SAGA: Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics

Textbook Evaluation: How does It Assist Intercultural Communicative Competence?

Sri Novianti, Yanty Wirza — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Language learning is culture-bound, so culture should be included in the process of language teaching and learning. Using the framework proposed by Cortazzi and Jin (1999), this study evaluates the potential use of the textbook English on Sky to assist Intercultural Communicative Competence in Instruction as evidenced by the occurrence of three types of cultural elements: source culture, target culture, and international culture contained in the textbook. Conducted in Islamic boarding school context, this descriptive study collected data through a checklist from Cortazzi and Jin (1999), questionnaires distributed to students, and an interview conducted to an English teacher using the textbook. The findings reveal that the textbook contains all types of cultural elements represented in reading texts, dialogues, pictures, and tasks. Even though the occurrence of each is not balanced, English on Sky has potential to assist Intercultural Communicative Competence in Instruction since all types of cultures contained do not conflict with the value of the Islamic context. Pedagogically, teachers can use the textbook as the main source for teaching materials in Islamic schools so that students’ Intercultural Communicative Competence can be enhanced.

The Correlation between University Students' Personality and Mastery of Writing Skills

Panggih Rahardi, Vina Oktaviana, Tri Himatul Aliyah, Afi Normawati — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study seeks to examine whether university students' personalities and writing skills are correlated. This study used correlational research as its methodology. The researchers examined two variables, university students' personality and writing skills, to establish a statistical correlation between them. This study's respondent sample consists of forty students majoring in English education. This study was conducted in the English Education Department of Universitas Tidar's Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. Using an International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) questionnaire makes it simple to ascertain the personality scores of each respondent, regardless of whether they are high-extroversion or low-extroversion learners. In addition, the participants' writing skills were shown by their mid-semester essay writing course test scores. Quantitative data exists for both extroversion and writing scores. Therefore, Pearson product-moment and SPSS were used to analyze the data. Based on the results of this study, the researchers conclude that there is only a weak correlation between university students' personalities and their mastery of writing skills. Because the findings of this study contrast with those of other studies, it is hoped that further research will be conducted to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding.

Online and Offline Reading Materials from Students’ Perspective

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this digital era, reading can be done anywhere and anytime. Nowadays, as the rapid development of technology, there are many learning sources available in online platform such as website. As a result, it also affected students’ habit in reading. Moreover, reading online is different from reading offline. In reading offline, the students need printed reading materials such as book, novel, newspaper, or magazine. However, offline reading does not need any printed materials, except the computer, laptop, or smart phone. Students often got difficulties in choosing their reading materials when they are given freedom to choose their own materials from online or offline sources. In this article, the researcher aimed to find out the students’ perspective toward reading using online and offline materials as well as its benefits and drawbacks. This research used descriptive qualitative research method. The researcher obtained the data from questionnaire, interview, and field observation. There were 25 students involved in this research. The findings indicated that students usually read in their free time, they are familiar with e-book materials, students’ reading motivation affected by formal features of a book, printed book is easier to be understood, both online and offline materials is interesting, online platform is more update in giving news, and they like to read book from both Indonesian and foreign authors.

Group Work for Enhancing Students’ Understanding in Simple Past Materials and Developing Social Skills

Theresia Vina Indriyani — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study tried to discover whether group work is effective to help the students get better understanding in the materials as well as being more active and sociable in class. This study was conducted for the sixth grade of SD Tarakanita Bumijo Yogyakarta on July-August 2022. This study would implement group work by conducting heterogenous groups. The data gathered came from combined observation data and quantitative questionnaire. Quantitative data is used to analyse numerical data. The data then converted by using 5 Likert scale to acknowledge the Group Work activity. Based on the result of the questionnaire number 1-3 with average score 4,26, It was concluded that this group work activity was successful in helping the students have better understanding of the material. Based on the result of the questionnaire number 4-5 with average score 4,33 and the observation during the activities group work helped the students got better understanding in the materials. The students helped and encourage each other during the study time and test time. Based on the result of the questionnaire number 6-8, students’ reflection on the questionnaire, and the observation notes, It was concluded that this group work activity was able to create good bond for the students and their friends. They helped each other, most of them didn’t argue or fight during the group work. They also felt closer after the group work. One important note before conducting the group work is setting the rules as clear as possible. Based on the result of the questionnaire, reflection, and observation data, group work make the students have better understanding of the material. The group work was also able to create good bond for the students and their friends. As they helped each other during the activity, most of them didn’t argue or fight. They got closer after the group work.

The Use of Graphic Organizer Strategies to Improve Students' Writing Skills in English Language Teaching

Muhammad Labib Al Halim — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research is motivated by the weak ability of students' writing in learning English. This research was conducted with the aim of improving English language skills, especially writing skills through the use of the graphic organizer strategy. This research was conducted on first semester students at Billfath Lamongan University. The subjects of this research were students of the English program from several research programs totaling 34 students. This research uses a Classroom Action Research design by Kemmis and Mc Taggart model in four stages, namely planning, implementing action, observing, and reflecting. The results of the preliminary test showed that students' writing skills were still low. The results of the assessment on the practice of writing texts using the assessment rubric show that there are still many students who have not reached the mark according to the criteria. The percentage of scores obtained by students are dominated by the "poor" criterion with 41%, fair 32%, good 18%, very poor 9%, and excellent 0%. While, the students' competence increased and has reached the specified minimum completeness criteria in the final test. The percentage of scores obtained by students are dominated by the "good" criterion with 50%, excellent 32%, fair 18%, poor 0%, and very poor 0%. The results of this research prove that the use of the graphic organizer strategy significantly improves students' writing skills and also has a positive impact on students' attitudes toward learning English.

Developing Interactive Multimedia-based E-Learning to Teach Reading

Sri Wiyanah, Sofia Farida Rahman — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Teaching phenomenon during Covid-19 Pandemic demanded teacher used platforms for online learning. Teaching via online learning caused students' learning motivation decreases. Students were passive during learning. Based on school regulations, teachers can only use two platforms for online learning, namely, Google Class Room and WhatsApp. Teachers were not allowed to upload files that were too large so that it would burden the students, and the types of files that can be sent on the two platforms were also very limited. The aims of the study are to identify students’ need for learning and develop appropriate interactive multimedia-based e-learning to teach reading. This was Research and Development study which employed ADDIE Design. The study was conducted for the tenth-grade students of SMAN 3 Bantul. The result showed the target needs most of the students choose to master English and can read English text with good pronunciation are their goals. The learning needs as determined by the needs analysis are divided into input, planning, methods, the role of the teacher, and environment. In addition, Interactive learning multimedia developed using ADDIE in the form of Microsoft PowerPoint. The menus consisted of Home Page, Main Menu, and Extras Menu. The mean score for the content aspect was 3.86 and the media aspect was 3.625 which both were categorized as “very good”. The mean of the implementation and interview to the students’ response is 87.75/100 points. In conclusion, interactive multimedia is appropriate and feasible in teaching and learning reading.

Using Flash Cards to Improve the Vocabulary Mastery of XI Graders at SMA N 1 Ngaglik

Kezia Intan Permani, Made Frida Yulia, Dewi Rahayu — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Vocabulary becomes one of the most essential aspects in learning English. However, since English was a foreign language in Indonesia, students had lack of vocabulary that made it difficult for them to learn English well. Teachers needed to help the students in mastering their vocabulary by using an interesting media. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the use of flash cards as a learning media to improve students’ vocabulary mastery of XI Science 3 at SMA Negeri 1 Ngaglik. The participants of this study were thirty-two students from XI Science 3 at SMA Negeri 1 Ngaglik. Classroom Action Research was employed with 2 cycles. The data was collected using the pretest and posttest, and the questionnaires. The results showed that implementing flash cards in the learning process enhanced students’ vocabulary mastery. It could be proven based on the average of students’ scores which were 75.62 in the pretest, 94.68 in the posttest of cycle 1, and 98.12 in the posttest of cycle 2. Another thing, the results indicated that using flash cards gave many advantages for the students. By using flash cards, it was easy for students to remember the words, understand the meaning of the words, understand the synonym and definition of the words, and enhanced new vocabulary. Moreover, flash cards increased students’ motivation in learning vocabulary. From the results, it could be concluded that applying flash cards could improve students’ vocabulary mastery.