To Prepare Future Educators for the Digital Age, TBI FITK Hosts an International Seminar on Literary Criticism, Digital Literacy, and AI
Cirebon, June 17, 2026 — The English Language Education (TBI) Study Program, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon successfully hosted an international seminar as part of its Studium Generale series, titled “Literary Criticism, Digital Literacy, and Artificial Intelligence: Transforming English Language Education for Critical Engagement.” Held in a hybrid format at the FITK Auditorium and via Zoom, the event was attended by faculty members, students, and participants from various institutions. The seminar served as an academic forum to discuss developments in literary criticism, digital literacy, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in English language education amid the changing landscape of learning in the digital age.
The event began with opening remarks from the Head of the English Language Education Program, Dra. Hj. Amroh Umaemah, M.Pd., who expressed her appreciation to all parties who supported the event. The seminar was then officially opened by the Dean of FITK at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, Dr. H. Saifuddin, M.Ag., who emphasized the importance of strengthening academic competencies, critical thinking skills, and digital literacy as essential tools for prospective educators in facing the challenges of 21st-century education.
In the first session, Ana Mae Monteza, Ph.D., Academic Head of Aspenshire International School in the Philippines, presented a talk titled “Reimagining Literary Criticism in the Digital Age: Implications for English Language Education.” In her presentation, Dr. Monteza explained that the development of digital technology has transformed the way people interact with literature. People no longer act merely as readers but also as interpreters, disseminators, and creators of meaning through various digital platforms. Social media, online reading platforms, and AI-based content have expanded the ways in which people access and interpret literary works.
Furthermore, Dr. Monteza explained that literary criticism in the digital age has shifted from an author-centered approach toward a more open and collaborative interpretive process. Various forms of digital texts such as stories on Wattpad, memes, digital poetry on TikTok, and social media posts can now serve as relevant objects of literary study. She also emphasized the importance of critical digital literacy and deep reading skills so that students can maintain their critical thinking abilities amid the overwhelming flow of information. According to her, the use of instant summaries and excessive reliance on AI have the potential to diminish deep reading skills if not balanced with reflection and critical analysis.
The second session featured Dr. Edy Waloyo, M.Pd., a lecturer in the English Language Education Program at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, who presented on “Digital Literacy in English Language Education: Navigating Information, Media, and Communication in the Digital Age.” In his presentation, Dr. Edy encouraged participants to reflect on the development of artificial intelligence, which is becoming increasingly integrated into the world of education. Responding to a question about the possibility of AI replacing teachers in the future, he emphasized that AI should be viewed as a learning support tool that helps improve the effectiveness of the learning process, not as a substitute for educators, whose role is to guide, motivate, and build students’ character.
The seminar concluded with an interactive discussion session that demonstrated the participants’ high level of enthusiasm for the issues of digital literacy, literary criticism, and artificial intelligence in English language education. The various questions and perspectives shared by the participants reflected the importance of academic dialogue regarding the critical and responsible use of technology. Through this event, the English Languange Teaching Department (ELTD) at the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, hopes to contribute to preparing future educators who are adaptable, digitally literate, and capable of addressing educational challenges in this era of technological transformation.
