Freedom to Learn’ in Merdeka Curriculum: AI-Enhanced Insights into Emotional, Aesthetic, and Critical Reading in 10th Grade Textbook

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2691

Keywords:

Merdeka Curriculum, Reading for Emotion and Aestheticss, Critical reading, AI in education

Abstract

Despite Indonesia’s curriculum reform focuses on critical thinking, reading literacy skills remain stagnant due to limited research exploring affective engagement in materials aligned with the Merdeka Curriculum. This study explores whether English textbooks for 10th grade under the Merdeka Curriculum are capable of stimulating critical reading skills through emotional and aesthetic aspects. By analyzing official textbooks in the context of Indonesian high schools, the study applied Ania Lian’s “Reading for Emotion and Aesthetics” framework using AI-assisted qualitative coding, employing customized rule engineering to identify emotional and aesthetic elements. Findings reveal minimal emotional engagement and a strong emphasis on literal comprehension, exposing a disconnect between the curriculum’s rhetoric of empowerment and the design of instructional materials. This study emphasizes that achieving true critical literacy requires emotionally rich texts, flexibility in teaching, and systemic alignment across policy, materials, and classroom practices.

Author Biographies

Resa Diah Gayatri, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Resa Diah Gayatri is an English Language Teaching Department Student at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, Indonesia, and an intern at the International Office. She once presented her research on transformative learning at the International Conference on Learning and Education, STKIP PGRI Pacitan 2025. Passionate about teaching, she researches how the human brain actually learns and explores the role of sophisticated tools is enhancing this process. She aims to develop engaging, research-informed approaches to English language learning.

Eka Fitrianingsih, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Eka Fitrianingsih is an English Language Teaching Department Student at Syekh Nurjati State Islamic Cyber University Cirebon, Indonesia. She is an intern in the International Office who is currently studying transformative learning, teaching methods, Artificial Intelligence, and language skills. The knowledge she has learned is of interest to her now as a student, and she hopes to continue learning and developing significantly.

Bilqis Syifa Shoraya, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Bilqis Syifa Shoraya is an English Language Teaching Department Student at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, Indonesia. She is developing competencies in speaking and academic writing, with experiences in English teaching workshops and an internship at the International Office UIN SSC. Her research interests encompass digital learning tools, Reading for Emotion methodology, and innovative strategies for effective English language teaching.

Lala Bumela Sudimantara, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Dr. Lala Bumela Sudimantara is the director of the International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati in Cirebon, Indonesia, and a researcher and educator in English Language Teacher Education. His research focuses on language pedagogy, technology-enhanced learning, and critical literacy. He holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Literacy Studies from Charles Darwin University in Australia. He creates cutting-edge solutions for educational environments with limited resources and is a pioneer in multimodal computer-assisted language learning (CALL). Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., co-hosts the Teaching and Learning English with AsiaCALL podcast and is the Editor-in-Chief of ELT ECHO. His multidisciplinary approach fosters equitable, student-centered learning by fusing language instruction, technology, and neuroscience.

Muhsiyana Nurul Aisyiyah, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Muhsiyana Nurul Aisyiyah, M.Hum. is an academic and lecturer at the UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, where she has consistently demonstrated a high level of dedication and is known for her active involvement in English language instruction as well as her deep engagement in the Teacher Professional Education program, aimed at enhancing the pedagogical competence and professionalism of educators in Indonesia.

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2026-07-23

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Gayatri, R. D., Fitrianingsih, E., Shoraya, B. S., Sudimantara, L. B., & Aisyiyah, M. N. (2026). Freedom to Learn’ in Merdeka Curriculum: AI-Enhanced Insights into Emotional, Aesthetic, and Critical Reading in 10th Grade Textbook. Proceedings of the AsiaCALL International Conference, 9, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.54855/paic.2691

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Vol. 9 (2026): AI in Language Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions (AsiaCALL2025)

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Research Article

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