Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS) (Journal of UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)
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Challenges and coping strategies of autism parenting: A systematic literature review of parents’ autoethnographies
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Parents of autistic children face caregiving challenges, yet there is a dearth of research specifically analysing parents’ autoethnographies. This systematic literature review explores themes of challenges and coping strategies in autism caregiving, guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).
Methodology: Following Kitchenham and Charters’ (2007) guidelines, a systematic literature search of autoethnographies by parents of autistic children was conducted using online databases. The search was guided by two questions: (1) What are the challenges faced by parents caring for their autistic children?; and (2) What are the coping strategies employed by parents in caring for their autistic children?
Findings: Twelve autoethnographies were analysed. Themes regarding challenges included parents experiencing fears, feeling despair and facing barriers and stigmatisation. Coping strategies identified included parents seeking answers, having hopes, and gaining empowerment besides providing support. Limitations and future research directions were discussed.
Contributions: This paper emphasises understanding challenges faced by parents of autistic children. It illuminates emotional and societal aspects of autism parenting, emphasising the necessity for tailored support systems. Additionally, it reveals parents' coping strategies, including empowerment and supporting others, indicating increased understanding of their children's autism and active facilitation of support networks.
Keywords: Well-being, Autism parenting, Autoethnography, challenges, coping
The use of English interaction strategies in cooperative learning: A case study of four Chinese college students’ spoken discourse
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Previous studies have examined the efficacy of the cooperative learning approach to enhance speaking outcomes, but little is known about what happens in the interaction process of cooperative learning and how cooperative learning works to promote speaking interaction. This study examines Chinese college students’ interaction strategies in cooperative learning activities and how cooperative learning instruction influenced their interaction strategy use.
Methodology: This research adopted the sequential explanatory design. Thirty students from an intact class at a Chinese public university participated in a 12-week cooperative learning instruction and kept learner diaries over time. One cooperative learning team of four members was randomly chosen to observe their interaction strategy use throughout the semester fortnightly. The frequencies of their interaction strategies employed in the transcribed recordings were analysed through descriptive statistics, and the learner diaries were analysed through thematic analysis.
Findings: The findings indicated that the four students’ Modified-Interaction strategies were employed much less frequently than Social-Interaction strategies when they worked cooperatively, and training in Modified-Interaction strategies was greatly needed for promoting students’ effective interaction and language development. It has also been found that cooperative learning instruction was helpful in promoting students’ Social-Interaction strategy use as it provided a natural and conducive environment for students to socialize and cooperate towards the group goals.
Contributions: This study contributes to second language acquisition research by identifying gaps in Chinese college students' interaction strategy use within cooperative learning, emphasizing the need for explicit training in Modified-Interaction strategies to enhance communicative competence. It provides empirical evidence on how cooperative learning fosters social engagement and peer collaboration, offering insights for more structured instructional interventions.
Keywords: Cooperative learning, peer interaction, interaction strategies, modified interaction, social interaction
Demotivation in Mandarin as a foreign language among Malaysian tertiary students
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Demotivation has been acknowledged as a significant factor in the decrease of student enrolment and the increase in student attrition rates within the domain of Mandarin as a foreign language (MFL) learning. This study seeks to identify the causes of demotivation among learners of MFL at a public tertiary institution in Malaysia.
Methodology: The study's sample consisted of 72 undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory-level MFL elective course. Data were collected using online questionnaires at the end of the academic semester. The online questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first focused on the demographic information of the participants, and the second contained open-ended questions. Participants were asked to characterize the learning experience that (1) negatively impacted their motivation and (2) caused them to feel frustrated or want to quit their MFL studies. The data was subjected to thematic analysis, and the themes from the responses were identified and categorized.
Findings: The factors that contribute to demotivation can be classified into two categories: internal and external. Internal categories include psychological states such as anxiety and boredom. In contrast, external categories include test performance, course content, workload, and significant others (teachers and peers). External factors, particularly test performance, course content, and workload, have a greater impact on the demotivation of MFL learners compared to internal factors. The most frequently cited factor is test performance, primarily due to the difficulty of learning course content, particularly Chinese characters. One-third of the students in this study spent more than three hours per week on MFL learning outside of class. However, many students struggle to manage their Mandarin study time due to other academic or extracurricular obligations.
Contributions: The current research offers additional insights into the nature and characteristics of demotivation in foreign language learning, specifically among non-native Mandarin learners with little or no prior knowledge, in the context of MFL as an elective course.
Keywords: Demotivation, LOTE, Mandarin as a foreign language, Malaysian tertiary institution, elective
Discursive construction of news reports on people with mental illness in Malaysian online newspapers
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: As one of the most common trustworthy sources, online newspapers have been regarded as the primary source of knowledge among the public to obtain reliable and unbiased information. However, in the context of media coverage of people with mental illness, they are often portrayed negatively and regarded as unpredictable and dangerous, resulting in increased stigma and misunderstanding among the public at large. This study examines the discursive strategies used in Malaysian news articles in portraying mental illness and the linguistic devices used to successfully implement these strategies.
Methodology: This study investigated 43 news articles published in popular Malaysian online newspapers to examine how issues related to mental health-related illnesses are discursively constructed and the linguistic elements that were employed to represent the complexities of the cases from a discourse analysis perspective.
Findings: The results show that the local media use nomination, predication and argumentation strategies to legitimise people with mental illness. They are portrayed negatively and through various linguistic elements, primarily as perpetrators and offenders.
Contributions: The study provides media professionals with nuanced information on responsible reporting of mental health issues and uses the media as a platform to destigmatise mental illness among the general public.
Keywords: Discourse analysis, online newspapers, mental illness, media practice, stigma
Ambiguity in the translation of Quranic euphemisms into the Malay language
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Translators encounter significant challenges when dealing with the structures of Quranic euphemisms, particularly in effectively avoiding ambiguity of meanings in the target text. This study aims to investigate ambiguity in the translation of Quranic euphemisms into the Malay language and identify effective approaches to address it.
Methodology: The present study employed a descriptive analysis, adapting Olimat’s (2018) Evaluation Model of Euphemism Translation in the Quran and Newmark’s (1981) Semantic and Communicative Theory. Six samples were meticulously chosen with the purpose of effectively capturing ambiguities in the translation of texts related to the domain of sexuality. This study presents each Quranic euphemism in its original Malay translation and a literal English translation, aiming to enhance comprehension and promote a deeper appreciation of the nuances and subtleties in the translation of Quranic euphemisms.
Findings: The findings revealed notable deficiencies in accurately conveying the intended meaning in certain translations, despite the implementation of parentheses to facilitate explicitation. Additionally, some translations fell short of fulfilling the lexical function of the words, leading to discrepancies and insufficiencies of information in communicating the contextual meaning. Furthermore, certain translations did not align with the target language context.
Contributions: This study identifies key strategies for minimizing ambiguity in Quranic euphemism translation, including contextual analysis, cultural adaptation, and explanatory additions. It highlights five crucial aspects: accuracy of meaning, grammatical adherence, effective word choice, euphemistic style preservation, and appropriate translation approaches. The findings provide valuable insights for Arabic-Malay Quran translators and contribute to future advancements in translation studies.
Keywords: Ambiguity, Quran translation, Quranic euphemisms, translation approach, translation quality
An investigation of the theory of planned behavior in predicting Malaysian secondary school teachers' use of ICT during teaching and learning sessions
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is a framework utilized to comprehend human behaviour towards the adoption and utilization of technology, particularly in educational settings such as ICT usage during teaching and learning sessions. The study aimed to determine the validity of the TPB model in explaining the use of ICT (UICT) by secondary school teachers in Malaysia during their teaching and learning sessions. Additionally, the research sought to identify the most influential factors affecting UICT and examine the differences in UICT use in relation to demographic variables such as gender and years of teaching experience.
Methodology: A total of 331 secondary school teachers from 30 schools in Selangor, Malaysia participated in the study and a 24-item online questionnaire was used to measure four constructs (BB, NB, CB, and UICT), and the validity of the TPB model in explaining the use of UICT by Malaysian secondary school teachers was confirmed using PLS-SEM analysis.
Findings: The study found that all three constructs, behavioral beliefs (BB), normative beliefs (NB), and control beliefs (CB), had a significant influence on UICT during teaching practices, with CB being the most significant predictor (β = .388). Although no significant differences were found in relation to gender, the study did reveal significant differences based on years of teaching.
Contributions: The findings of this study provide a valuable framework for future studies to build upon and extend their understanding of the factors that shape ICT use among secondary school teachers. Furthermore, the model could be replicated in other educational contexts, such as early childhood education and primary education, or with pre-service teachers from developing countries, in order to validate the generalizability of the results.
Keywords: Use of ICT, theory of planned behaviour, secondary school teachers, Malaysia
Dr M: Operation Malaysia (Giants of Asia). [Review of the book Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad, by T. Plate]
Get PDFConversations with Mahathir Mohamad: Doctor M: Operation Malaysia by Tom Plate tells the experience of Mahathir Mohamad as a Malaysian Prime Minister with a superior legacy of his own, especially during his reign of power between 1981 to 2003. The book contains Plate’s detailed retelling of his experience interviewing Mahathir, besides reviewing the answers Mahathir provided on the issues surrounding his leadership. The combination of these two elements is the background that underlies the book’s narration. The contents are constructed by emphasising Plate’s critical perspectives as a former journalist from the West and a current professor at the Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, towards third-world country leaders who are often associated with autocratic and dictatorial leadership and the answers from the main character himself, Mahathir, as a third world country leader who considered himself as purporting accustomed democratic style which was well-tailored to be implemented to Malaysians and the country due to its historical background and at that time – timely needed. Through this book, Mahathir has attested that he was a leader who had established the nation’s industrial infrastructure and brought its name to the attention of the world. However, along the line, as he was too focused and had driven solely by the ambition, he has single-handedly tightened and degraded the country’s institutions with somewhat – oppressive with authoritarian manner. Beyond recall, the book presents readers with fresh insights and viewpoints regarding Mahathir’s leadership, which is often fraught with controversies.
Keywords: Mahathir Mohamad, prime minister, modernisation, leadership, autocratic
Burnout in the hybrid workplace: Examining the struggle of language lecturers in Malaysia
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Many workers struggle with stressful conditions, resulting in work burnout. While studies have examined issues revolving around working from home, research on hybrid work environment is lacking, particularly in Malaysian contexts. This study aims to examine work burnout issues faced by language lecturers in a hybrid work landscape.
Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed in this study. An adapted Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was administered online to 130 language lecturers from two public universities in Selangor through a random sampling procedure. To determine levels of personal, work-related, and colleague-related burnout, data were analysed using descriptive statistics analyses which were conducted on SPSS Version 29.
Findings: The findings revealed that personal and work-related burnout are perceived as sometimes contributing to burnout. Conversely, colleague-related burnout is perceived less frequently, suggesting minimal impact on burnout in interactions with colleagues. The overall low burnout levels suggest that hybrid working could be an effective arrangement for educators in the long run.
Contributions: The insights gained on work burnout among language lecturers will be particularly useful in manoeuvring work effectively in academia, hoping to address issues within the UN SDG Goal 3, where good health and well-being would be the focus.
Keywords: Work-life balance, hybrid workplace, burnout, academia, language lecturers
Visualizing tourism translation literature (2002-2023): A bibliometric review
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: With the rapid development of tourism, language plays a significant role in influencing a tourist’s decisions when planning their trip, especially if they do not speak the language of the destination. Given the critical nature of information in the tourism industry, translating tourism materials for international tourists becomes essential. However, there has been limited bibliometric review on the issue. Thus, this bibliometric review aims to comprehend the existing literature and provide a visualized profile for various themes by analyzing hotspots, emerging trends, and the evolution of tourism translation studies.
Methodology: A bibliometric review was conducted using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The review utilized CiteSpace software to generate a scientific knowledge map and visually analyzed 2764 research articles on tourism translation published in CNKI over the past 21 years (from 2002 to 2023). The analysis encompassed time, author, and institution mapping, keyword clustering, and the identification of emerging words.
Findings: The findings indicated that the study of tourism translation had sparked researchers’ enthusiasm, resulting in a general increase in the number of articles. Furthermore, various theoretical frameworks, including Skopos theory, Translation Aesthetics theory, and Adaptation theory, have been extensively analyzed in tourism texts. Although significant progress has been made in the exploration of translation strategies, there is still considerable room for advancement in terms of research methodology and perspective.
Contributions: This bibliometric review contributes to the advancement of knowledge in tourism translation, helps shape future research directions, and offers practical guidance for industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers involved in the tourism sector.
Keywords: Chinese-English translation, tourism translation, visual analysis, tourism materials, CiteSpace
Cognitive strategy use and self-regulation as mediators between personality and academic achievement among Chinese undergraduates in Malaysia
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, their academic achievements are rapidly gaining attention. This study aims to look into the relationship between the big five personality traits and academic achievement in Chinese undergraduate students in Malaysia. It also aims to investigate if cognitive strategy use and self-regulation have a mediation effect on these personality traits.
Methodology: The 44-item Five Inventory and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were used as the instrument. Respondents were picked from year 2 to year 4 at six private universities in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 430 valid surveys were gathered using stratified random sampling. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for data analysis.
Findings: Findings showed a significant direct effect of the big five personality traits in terms of agreeableness on academic achievement. The full structural model is valid, reliable and fits well with the data. There is a mediation effect of the cognitive strategy use in the relationship between the big five personality (except extraversion trait) and academic achievement. Additionally, self-regulation mediates conscientiousness and academic achievement, openness to experience traits and academic achievement.
Contributions: This study developed measurement scales for the measurement model and a full structural model based on two mediators.
Keywords: Self-regulated learning strategy, cognitive strategy use, self-regulation, big five personality, academic achievement