Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS) (Journal of UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)
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21st-century learning: Understanding the language learning strategies with technology literacy among L2 learners
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The study concerns investigating the learning of English in the 21st-century when digital learning platforms were used in assigning writing activities to students. Specifically, the use of the media was related to the Language Learning Strategies (LLS), namely metacognitive, cognitive, and social strategies classified by O'Malley et al. (1985) with the learning in the 21st-century.
Methodology: The study employed a qualitative research design to collect responses from 72 engineering students studying at a technical university on the East Coast of Malaysia. An open-ended questionnaire was used to collect the responses from the participants and was validated by the researcher's colleague. Reliability was also taken care of in that verbatim reporting was observed in writing the current study's findings. Data were analysed using codes and themes formulated before they were reported.
Findings: The study found that students used metacognitive strategies to check their language in the writing tasks. It was evident that Grammarly, Quillbot, and Google translate, to name a few, were used to check their writing. It was also reported that they linked new information to visual concepts in terms of cognitive strategies. Specifically, they used deduction methods to ensure they understood the sentences they composed. For social strategy, digital platforms, namely WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Discord, were among the common platforms used by the students. The study confirmed that the students demonstrated strong technology literacy as they could use multi-digital platforms to complete the writing tasks.
Contributions: The study identifies the LLS employed by English as a Second Language (ESL) learners in 21st-century-learning. Also, it contributes to providing techniques that English practitioners can use in their writing classes.
Keywords: 21st-century learning, Language Learning Strategies (LLS), technology literacy
Truancy among school children: Reasons and counselling experiences
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Truancy is one of the top discipline problems in Malaysia and the national prevalence of truancy indicates a significant number of students are truant. Counselling at school aims at helping schoolchildren in personality development and discipline. This qualitative study aims to research the experiences of counselling on schoolchildren who were reported for truancy.
Methodology: The research participants involved ten schoolchildren who had played truant and were required to participate in counselling sessions. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and diary entries on two occasions for each participant. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes related to the participants’ experiences.
Findings: The findings showed that the reasons for truancy among the school children involve self and relationship with others. After being in sessions with school counsellors, the children reported being more responsible, which included behavioural, emotional and goal-based changes. The relationship with the school counsellor allowed them to experience belongingness, which supported them in choosing positive behaviour, emotions and goals, which is related to having a sense of responsibility.
Contributions: This paper argues that engaging in counselling with a school counsellor helped the schoolchildren to make responsible decisions about their behaviour, emotions and goals. The most important factor is the “relearning experience” in promoting responsibility among schoolchildren.
Keywords: Qualitative research, truancy, belongingness, school counselling, responsibility
Malay dialect variants in Langkawi: A diachronic perspective analysis
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Dialectical studies scrutinised the closeness, kinship or genealogy of dialects derived from a language. Previous scholars divide Malay dialects in Peninsular Malaysia into four main clusters. The first cluster are the Johor-Melaka-Selangor and Central Perak. The second cluster is a group that spreads from the Patani region covering the Patani-Kelantan-Terengganu dialect. The third is the Negeri Sembilan cluster, and the fourth is the Kedah dialect. Generally, the Kedah dialect is divided into seven groups, covering Kedah (including Langkawi), Perlis, Penang and northern Perak Taiping. This study aims to investigate the Malay dialect variants in Langkawi Island via the Historical Linguistics approach and qualitative comparison research design.
Methodology: This study utilised the qualitative research method. A total of 23 native speakers of Langkawi Malay dialect participated in this study. These informants were selected using NORM (an acronym for non-mobile, older, rural and males). Data collection mainly used several techniques such as interviews, recordings, and observations. The data were analysed based on the scope of comparative linguistics.
Findings: The findings show that there are five characteristics of separated innovation between the Kuah and Air Hangat variants in one group and the Kedawang variant in other groups. Furthermore, there are nine innovations that separate the Langkawi Malay dialect from the Proto Malayik language. This study indicates that the Kedawang variant is an earlier variant apart from the Kuah and Air Hangat variants.
Contributions: In addition to further strengthen the research on the various dialects spoken in Malaysia, this study attempts to highlight the complete description of the Kedah dialect varieties. This study also contributes to the science of Malay language variants and Malay Dialectology studies.
Keywords: Historical linguistics, reconstruction, innovation, Langkawi Island, Malay dialect
Fundamental elements in sustaining inter-religious harmonious relations under Islamic perspectives in the age of new media
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Inter-religious harmony is crucial in maintaining peaceful co-existence and national stability of a multiracial and multi-religious society. The existence of minor racial or religious tension in the society can escalate to a crisis and jeopardise inter-religious relations in this age of new media. The failure to preserve religious harmony may expose the society to conflict and chaos. Thus, this article aims to discuss and elaborate the fundamental elements in sustaining harmony among multi-religious society from Islamic perspective in the age of new media.
Methodology: This research employs the qualitative research design. The research method used is content analysis, and the library data that comprises the physical and online books and articles on topics related to religious harmony and new media, was collected from the years 2010 until 2021. Using deductive reasoning, the challenges of new media in the area were identified and solutions proposed.
Findings: The findings indicated that the challenges of interreligious harmony in the age of new media are the rapid spread of atheism, religious pluralism, misperception of a religion due to its intra-faith issues, mistaken identity of a religionist versus racist, misunderstanding of ‘izzah as arrogance and misrepresentation of Islam. These challenges can be reduced by applying the fundamental elements to sustain interreligious harmony in Islamic perspective, namely ta`āruf (knowing each other), tafāhum (mutual understanding), ta`āwun (mutual cooperation), takāful (mutual protection), tasāmuḥ (mutual tolerant) and acceptance. Besides, Muslim educators or murabbiyun have to be the prosumers of the new media to continuously teach Islam, and instil iman and adab among fellow Muslims.
Contributions: This article contributes to the foundation of peaceful co-existence in a multi-religious context because the fundamental elements discussed form the basis of fiqh al-ta’ayush or the understanding of co-existence, especially in the age of new media.
Keywords: Basis of religious harmony, inter-religious relation in Islam, fiqh al-ta’amul, fiqh al-ta’ayush, religions in the age of new media
Indo-Pak standoff 2019: A critical discourse analysis of selected tweets from inter-services public relations
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Social Networking Services (SNS), especially Twitter, have been an increasingly popular communication medium, especially in political transformation. This research analyses the language of tweets by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) of Pakistan, shared during the recent standoff between India and Pakistan on the issue of the Pulwama Attack in February 2019 and the Revocation of Article 370 by the Indian Government in August 2019.
Methodology: The present research examines the linguistic techniques, and micro and macro approaches used in the discourse of tweets by DG ISPR on the said issues. Selection of vocabulary, tone of the message, and emotion in the discourse are studied through Ideological Square Model under the umbrella of CDA, with the aid of NVivo 12 Plus, to inspect the magnitude of the impact of linguistic memorandums from authoritative institutes.
Findings: This study has revealed that the impeccable choice of vocabulary by ISPR adequately represented the Military of Pakistan, nationally and internationally, and has brought a state of tranquility at the time of standoff between two rival countries. This research argues that the discourse in tweets by DG ISPR represented Pakistan as a peaceful country but determinedly ready to defend its homeland during external enmity.
Contributions: This study contributes a better understanding of the subtle ways in which language plays an essential role in creating political polarisation and constructing or manipulating reality while consolidating power struggle, discrimination, prejudice and inequality in society.
Keywords: Pakistan military, Kashmir, ISPR, tweets, CDA, Ideological Square Mode
Contributions of Islamic finance in the economic development of Turkey: A review
Get PDFWorld Bank data (2009-2019) provides that Turkey has been facing economic development challenges in terms of GDP growth rate, GDP per capita, inflation rate, unemployment rate, and youth unemployment rate during the last decade. Though 2020 data is not yet available, 2019 data depicted a very challenging year for Turkey. This paper aims to review the challenges in the economic development of Turkey and provide the solutions by applying the notions of participatory finance (Islamic finance) for the development of the economic growth, per capita income, inflation rate, unemployment rate, and the youth unemployment rate of Turkey. This study applied a critical literature review analysis to explore the challenges. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development reported that Turkey observed a worsening asset quality of the banking sector, deleveraging by lenders, unstable market, reduced investor confidence, and shallow public and private investment in 2019. Similarly, the conventional finance literature illustrated prudent strategic financial decisions support in improving these issues. However, the Islamic finance literature demonstrated that interest-free financial mechanisms are comparatively more resilient and supported a sustainable economic development. Though the contributions of the participation (Islamic) finance are poor due to its size, this mechanism of finance has enormous prospect of contributions to the Turkey’s economy as demonstrated in other countries. The current Turkish government supports participation (Islamic) banking and expects to reach 15% assets by 2025.
Keywords: Economic development, Islamic finance, interest-free, economic development
English teachers’ attitude and challenges in facing immediate online teaching: A case study in Vietnam
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Early 21st century saw great changes in all fields of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Education worldwide has to suffer from many difficulties when schools are forced to close down for safety. In Vietnam, online teaching has been applied in most of cities and provinces where COVID-19 pandemic has been serious. The implementation of remote teaching in a large quantity of schools was first seen in 2021. However, not many studies have been found on massive immediate online teaching. Due to the fact that a thorough understanding of online teaching in English language teaching is necessary for better online teaching to be delivered in the near future, this study aims to investigate English teachers’ attitudes towards online teaching and their challenges.
Methodology: This study was designed as a qualitative case study. Nine English teachers from the primary schools and high schools were invited to participate in the semi-interviews. The research instrument used was the in-depth interviews, in which the questions were adapted from the previous studies. Data were generated using codes and analysed in themes.
Findings: The findings revealed that COVID-19 is the main factor forcing English teachers to equip themselves with knowledge and skills for online teaching. It was found that English teachers in Vietnam were reluctant to conduct remote language teaching due to the lack of knowledge and skills of integrating technology in education, facilities, teaching condition, and parents’ interference.
Contributions: The study concludes that English teachers in Vietnam experience hardship with the remote teaching and their challenges. With such understanding, it is suggested that instant support for teachers and continuous training should be provided to reduce the hardship and improve teachers’ skills in conducting online teaching.
Keywords: English teaching, online teaching, teachers’ attitude, teacher training, educational technology
The correlation between school climate dimensions and teacher well-being in Malaysian indigenous schools
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Teaching at indigenous schools located in rural and outskirt areas is no small feat. Therefore, the teachers at these schools require a consistent and supportive school climate to enhance teacher well-being. As such, this study examines the relationship between the dimensions of school climate and well-being of teachers. It also discusses the application of five dimensions of school climate, namely collaboration, student relations, school resources, decision-making, and instructional innovation.
Methodology: Data for this quantitative study was gathered via a set of questionnaires. A total of 291 teachers from indigenous schools along the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, which are Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang participated in this study. A descriptive analysis of the findings was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while an inferential analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM.
Findings: The empirical results show a significantly positive correlation between the five previously mentioned dimensions of school climate and teacher well-being.
Contributions: The findings of this study affirm the relative importance of school climate and its impact on teacher well-being. This study is significant for the Ministry of Education, indigenous school administrators, teachers, as well as policymakers in developing suitable strategies to improve the school climate and teacher well-being in Malaysian indigenous schools.
Keywords: Teacher well-being, collaboration, student relations, school resources, decision-making, instructional innovation
Investigating the impact of derivational morphology in foreign language acquisition: A case study
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Second language (L2) learners have been observed making generation errors, i.e., derivational morphology, in the prospects of learning another language by translating it into their mother tongue. This research has studied these errors in L2 regarding derivational morphology.
Methodology: This study was designed as descriptive research, using a quantitative approach to collect data. The respondents in this research are a total of 100 undergraduates who volunteered to take part, comprising 50 from the second semester, and 50 from the fourth semester who majored in French, and had been chosen using a purposive sampling method. The current study contained an expanded instrument that included each of the four sentences from each of the fourfold or more distractors, comprising 108 items. The affectability of learners to the use of these structures in an unfavourable syntactic situation was tested by crossing derivationally related suffixed shapes with their bases. Data obtained from the 108 item questionnaires was analysed inferentially using ANOVA and t-test.
Findings: Results showed that learners were dissatisfied with the presence or absence of postfixes, implying that generation errors are a problem of performance rather than competence.
Contributions: The current study discovered a gap between the creation of defined and curved structures, confirming phonetic hypotheses that differentiate these two morphological mechanisms. Moreover, this study suggested that the root structures and inferred frames are vulnerable to the area of an incidental postfix and to the nonattendance of a requisite one. Effects are greater at higher levels, suggesting that syntactic knowledge starts to improve in advanced learners.
Keywords: Derivational morphology, language interference, bilingualism, translation, language teaching
Humanizing mobile online ESL blended learning model
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has given a massive proliferation of technology, particularly in education, redefining language learning from face-to-face (F2F) and off-classroom known as blended learning (BL) to a new kind in online distance learning/education (ODL/E). BL is now a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning. The shift, however impressive it may appear, does not guarantee the effectiveness of the learning process. The gap that leads to the current study is how bibliometrics has shown minimal focus on undergraduates’ acceptance of these changes, especially in English as a Second Language (ESL) learning classes to the newly embraced online BL (OBL) and how humanistic values are important in ESL lessons. Thus the study sets out to understand several issues pertaining to the use of mobile communication devices as a learning tool in ESL MoBL.
Methodology: The present study is a mixed-method research approach using a sequential exploratory design. A set of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaires was distributed to understand 264 teacher-trainers, degree and diploma students’ inclination towards ESL mobile learning platforms after a semester of mobile open blended learning (MoBL) integration, whilst side-lining the unnecessary information of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). Interviews based on Analysis, Design, Assess, and Belief (ADAB) Model further enriched the data on the humanisation aspects of MoBL.
Findings: Findings showed that learners’ inclination to the new MoBL can be affected by gender, age, and maturity. Thus to implement a more humanistic learning modification demands a thorough understanding of students’ needs.
Contributions: The novelty of these findings is the sampling contrasting both degree and diploma students along with teacher-trainees’ perceptions of humanistic values in OBL highlights the effects of, age, maturity and gender on technology in education. This paper suggests a discussion on the humanistic MoBL model for ESL learners. The future implication of the findings suggests age, maturity, and gender affect students’ inclination towards the new MoBL, and pushes the need for more humanistic essences in MoBL.
Keywords: Education, ESL and ELT, humanistic values, mobile learning model, online blended learning, and open distance learning