Papua is rich with cultural heritages: hundreds of vernacular languages, tribes, folklores and other unique traditions. Unfortunately, these heritages are not recognized by the young generation anymore. Modernization, technology, and new comers are assumed as the background. As the capital of the province, Jayapura is the most influenced place for the changes. As an attempt to re-introduce and preserve the ancestor's cultural heritages, cultural infusion in learning English (as one type of learning) is regarded important. From seven tribes living in Jayapura, as the first step, Sentani is chosen as the priority. This paper discusses English learning materials by infusing Sentani culture. Folktales are chosen as learning materials for Elementary School students, malo 1 for Junior High School students, the procedure to make kayi/ifa 2 for Senior High Schoo students. This infusion hopes that young generation is able to learn English as well as to acknowledge one of the cultural heritages of Papua. They can be strongly rooted in their culture and respect others' culture.

Sentani tribe in Jayapura, Papua  is  rich with cultural heritages. One of them is yung robhoni, i.e. traditional payment after somebody’s death. Commonly, in society yung robhoni is literally translated into “head payment”. This terminology raise controversion. Thus, besides as an attempt of clarification, this  writing aims at exploring (1) What is yung robhoni?,  (2) Why  yung robhoni is needed?, dan (3) How is yung robhoni  carried out?. Data were collected from some informants: tribal chiefs (ondofolo, khote, akhona) and  Sentani elders in East, Central, and West  Sentani via deep observations and interviews. By adopting socio-cultural approach, this writing found that yung robhoni is a medium to unite, harmonize, and improve the kinship relation as a form of love and respect based on the balance of right and obligation. Hopefully, through this writing the term of “yung robhoni” is not misunderstood and the harmony of social life by maintaining the social relation, respect and balancing the  right and obligation may become the positive energy for Papuan people in general.

Papua is rich with cultural heritages: hundreds of vernacular languages, tribes, folklores and other unique traditions. Unfortunately, these heritages are not recognized by the young generation anymore. Modernization, technology, and new comers are assumed as the background. As the capital of the province, Jayapura is the most influenced place for the changes. As an attempt to re-introduce and preserve the ancestors cultural heritages, cultural infusion in learning English (as one type of learning) is regarded important. From seven tribes living in Jayapura, as the first step, Sentani is chosen as the priority. This paper discusses English learning materials by infusing Sentani culture. Folktales are chosen as learning materials for Elementary School students, malo[1] for Junior High School students, the procedure to make kayi/ifa[2] for Senior High Schoo students. This infusion hopes that young generation is able to learn English as well as to acknowledge one of the cultural heritages of Papua. They can be strongly rooted in their culture and respect others culture.DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.2017.200105

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