Register Journal

Proposing A Web-Based Interactive Module for Education for Sustainable Development in English for Computer Science

Dewi Sari Wahyuni — 2023-04-26

English for Computer Science (ECS), as part of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), is designed to teach students the English required in computer science. In this paper, the writers proposed to incorporate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into ECS to encourage student engagement by presenting current concerns relevant to their life experiences. The work is a position paper, in which the writers argue for the importance of building a web-based interactive module for ESD in ECS. Our arguments are supported in the following sections; English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), English for Computer Science (ECS), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Instructional Material limited to Module and E-Module, and related research. The writers propose developing an interactive web-based module for ESD in ECS so that students have more fun while they are studying. It is anticipated that students will be able to study the module at their own pace and according to their capabilities. This module is paperless; it contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As instructional materials, the module will also assist ECS students in overcoming classroom time constraints and relating what they learn to future concerns, careers, and professionalism.

Marriage, Conflict, and Communication: Pragmatic Inquiry into Impoliteness in the Marital Relationship

Shan Shan Li — 2023-04-26

The issue of impoliteness has long been a matter of interest in linguistic investigations. Considerable research has been conducted to uncover factors and features regarding the realizations of impoliteness in multiple social contexts. This study engages in a pragmatic inquiry into impoliteness in the marital relationship. The data of this study consisted of a TV episode from one famous on-site mediation reality program in China. Primarily drawing on Bousfield’s (2008) model of impoliteness realizations, this study used a qualitative approach to examine the means by which the couple in a marital relationship causes face-attacking effects and ultimately arouses conflicts. The primary findings of this study indicate that couples might struggle with various communicative challenges. A problematic marital relationship tends to be signaled in some practices of impoliteness. This study has identified thirteen realizations of impoliteness linguistically and behaviorally that indicate gender variations concerning the couple’s frequent impoliteness practices.

Thematic Structure in Students’ Writings: Implications on their Ideas Organization and Development

Zefki Okta — 2023-04-26

Thematic structure is an important concept in organizing ideas in academic writing. Although numerous studies have focused on investigating how it is realized in students' writing, only a few focus on investigating thematic structure in students' text across different proficiency levels. This article is based on a study analyzing idea organization and development in 24 high and low-scoring essays through Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). It was a qualitative content analysis with complementary quantitative data. The results show significant differences in how ideas are organized and developed in high and low-scoring essays. Even though all types of Themes (topical, interpersonal, textual Theme) were observed in both groups, the high-scoring essays elaborated more themes than the low ones indicating that the high-scoring essays comprised more clauses. As for Thematic Progression, all the patterns were present in the essays. The Linear Theme pattern was primarily applied in high-scoring essays, while the Constant Theme pattern was applied frequently in the low-scoring ones. The Split Rheme pattern was less observed in all the students' essays. These findings indicate that the high achievers provided more expounded ideas through linear theme patterns, whereas their counterparts tended to focus on a subject reflected through Theme reiteration. Thus, this implies that proficiency characterized writers in organizing and developing ideas in writing as reflected through thematic Choice and Progression.

Teachers’ Intercultural Communicative Competence and Intercultural Sensitivity: An Investigation of Emergency Online Classes in Higher Education

Amir Ghajarieh — 2023-04-26

The study aims to ascertain whether intervention workshops held for Iranian EFL teachers had any effect on their knowledge of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) or of intercultural sensitivity (IS). The study investigated the effect of knowledge about ICC and IS on the practice of EFL teachers. 30 EFL teachers participated in a six-session workshop on ICC and IS, and completed the ICC Questionnaire (Zhou, 2011) and the IS Questionnaire (Chen & Starosta, 2000) before and again after the workshops. A further 10 teachers underwent a semi-structured interview designed to obtain their knowledge of ICC and IS. In addition, 10 classes were observed and 10 students took part in a semi-structured interview to identify the effect of ICC and IS knowledge on teachers’ practice. The results indicated that the intervention workshops had a significant effect on both the teachers’ ICC and IS knowledge. All respondents considered themselves interculturally competent and sensitive English teachers who showed respect for different cultures. It was also found that knowledge about ICC and IS had influenced EFL teachers’ practice. These findings have the potential to raise EFL teachers’ awareness of the prominence of ICC and IS, and inspire them to seek opportunities for improvement and consequently improve their job performance.

Exploring Qualities that Prevent EFL Teachers from Redundancy

I Dewa Gede Rat Dwiyana Putra — 2023-04-26

The practice of English language teaching has dramatically changed with the existence of Internet-based learning platforms. The educational technology provides EFL students with a variety of language learning materials that can be accessed at any time and anywhere. These phenomena might threaten the teacher's existence. Thus, this study aims to figure out whether or not EFL teachers’ roles can be replaced by technology and to explore what qualities they should possess and maintain to prevent them from redundancy due to the domination of mobile-based language learning applications. A mix-method design was utilized to obtain the quantitative data through an online survey and qualitative data through an open-ended question. 199 EFL learners participated in the online survey, which consisted of a yes/no question on whether teachers could be replaced by mobile apps and an open-ended question to record the reasons. The findings showed that 132 students (66.3%) thought that teachers could not be replaced by mobile technology; meanwhile, around one-third of the respondents, 67 students (33.7%) had the opposing thought. The students still require human interaction, a sense of emotion, and delivery over the mobile tech features that could provide availability, flexibility, and practicality. It is highly recommended that English teachers maintain their humane qualities while keep adapting to technology to save themselves from redundancy.

Intercultural Communicative Competence Model Using English Literature: A Case Study at Some Islamic Universities in Indonesia

Jualiastuti — 2023-04-28

The acquisition of intercultural competence is considered paramount in enabling learners to engage comfortably with individuals from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The ability to communicate and interact appropriately with individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds is increasingly recognized as a fundamental component of the 21st century learning skillset. To investigate the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of students in relation to intercultural activities, this study employs a literature-based instructional approach. The implementation of the Intercultural communicative competence through English Literature (ICC-EL) paradigm among 92 students enrolled in the English Education Study Program at an Islamic higher education institution is the subject of this study. The research adopted a mixed-method approach to generate both quantitative and qualitative data. Specifically, a questionnaire was administered to students upon the completion of the course to elicit quantitative data, while qualitative data was obtained through observation of the students' performance by the course lecturer. The results demonstrate that the implementation of the ICC-EL model has proven to be successful in stimulating the students' intercultural communication skills. Furthermore, the study of literary materials in the form of English novels has encouraged students to administer their awareness of intercultural communication skills. The incorporation of a variety of techniques has provided students with greater exposure to diverse languages and cultures, thereby encouraging them to manage their intercultural communication skills. The assessment of intercultural communication competency employed in the ICC-EL model is deemed appropriate and adaptable for implementation in different language teaching and evaluation contexts.

Ten Years after Sutton (2012): Quo Vadis Feedback Literacy? (A Bibliometric Study)

Imelda Gozali — 2023-05-23

Drawing on the construct of Academic Literacy, Paul Sutton coined the term "Feedback Literacy" in 2012. Since then, a growing body of research on Feedback Literacy has emerged from scholars worldwide. This bibliometric study then intended to trace the historical development of Feedback Literacy research over a decade and identify future trends and directions in the field. Extracting from the Scopus database and employing Bibliometrix R-tool, this study seeks to reveal the performance analysis and science mapping of the construct. PRISMA 2020 was utilized to guide the articles' search, screening, selection, and reporting. The result of the performance analysis revealed the most prominent journal (Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education), author (David Carless), article (Carless & Boud, 2018), and keywords (students-related feedback) in feedback literacy research. The conceptual, intellectual, and social structure analyses under science mapping provided insight into popular and fundamental research themes and the collaboration network among feedback literacy authors, with Australian researchers at the forefront. The findings imply that feedback literacy is a fertile ground for further research on topics such as students-related feedback, online feedback, ecological factor, and dialogic feedback. Studies outside of the context of higher education are still under-represented. This study can also aid novice scholars m finding relevant references or outlets for publication.

Mobile-assisted English language learning for young learners during COVID-19 distance learning: Teachers’ experiences and voices

Misdi — 2023-05-24

Despite a number of previous studies investigating online learning during the COVID-19 outbreak, more needs to be reported about TEYL teachers’ insightful experiences in photovoice. To fill this gap, the current phenomenological case study aimed at exploring TEYL teachers’ experiences in enacting MALL during the distance learning period amidst the COVID-19 pandemic using photovoice. Two teachers were recruited as the study participants. The data were garnered from the participants’ photovoice collections depicting critical incidents and interviews. The results showed that MALL was perceived as a powerful instructional method in distance English learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The teachers reported that they encountered several obstacles caused by unstable internet networks, difficulty in direct supervision of young learners, and the requirement of extra effort to prepare interesting teaching materials. On a positive note, MALL has benefited the teachers by enriching their experiences using various mobile applications for their English language instructions. The enactment of MALL has also foregrounded parents’ important roles in monitoring their children’s use of mobile devices. Drawing from the findings, this research implies that photovoice can be used to explore teachers' and students’ life experiences with distance learning in Indonesian teacher education.