This study aims to determine the influence of practice-based active learning on students' interest and response in learning local culture in drama classes. The research was conducted at public universities in Indonesia using two active learning strategies. Qualitative methods using participatory techniques, interviews, and observations were carried out in collecting data for this study. The sample of this research is fifty drama class students. The analysis of data was done after the drama classes ended, which was marked by the process of assessing student learning outcomes through stage performances. This study showed a statistically significant increase in students' interest and response to learning local culture through collaborative learning methods and role-play in drama classroom learning. This study recommends adopting an active learning strategy in teaching local cultural materials to students. Further research is recommended on designing different active learning strategies with other variables and in different locations.     Keywords: Scriptwriting; classroom drama teaching; teaching local culture; active learning.

Dental students must communicate empathetically by paying attention to local cultural values. This article investigates the relationship between studying local culture and interest in developing sympathetic communication. This study uses a qualitative method. Ninety-six dental students were selected as respondents. Primary data comes from student responses and screenshots of learning materials collected through online questionnaires. The results showed that there had been an increase in the knowledge of dental students to develop sympathetic communication by paying attention to the values of local cultural wisdom. Students' responses to learning local culture are divided into three groups: (a) respondents who think that professional dentists must have cultural intelligence in building communication; (b) respondents who think that cultural knowledge is relevant to the social field; and (c) respondents who stated that cultural intelligence could be correlated with various aspects of life. This study provides a basis for designing similar curricula in other universities.           Keywords: Communication, etiquette, humanist dentist, learning, local culture.