Dr. Trikartikaningsih (Kiki) Byas - English

Associate Professor

Welcome to my page.

Like many Americans, I am an immigrant. When you look at my first name you will see a 17-letter first name, which you would probably have difficulty pronouncing, unless you speak Malay or Bahasa Indonesia.

In teaching I mostly follow the concept of “subordination of teaching to learning” (Caleb Gattegno). Learning is an important part of human life, and a classroom (teaching) is just one of the settings where people can learn. I am constantly learning while teaching and I will share my interest and excitement in learning and exploration with the hope of reciprocal interests from the students.

As a learner of the writing process myself, I see writing as one of, and not isolated from, the many ways of communication. In sharing my learning to write with students, I strive to create an open, warm, engaging, collaborative, yet challenging classroom atmosphere and condition so that everybody can learn about and develop their writing (skills) by integrating other ways of communication while also critically and logically interacting with published and unpublished (their own and peer) texts, experiences, and knowledge.

At QCC I teach EN 101 (College Composition) as well as EN 225 (Special Topics in Writing as Art & Craft, with the theme of Immigrant Experience. Currently, I am also learning to teach the ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) course where students enroll concurrently in linked BE 112 and English 101 courses and have the chance to earn the credits for 101 while working toward passing the CATW.

I also introduce students to the High Impact Practices on campus, especially using the collaborative tools in technology espoused by the CAP-SWIG (Collaborative Assignment & Projects-Student Working in Interdisciplinary Group).

Aside from teaching, I serve as the Faculty Advisor to the Muslim Student Association.

Sample Publications

“Indonesian American Muslims” in Jonathan H.X. Lee, ed. Encyclopedia of Asian American Religious Cultures, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.

“Music in the Indonesian American Experience: Gamelan, Angklung, Dangdut” in Jonathan H. X. Lee, ed. Southeast Asian Diaspora in the United States: Memories & Visions, Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow. London and New York: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013.

“Foreword” in to Santi C. Djonhar, Introduction to Language Acquisition: The Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language, Jakarta, INDONESIA: Hamka University Press, 2012.

“Navigating the SWIG Spaces” Asian Journal of Environment-Behaviour studies, 3 (8), April (2012) 69-83.

“E-Portfolio and Student Wiki Interdisciplinary Group” Proceedings of 2011 LAMS and Learning Design Conference, Nanyang Technological University, SINGAPORE, June 6-7, 2011.


Collection of Handouts

To see more from my collection


Research Interests:

  • Cross Cultural Communication
  • ESL / ELL

Campus Cultural Centers

Kupferberg Holocaust Center exterior lit up at nightOpens in a new window
Kupferberg Holocaust Center Opens in a new window

The KHC uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate current and future generations about the ramifications of unbridled prejudice, racism and stereotyping.

Russian Ballet performing at the Queensborough Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window
QPAC: Performing Arts CenterOpens in a new window

QPAC is an invaluable entertainment company in this region with a growing national reputation. The arts at QPAC continues to play a vital role in transforming lives and building stronger communities.

Queensborough Art Gallery exterior in the afternoonOpens in a new window
QCC Art Gallery

The QCC Art Gallery of the City University of New York is a vital educational and cultural resource for Queensborough Community College, the Borough of Queens and the surrounding communities.