Cultural and Local Wisdom Integration in Technology-Based English Language Teaching in Indonesia

The rapid expansion of digital technology in English language teaching has created new opportunities for learning while raising concerns about the marginalization of local cultural values. This study investigated the integration of cultural and local wisdom in technology based English language teaching in Indonesia, focusing on the extent of implementation, the challenges encountered by teachers, and possible strategies for effective integration. A qualitative approach was employed, involving semi structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis with English teachers across secondary and tertiary levels. The findings indicated that although teachers acknowledged the importance of incorporating local wisdom, its integration remained partial and largely dependent on individual initiative. Cultural elements were often used as supplementary content rather than being systematically embedded in digital instructional design. Several challenges were identified, including the dominance of globally oriented digital materials, limited access to culturally relevant resources, varying levels of digital competence, and institutional constraints. Despite these limitations, some teachers demonstrated innovative practices by integrating local narratives and project based activities into digital platforms, which enhanced student engagement and contextual understanding. The study concluded that meaningful integration of local wisdom in technology based ELT required more structured pedagogical models, institutional support, and professional development. These findings contributed to the growing discourse on culturally responsive digital pedagogy and highlighted the importance of aligning technological innovation with local cultural contexts in language education.