Culturally-Inspired Digital Comics to Enhance Indonesian Cultural Literacy among Thai Learners

Learning a new culture can be challenging for foreign students, especially when instructional materials fail to connect with their experiences. This study explores how Indonesian culture-oriented digital comics can support Thai learners in developing cultural literacy. A purposive sample of 240 students from Thaksin University participated in the study, engaging with the comics as part of their learning activities. Data were gathered through questionnaires, interviews, expert validation, and cultural literacy assessments, and analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The results showed that the digital comics were highly valid (CVI = 0.95) and practical (practicality rating = 89.8%), and they significantly improved students’ cultural literacy. Regression analysis further revealed that the comics accounted for 68.1% of the variation in students’ cultural literacy gains (R² = 0.681). These findings suggest that culturally-inspired digital comics not only serve as effective learning tools for BIPA students but also offer an engaging and adaptable approach to cross-cultural education. The study encourages further development of digital learning resources that are culturally responsive and learner-centered.