triasih Rahayu as Dean I of Fakultas Ilmu Budaya. After that, the main point of the event proceeded: the competition itself.
All competition categories took place simultaneously from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Storytelling category was the most popular competition throughout, followed by Speech Contest. The total number of participants this year reached 120 participants from 30 schools.
The event concluded with the announcement of winners in each category. Winners were selected in the top 6 places, consisting of “Winner” (First Place) through “Fifth Runner Up” (Third Runner-up). The closing was filled with expressions of gratitude to all parties involved in the event, including the committee, participants, judges, invited guests, and sponsors or external parties who helped carry out the event, interspersed with entertainment from students of Fakultas Ilmu Budaya and participants.