Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS) (Journal of UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)
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THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONALITY AND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY ON ESL LEARNERS' WORD CONTRIBUTIONS IN FACE-TO-FACE AND SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE FORUMS
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Recent technological advancements and Covid-19 pandemic have prompted more opportunities for online learning. However, there is a dearth of empirical research that is focused on high school students. Therefore, this study aims to obtain a more comprehensive view of ESL learners’ involvement or word contributions in a ‘normal’ face-to-face situation and in a synchronous online text-based environment by relating it to their personality and language proficiency.
Methodology: In this study, a quasi-experiment was carried out over four weeks. It involved eight sessions of face-to-face and online discussions with 48 Malaysian high school students who were divided into two matched-sample groups. The participants' feedback was used to support and provide insights on the findings. The quantitative data were analysed using using IBM SPSS statistics 26 software while the participants’ responses to the online feedback session were analysed using open coding and axial coding strategies.
Findings: Statistically significant difference was found in learners’ word contributions during face-to-face and online discussions. Apart from the extroverts with high-intermediate language proficiency, the other groups of learners who are either introverts or having lower level language proficiency were found to produce significantly more words in synchronous online text-based discussions. The non-face-to-face context of online forums might have lowered the learners’ level of anxiety and increased their confidence to interact with their peers.
Contributions: Learners’ personalities and language proficiency levels should be considered when choosing a discussion setting and when facilitating discussion activities. More support should be provided for the less proficient or introverted learners to express themselves in a face-to-face discussion.
Keywords: Personality, Language proficiency, Computer-mediated communication, Synchronous text-based online discussions, Word contributions
Cite as: Chew, S. Y., & Ng, L. L. (2021). The influence of personality and language proficiency on ESL learners' word contributions in face-to-face and synchronous online forums. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 199-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp199-22
THE IMPACT OF CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK ON IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS’ WRITING COMPLEXITY, ACCURACY, AND FLUENCY
Get PDFBackground/Purpose: Corrective feedback (CF) has gained considerable importance in language teaching research recently. However, less attention has been paid to its use in an Iranian context. This study aims to investigate the impact of CF on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ Complexity (C), Accuracy (A), and Fluency (F) in their writing production.
Methodology: After administering an Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT), the researcher selected 30 Iranian intermediate learners at a private English language institute in Isfahan, Iran and divided them into two groups of 15 randomly. An Oxford placement test was run to ensure the two groups were homogenous. Writing tasks were developed to examine the participants’ writing performance. The experimental group attended the class in which CF was performed, and they received feedback from the teachers and their partners in the class (by crossing out and explaining) during the writing tasks on how to use the correct forms of the words and tenses. The control group attended the class in which CF was performed briefly. At the end of the study, all subjects participated in paragraph writing. A test analysis was performed to compare the group means for the study. The difference between the experimental and the control groups was important.
Findings: Independent and sample t-tests revealed that the participants in the experimental group outperformed the ones in the control group in writing production. The results indicated that the participants who received CF did better than those who did not. Therefore, the findings generally revealed that CF significantly affected Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency.
Contributions: This study has multiple benefits for language learners and teachers. Utilizing CF in writing classes can be a practical way to improve students’ proficiency and writing skills. In addition, this study draws attention to the Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF) of written production.
Keywords: Corrective feedback, complexity, accuracy, fluency, Iranian Intermediate EFL learners
USING GOOGLE SEARCH FOR ENGLISH GRAMMAR LEARNING
Get PDFBackground/Purpose: Second/foreign language learners face problems with correct word usage, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation fluency. This paper responds to one of these problems by investigating the impact of strategic Google Search on Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ grammar learning.
Methodology: Sixty Iranian intermediate EFL learners from a private English language institute in Isfahan, Iran, were selected and randomly divided into two groups. To find which areas of grammar are most problematic among the participants, a multiple-choice grammar pretest validated by five English experts was given to them. Then, 10 questions most participants answered wrongly were selected as the most challenging. During 10 class sessions, the participants were taught to select the correct choice through Google Search. Each participant in the class had a laptop connected to the internet. The researcher taught them how to search on Google strategically, and the participants found out that there are some grammatically wrong sentences on Google sites, and they should not trust them. They learned how to search strategically for the correct choices. At the end of the sessions, they answered a posttest containing different questions but in the same grammatical areas. The pretest and posttest were conducted while the participants were connected to internet sites.
Findings: Data analysis was done using a t-test using SPSS software, and a statistically significant difference was revealed. The findings showed that participants who were taught how to use Google Search strategically performed better in the posttest. Therefore, the results revealed that correct Google Search improved the Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ grammar knowledge.
Contributions: This study has several implications for both language learners and teachers regarding the use of the Google platform for English grammar learning. In addition, it contributes to the body of knowledge that strategic Google Search not only improves the Iranian EFL learners’ English grammar but also makes them less dependent on teachers, thus promoting autonomous learning.
Keywords: Google search, EFL learners, grammar learning, intermediate EFL learners, Iran, web-based instruction
DEVELOPING SHARIAH COMPLIANT CORPORATION: AN APPRAISAL ON THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF MEMBERS UNDER THE MALAYSIA LAW AND SHARIAH
Get PDFShareholders are members of a company through share capital ownership. They proclaim themselves as “owners” although they have no direct involvement in business management which is wholly vested in the board of directors. In Malaysia, shareholders merely receive bundles of right in the company as prescribed under the Companies Act 2016. Due to the separate legal existence of a company, they are not liable for the company’s debts and liabilities. Contrarily, under Shariah, musharakah is a partnership agreement between individual partners for participation in capital and profits. It essentially regards them as the joint owners of musharakah, treating their existence inseparable from this business entity. The partners collectively share mutual rights and duties in the musharakah business according to their contractual agreement which makes them jointly liable for any liabilities incurred by the musharakah. This article discusses the rights and liabilities of members of a company under Malaysia Law and Shariah. It highlights the substantial distinctions between the shareholders’ rights and liabilities under the Companies Act 2016 and those of partners under musharakah. This article argues that an inculcation of Shariah principles of musharakah into the current legal structure of corporation is needed so that the Shariah-compliant status is always maintained.
Keywords: Company, Malaysia, members’ rights and liabilities, Musharakah, rights and liabilities in Musharakah, separate legal entity.
Cite as: Haji Mohiddin, M. N., Abdul Ghadas, Z. A., & Ramli, N. (2021). Developing shariah compliant corporation: An appraisal on the rights and liabilities of members under the Malaysia law and shariah. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 59-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp59-7
TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MALAYSIA
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of technical efficiency of Malaysia’s secondary education. Education efficiency has become an important issue since the education sector is the recipient of high priority budget allocation. An evaluation of whether the budget distribution for secondary education is technically efficient is necessary because secondary education represents almost 40% of the national education budget.
Methodology: The study applied the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in examining the level of technical efficiency for a sample of 626 secondary schools from four selected states, namely, Selangor, Melaka, Kedah, and Terengganu. The sample was further split into schools from developed and less developed states, and urban and rural areas.
Findings: The results revealed that secondary schools in the four sample states were technically inefficient (almost 98%). Most schools were at a moderate level of technical efficiency (score range between 0.5-0.79). Interestingly, schools in rural areas and less-developed states showed better technical efficiency than those in urban areas and developed states. Given the government's total expenditure, academic achievement could be increased by almost 30 percent with an improvement in inefficiency.
Contributions: The study's fundamental implications are that inefficient secondary schools need to increase their efficiency by ensuring effective budget spending and adequate expenditure distribution monitoring. More schools need to be constructed or repaired, and old schools/buildings upgraded. The sector also needs to expedite compliance with the 17:1 student-teacher ratio set by the Education Ministry to improve teaching delivery quality.
Keywords: Data envelopment analysis, government spending, secondary school, student and teacher ratio, technical efficiency.
Cite as: Baba, R., Abdul Karim, Z., Abdul-Majid, M., & Sulaiman, N. (2021). Technical efficiency of secondary schools in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 265-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp265-28
THE EFFECTS OF CULTURAL BASED TEXT TYPES IN READING COMPREHENSION
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: This research aims to investigate the effects of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural based text types on reading comprehension.
Methodology: An exploratory case study research design was employed to explore the use of cultural schemata in reading comprehension of three types of cultural text format: narrative, descriptive and info graphic. The purposive sampling method was used to select participants based on their ethnicities, English proficiency level, and their scores in prior knowledge assessment and retelling assessment. A total of 15 students, between 11- 12 years old, were selected. The retelling technique in written form, a comprehension test and an interview protocol were used as instruments to gather data in this research and they were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Findings: The overall findings have shown that the comprehension test scores showed better performance in info graphic texts. However, the retelling assessment scores showed better performance in retelling narrative texts. The participants’ main reason for text incomprehensibility was due to the unfamiliar cultural content regardless of the types of text format
.
Contributions: This study aids teachers in their pedagogical decisions when selecting and adapting cultural texts for reading comprehension
Keywords: Comprehension test, cultural schemata, reading comprehension, retelling assessment, text types.
Cite as: Thirunavukarasu, I., & Raja Harun, R. N. S. (2021). The effects of cultural based text types in reading comprehension. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 1-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp1-2
DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMME (DLP): MEDIATING EFFECTS OF READINESS, INTEREST AND CONFIDENCE ON STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Most research on Dual Language Programme (DLP) in Malaysia mainly focused on the teachers’ perceptions or challenges faced in implementing the programme in schools and only a few concentrated on the receiver of this programme – the students. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap by examining factors which affect students’ satisfaction of DLP programme.
Methodology: In this study, 105 DLP students from secondary schools in Pekan, Pahang, a state in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, answered a four-point Likert scale questionnaire, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The questionnaire was first assessed by experts and after that, went through a pilot test. The Cronbach’s Alpha value recorded was 0.862. The data obtained were then analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).
Findings: Findings indicate that the path coefficient of readiness to interest, readiness to confidence, and interest to student satisfaction are significant. However, the path coefficient for confidence and readiness to student satisfaction were not significant since p-value > 0.05. In testing mediation, interest did mediate the relationship between readiness and student satisfaction with full mediation while confidence did not mediate the relationship between readiness and student satisfaction.
Contributions: The contributions of this study lie in its empirical findings in understanding students’ satisfaction towards DLP programme in Malaysia. Additionally, it suggests the need for pragmatic and humanistic pedagogy in teaching Science and Mathematics in English.
Keywords: Dual language programme (DLP), student satisfaction, Structural Equation Modelling, mediation, Science and Mathematics in English, Malaysia
OCEAN LITERACY OF PRIMARY STUDENTS OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Human impacts on marine ecosystems have recently intensified as the population and pressures increase. Human-originated pollutants of all kinds have impacted the oceans and marine ecosystems. Oil spills, sewage, plastics, chemicals, garbage, carbon dioxide, and overfishing are the most challenging issues. It is known that school students are the future generation; they receive their information at school. Therefore, it is essential to assess students' knowledge and awareness regarding ocean-related issues.
Methodology: Based on the seven ocean literacy principles, this study investigated the ocean literacy (OL) of primary school students at international schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Resources from which children get information about the oceans were also investigated. Finally, the study investigated the attitudes of primary school students towards learning oceanography, protecting the oceans, and the relationship between humans and the environment. A questionnaire had been adapted from the Survey of Ocean Literacy and Experience (SOLE) and the Survey of Ocean Stewardship (SOS). The SOLE and SOS surveys were originally developed by Greely (2008). However, due to students' grade level and time issues, the number of questionnaire items was reduced and simplified. The questionnaire was distributed in two separate sessions. Students from three international schools, boys' sections, received the survey. 120 students answered the SOLE, and 102 students answered the SOS.
Findings: The results indicated a rather moderate level of ocean literacy among participants, with a mean score of 12.56 (SD= 5.18) concerning the SOLE and a mean score of 3.30 (SD= 1.12) concerning the SOS. As for information resources, the results indicated that the education program was the students’ main source of education, and television channels came second.
Contributions: Students of Riyadh International Primary Schools showed a positive attitude toward ocean stewardship. The study can help policymakers, curriculum developers, and textbook authors better understand the level of ocean literacy among students and make decisions to develop school curricula, especially in the efforts to align with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). It also corresponds to the 2020-2030 vision in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Ocean Literacy level, ocean Sciences materials, Saudi Arabia learners' attitudes
MALAYSIAN NETIZENS’ PERCEPTIONS OF 1MDB: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: This article analyses the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) political scandal as a case study to examine how an issue is discursively shaped online by netizens’ perceptions of the scandal. The study has two objectives: firstly, to explore netizens’ perceptions of 1MDB and how they reacted to the news reported based on the online exposés appearing throughout 2015. Secondly, it aims to examine whether the discourse regarding 1MDB among netizens on an online platform, The Malaysian Insider Facebook page, meets the characteristics of a practical discourse in an online context, as proposed by Jurgen Habermas.
Methodology: A total of 1950 Facebook comments related to 210 1MDB articles in 2015 were analysed. The articles were linked and published by The Malaysia Insider Facebook page. The analysis was conducted using thematic analysis via NVivo software to explore the perceptions of the selected netizens about 1MDB and how the online discourse on 1MDB matched the characteristics proposed by Jurgen Habermas for practical online discourse.
Findings: Four themes emerged, namely Najib as the Prime Minister, the 1MDB Debate Controversy, the Opposition position on 1MDB and the investigation of the 1MDB scandal. Based on the online discourse, it was evident that consumption of 1MDB news on Facebook led Malaysian netizens to form their own perceptions of the scandal. The emergent themes also illustrate that the online discourse met the characteristics of practical discourse suggested by Jurgen Habermas.
Contributions: This empirical contribution fills a gap in the current knowledge as few studies have been conducted on the online discourse of the 1MDB political scandal among Malaysian netizens. Currently, no research is documented on the 1MDB political scandal from the netizens’ perspective other than the first author’s PhD thesis. This research is, therefore, beneficial to new media studies as researchers normally investigate or explore a specific issue when it has a conclusion; here, a risk was taken to conduct the study while 1MDB was still under investigation.
Keywords: 1MDB, 2015, Najib Razak, netizens, Malaysia.
Cite as: Mohd Nor, N. H., & Baharuddin, Z. (2021). Malaysian netizens’ perceptions of 1MDB: A thematic analysis. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 351-372. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp351-37
VIRTUAL DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN MANDARIN TEACHING: A REVIEW
Get PDFDifferentiated instruction, also known as differentiated learning, is a teaching philosophy that considers the needs of all students, including when they are in a virtual learning environment. Virtual strategies and differentiated instruction could be tailored to every learner’s needs and are more convincing than the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach to teaching. Virtual differentiated instruction shows concerns about students’ existence, encouraging engagement while fulfilling the needs of high-performance students. However, there is little information regarding the application of virtual differentiated instruction by teachers. Besides, teachers might not regularly adapt instruction to students’ specific characteristics. Hence, this research intends to determine the status of differentiated instruction’s implementation in Mandarin virtual learning. The review demonstrates that educators are aware of the existence and importance of differentiated instruction. The practice of differentiated instruction is growing among Mandarin educators, with voices urging proper training and guidance for its realisation. Of late, Mandarin researchers have been focusing on technology-enhanced learning. Scholars have directly or indirectly been applying the differentiated instruction approach in their teaching practices, positively impacting students’ learning. Nevertheless, some discrepancies need to be considered in ensuring its success. Understanding differentiated instruction in Mandarin virtual classes can help instructors adopt the approach efficiently with attuned strategies to cater to students’ diversity. It could also provide ideas to other educators on differentiating their teaching strategies to enhance students’ learning performances.
Keywords: Differentiated instruction, virtual learning, Mandarin foreign language, technology-enhance learning, students’ diversity