Pembelajaran Sastra Multikultural: Menumbuhkan Empati dan Menemukan Jatidiri Bangsa Melalui Pemahaman Keanekaragaman Budaya

ABSTRACT: “Multicultural Literature Learning: Growing Empathy and Finding National Character through Multicultural Understanding”. Indonesian literature, both traditional and modern, can be used as a medium of multicultural education, because many of these works are rooted in tradition and local wisdom brought about by authors. Multicultural literature learning activities can be designed through the following activities/learning model: appreciating traditional values in folklore through group activities guided by the teacher questions; storytelling; expressing feelings through poetry; appreciation of drama, humor, and silly/funny stories; finding cultural symbols through stories/fables; comparing folklore of different cultural backgrounds, but having the same or similar thematic aspects; integrating literature and geography; introducing nursery rhymes and aesthetic development; appreciating and analyzing folk songs; and providing responses and arguing about stereotypes. Problems that arise in teaching multicultural literature comprise: having a lack of competency standards relating to multicultural literature in the curriculum; teachers’ unawareness of the importance of multiculturalism; limited learning resources; and insufficient provision of educational exposure.