English Language Attrition Levels and Language Maintenance Efforts among Indonesian Non-English Department Students

Authors

  • Yunita Uswatun Khasanah Universitas Negeri Malang
  • Utami Widiati Universitas Negeri Malang
  • Sintha Tresnadewi Universitas Negeri Malang
  • Anik Nunuk Wulyani Universitas Negeri Malang

Keywords:

English language attrition, language maintenance efforts, affective factors in attrition

Abstract

In the EFL context, the primary linguistic environment for learners is a formal classroom in which they receive input, feedback, and opportunities to practice with teachers and other learners. However, as learners graduate from schools, they might no longer have access to such an environment and thus be deprived of the main intake to support acquisition and retention, which makes them susceptible to language attrition. This study aims to explore the levels of attrition experienced by 165 multilingual non-English department students 30 months after graduating from their secondary schools, the possible factors associated with attrition, and the predictive power of some language maintenance efforts (LMEs) on English attrition. The participants took standardized English tests, that is, Test 1 and Test 2 administered within a 24-month interval and responded to a questionnaire about LMEs. A paired t-test was used to establish a link between attrition level and the identified factors. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictive power of LMEs for attrition. The results show that learners with different proficiency levels experience different levels of attrition. Factors like attitude and motivation showed different degrees of correlation with attrition. A negative correlation was found in the three dimensions of LMEs: entertainment, literacy activity, and academic activity. Contrary to popular literature on first- and second-language attrition, the dimension of social interaction has a very low predictive power for foreign-language attrition.

Author Biographies

Yunita Uswatun Khasanah, Universitas Negeri Malang

Yunita Uswatun Khasanah graduated from the doctoral program of the Department of English, Universitas Negeri Malang. She carried out her dissertation research under the supervision of Prof. Utami Widiati. Her research interests include language attrition, language teaching methodology, and ICT in language teaching.

Utami Widiati, Universitas Negeri Malang

Utami Widiati (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8603-4556) is a professor in English language teaching at the Department of English, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. She obtained her professorship in the area of literacy learning in 2009. Her research interests include foreign language literacy, SLA, curriculum and material development, and teacher professional development. She is a pre-and in-service teacher trainer and has written secondary school English textbooks prescribed by the Indonesian government. She also serves as the chief editor for TEFLIN Journal and the president of TEFLIN (The Association for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia). She can be contacted at utami.widiati.fs@um.ac.id.

Sintha Tresnadewi, Universitas Negeri Malang

Sintha Tresnadewi is a senior lecturer at the Department of English, Universitas Negeri Malang. Her research interests include grammar teaching, ICT use in language teaching, second language acquisition, testing and evaluation, and language assessments. She can be contacted at sintha.tresnadewi.fs@um.ac.id

Anik Nunuk Wulyani, Universitas Negeri Malang

Anik Nunuk Wulyani (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4080-8288) is a faculty member of the Department of English, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM). She obtained her master's degree from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia, and a doctorate degree from Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka, New Zealand. Her research interests include teacher professional development (TPD), Extensive Reading, Teacher Research, and TEFL. She has been extensively involved in formal and informal teacher training with her institution and the Indonesian Extensive Reading Association (IERA). 

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Published

2024-04-01

How to Cite

Uswatun Khasanah, Y., Widiati, U., Tresnadewi, S., & Nunuk Wulyani, A. (2024). English Language Attrition Levels and Language Maintenance Efforts among Indonesian Non-English Department Students. Register Journal, 17(1). Retrieved from https://ejournal.uinsalatiga.ac.id/index.php/register/article/view/853

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Vol. 17 No. 1 (2024): REGISTER JOURNAL

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