Penguatan Kompetensi Bahasa Inggris dan Pengenalan Ilmu Pelayaran bagi Siswa SMK melalui Program Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat oleh Politeknik Ilmu Pelayaran Makassar

Abstract

This community service activity is motivated by the gap between the needs of the shipping industry and the competencies of vocational high school (SMK) graduates, particularly regarding low technical communication skills and a lack of understanding of the shipping industry. The aim of this program is to improve the understanding and skills of students at SMK Negeri 9 Makassar in maritime English and to introduce them to the world of shipping and ports. The implementation methods included interactive lectures, experiential learning-based simulation training, group discussions, and evaluation using questionnaires with indicators of participant understanding and satisfaction. The main results of the activity showed an increase in student motivation to learn maritime English and interest in the seafaring profession, evidenced by their improved ability to practice Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) in simulations. Participant evaluation indicated that over 90% expressed satisfaction with the training methods and materials. In conclusion, this activity represents an effective synergy between vocational higher education and secondary vocational education in producing high-quality maritime human resources. It is recommended that similar programs be developed into long-term training (short courses) and integrated with digital learning modules to broaden the educational impact.