23 students who will carry out Real Work Lecture Field Experience Program (KKN PPL) will experience a different experience in Thailand. Friday (10/05) the delegation of KKN PPL Thailand State University of Malang (UM) gathered in the Meeting Room, Building E7, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Letters, UM. They came from the Faculty of Letters (FS) with a total of 19 students, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) and the Faculty of Education (FIP), each of which sent two students. In the release, the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Prof. Utami Widiati, MA, Ph.D. advised the students participating in the PPL KKN to protect themselves and their good name while in Thailand. Not to be missed, students were also given an overview of the conditions there.

For five months, from 13 May to 15 October 2019, 23 UM students were spread across several schools in Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Krabi. In the implementation of KKN PPL Thailand, of course students have more challenges than implementing KKN and PPL in their own country. How could it not be, students will teach students who in fact do not speak Indonesian and have minimal English proficiency. However, the learning material must still be conveyed. In addition to teaching formally at school, students also train skills such as the Koran, extracurricular activities, and prepare students for competitions between schools.

Prior to departure on (12/5), UM had held debriefing for two weeks, covering Thai culture and Thai language by the alumni of the Thai PPL KKN and UM students from Thailand. Deputy Dean I FS, Dr. Primardiana Hermilia Wijayati, M.Pd. explained, in determining the participants, a selection had been held through the collection of forms and interviews. In the selection, the aspects assessed were national insight, foreign language skills, especially English and Arabic, toughness, and teaching ability. "Students can teach students in English with all kinds of problems which can be very different from the situation in Indonesia," he said. "Student self-development is more optimal when they have the opportunity to face tough life challenges." he added.

Apart from UM, KKN PPL Thailand was also attended by several other universities such as the Indonesian Education University (UPI) Bandung, Kediri State Islamic Institute (IAIN), Malang Islamic University (Unisma), and several other universities. At UM, the Thai PPL KKN has been running since 2015, starting with the cooperation of the rector with the Abroad Alumni Association of Southern Border Provinces or the Southern Thailand International Alumni Agency. "Take advantage of all the opportunities offered by UM outside of college so that when you graduate you will have more abilities," Prima said when being interviewed by the communication crew. Experience is indeed a good provision in the future. Diah