Journal of Language and Literature Studies
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203 research outputs found
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Exploring Language Acquisition Development in the Second Cycle of Education in Venezuela: Challenges and Opportunities
No full textThis study examines language acquisition in Venezuela's second cycle of education, a critical stage for students aged 12 to 15 as they solidify their proficiency in Spanish and begin to expand their skills in English. This research is vital as it investigates how these methods prepare students for secondary education and a globalized world. The qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations with teachers, administrators, and students to understand the effectiveness of current teaching practices and the challenges faced. The findings reveal a blend of traditional and modern teaching methods in Venezuelan classrooms, particularly the integration of direct instruction and grammar drills with communicative language teaching (CLT). This combination was effective in addressing diverse student needs, particularly in developing strong Spanish language skills. However, the variability in English language proficiency highlighted significant challenges, particularly related to resource limitations and socio-economic disparities. Teachers reported that while traditional methods provided a strong linguistic foundation, the effectiveness of CLT was often hindered by external factors such as inadequate resources and varying levels of student exposure to English outside of school. The study's conclusions emphasize the need for broader educational reforms to address these systemic issues, particularly the need for updated resources, greater access to technology, and enhanced professional development for teachers. The research suggests that while current methodologies are sound, their effectiveness is limited by external constraints. To better prepare students for the globalized world, these challenges must be addressed. Future studies should focus on exploring the impact of socio-economic factors on language acquisition outcomes and the effectiveness of integrating technology in language instruction
Digital Literacy Integrated with Blended Learning in Improving EFL Students’ English Language Skills: A Lesson Learned from the Independent Campus Program
No full textThe integration of digital literacy into educational practices has garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly in the context of language learning. Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create information using various digital technologies. Given its growing importance, this study sought to evaluate the impact of digital literacy competence on improving English language skills through blended learning in the Independent Campus Program at Ichsan Sidenreng Rappang University. Employing a quantitative experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design, the study gathered data through English language tests and questionnaires. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in students’ English skills, with the pretest average score of 31.7 rising to 84.7 in the posttest. The Paired Sample t-test confirmed the statistical significance of this difference (p-value = 0.000). Additionally, the Pearson correlation test revealed a moderate positive relationship between digital literacy and English proficiency (r = 0.456), indicating that students with higher digital literacy competencies tended to perform better in English. These findings underscore the significant role that digital literacy plays in enhancing language skills, particularly when integrated with technology-based learning approaches. For future research, further studies could explore the long-term impact of digital literacy on language acquisition, the effectiveness of various digital tools in language learning, and how digital literacy interacts with other factors, such as motivation and learning styles, to influence language proficiency. Additionally, expanding the research to include diverse educational settings and student populations could provide a broader understanding of digital literacy’s role in language education
Unpacking Identity Dynamics of the Main Character in the Novel Kimchi Confessions: Implications for Multicultural Education
No full textThe identity dynamics of a main character in a novel refer to how their sense of self, values, beliefs, and overall identity evolve throughout the narrative. These dynamics are shaped by psychological, emotional, and social factors, which influence how the character perceives themselves and is perceived by others. This process often occurs in response to the conflicts, experiences, or challenges the character faces. In literature, such transformations serve as powerful tools for examining broader societal themes, such as belonging, cultural assimilation, and personal growth. This research aims to analyze the identity dynamics of the main character in Kimchi Confessions by Xaviera Putri, exploring its implications for multicultural education in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative research method, this study uses a descriptive analysis approach to gain a deep understanding of the main character's identity development. The data source for this study is Kimchi Confessions, a novel inspired by Xaviera Putri’s personal experiences living in South Korea during her high school years. Published in 2023 by Gagas Media, the novel spans 200 pages. Data analysis is conducted using a discourse analysis approach to identify how the main character’s identity is represented throughout the narrative. The findings reveal that Xaviera’s experiences emphasize the importance of multicultural education in promoting cross-cultural understanding and inclusivity in Indonesia. This study highlights how literature can serve as a tool for fostering empathy and cultural awareness, suggesting that further research into identity dynamics in contemporary literature can enhance educational practices and societal integration
Unveiling Melodies: Navigating Issues in African Oral Literature through Nkem Okoh's Preface to Oral Literature
No full textThe oral literature in Africa has not been taken seriously. The implication is that assertion is a fear of its death as many scholars in Africa have given it less attention. To address the gap and deepen the conversation, this study explored Nkem Okoh's Preface to Oral Literature shedding light on its perspective on the ongoing discussions about oral literature in Africa. The goal is to offer a detailed understanding and assessment of African oral literature, using this text as a case study. The analysis relies on postcolonial criticism and a qualitative research approach. Two key questions guide the research: How does Preface to Oral Literature contribute to debates on the form and nature of oral literature in Africa, especially concerning identity reclamation and anticolonialism? How does it criticize Euro-western scholars and their distorted views of Africa as a dark continent, contributing to the wider discourse on oral literature in Africa? The findings highlight challenges in the study of African oral literature, including issues related to naming, etymology, nomenclature, the fundamental nature of oral literature, discussions on aligning it with folklore, ownership and royalty dynamics, and the debate between evolutionist and relativist perspectives. The impact of Western biases on the analysis of African oral literature and challenges linked to understanding the consequences of the changing global literary landscape on the status of oral literature in Africa are also emphasized. The study recommends for further research, the need for a comparative analysis and assessment of the contemporary impact of oral literature in African societies
Meta-Analysis: The Effect of Word Search, Wordwall, Crossword, & Scramble Games in Learning English Vocabulary
No full textGames are one way to make learning vocabulary fun, especially with attractive games such as Word search, Wordwall, Crossword, and Scramble. By using the meta-analysis research aimed at reviewing the effect of word search games, wordwall, crossword, and scramble games to improve student vocabulary. The results of the research observed as much as 54 eligible data with the number of participants (N), F-count, t-count and r-count. Data analysis conducted with JASP software simulation shows that the effect of Word Search, Wordwall, Crossword, and Scramble for vocabulary learning is 83% significant, that is in the high category. Based on the Forest Plot, Crosswords have the highest influence value of 1.04% more than word search, wordwall, and scramble this indicate that Crossword games are more effective in learning vocabulary. Subsequently, viewed from the variety of participants, participants with less than (40) have the highest effect with an estimate value of (1.009). The results of this research provide strong evidence regarding the effect of the games in improve students' vocabulary learning. The practical use of these findings can be maximized by educators and adopt policies in designing more effective learning to improve students' vocabulary in learning English
Enhancing EFL Students’ Reading Comprehension by Applying Small Group Discussion at Higher Vocational Education
No full textAt the polytechnic level of vocational education, students learn English as one of the fundamental skills. Improving one's communication abilities is crucial for students seeking higher professional positions in the tourism industry in this age of globalization. This study aims to apply a small group discussion strategy to enhance procedural text reading comprehension. Classroom action research (CAR) was the method used to conduct this study. The four stages were preparation, execution, monitoring, and evaluation. The first cycle's results showed that the students struggled to understand the process material. Among the students, just 53% were able to achieve a score higher than the minimum requirement of 76. Though cycle 2 was successful, there were still issues, such as students who weren't really engaged in their own study. The results of the observation, the questionnaire, and the students' reading scores all verified this. Around 81% of the students were able to meet those success criteria. Students' reading comprehension in the first semester of higher vocational education at the polytechnic was improved through the use of a small group discussion technique
Implementing Diagnostic Assessment in Designing Differentiated Learning for English Language Learning at the Junior High Schools
No full textThe Merdeka Curriculum is an educational framework in Indonesia that emphasizes core subjects, personality development, and student skills. It integrates various assessments, including diagnostic, formative, and summative, to tailor education to individual student needs. Diagnostic assessments, in particular, are used to identify students' strengths and weaknesses, facilitating personalized learning experiences. Therefore, this study focuses on the implementation of diagnostic assessments in designing differentiated learning modules for English language learning in junior high schools in East Lombok. The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers use diagnostic assessments to identify students' learning profiles, interests, and readiness, and how they subsequently design and implement differentiated teaching modules. This qualitative study involves interviews and observations with teachers who are implementing the Merdeka Curriculum. Data were collected through participatory observations and in-depth interviews to understand the practical application. The study revealed that teachers use three main tools for diagnostic assessment: the Quizizz application, the Akupintar.id website, and questionnaires. These tools help identify students' learning profiles and interests at the beginning of the school year. The research also identified five steps to develop differentiated learning modules: assessing students' needs, setting learning objectives, designing learning activities, incorporating different learning styles, and conducting regular formative assessments. Additionally, seven steps were found to be crucial for implementing differentiated learning, including classroom layout, use of varied learning materials, flexible teaching approaches, and regular assessment and feedback. The study can be concluded that the implementation of diagnostic assessments in the Merdeka Curriculum significantly aids in designing effective differentiated learning modules. This approach helps cater to individual student needs, enhancing their learning experiences and outcomes
Lexical and Structural Ambiguities in the Headlines of The Nigerian Tribune and The Punch, 2015-2022
No full textThe primary goal of communication is information sharing for mutual understanding between the sender and the recipient. A news headline is a form of communication that serves as the gist of the main points in the lead. It is written in a more succinctly attention-grabbing manner. It makes the readers curious and piques their interest. However, some of the Nigerian newspaper headlines are ambiguous. They are open to two or more interpretations against the writer’s intended meaning. Therefore, this study investigated the lexical and structural ambiguity in the Nigerian newspapers: The Nigerian Tribune and The Punch. The use of Theory of Meaning by Ludwig Wittgenstein served as the theoretical framework for this study. The data were collected from The Nigerian Tribune and The Punch and qualitatively analysed. Ambiguous headlines were found and their interpretations were given, using the Use Theory of meaning. The study found that ambiguities are frequently used in newspaper headlines due to the polysemous nature of the lexical choices, the dual function of some parts of speech, indexical references and wrong places of prepositional phrases. The analysis showed that these phrases were not placed immediately after their antecedent and thus resulted in ambiguous headlines. The study concluded that headline writers should discontinue using too much ambiguity, to avoid discouraging the readers. The deck, kicker and rider should also be used along with the headlines. Also, the readers are encouraged to contextually study the contents to get the precise and intended message
Constructing Theme and Rheme Positions in Indonesian Humor: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis
No full textHumor is one of the media that provides an interesting aspiration of people. It means comedians and audiences have to know how to imply and understand the real theme to get a good meaning. This study explores the construction of theme and rheme positions in Indonesian humor through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Utilizing the Theme-Rheme theory, the research analyzes various Indonesian clauses to understand how thematic structures contribute to comedic effects. The method involves a detailed breakdown of clauses into their thematic and rhematic components, followed by an examination of how marked and unmarked themes, as well as textual themes, create humor through incongruity and unexpected twists. Practically, the findings reveal that humor often applies from the contrast between serious advice and trivial or absurd explanations, demonstrating that thematic manipulation is crucial in generating comedic effects. This study highlights the effectiveness of the Theme-Rheme framework in analyzing humor and underscores the intricate relationship between language structure and humor
A Comprehensive Analysis of Narrative and Character Elements in The Conjuring (2013) Through Repertoire of Elements and Propp's Theory
No full textThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2013’s movie The Conjuring through Nick Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements and Vladimir Propp’s Narrative Theory. The movie, directed by James Wan, is recognized for its intricate horror narrative and rich character development. By examining the movie’s use of style, iconography, character roles, narrative structure, and setting, this research demonstrated how these elements worked together to create a compelling supernatural experience. Applying Lacey’s theory revealed the movie’s adherence to genre conventions through its dark, atmospheric settings and minimal lighting. Interestingly, the movie did not feature a "false hero", a deviation from Propp's theory, which the movie emphasized the clear moral presented in the story. The absence of this character type suggested a more straightforward narrative focus on the struggle between good and evil, without the complication of betrayal from the protagonist's ranks. In conclusion, The Conjuring Movie's linguistic and visual elements were integral to the movie's ability to engage and terrify its audience. The camera work, lighting, and sound, combined with a well-defined character structure, created a compelling narrative that resonated with viewers, reinforcing the movie's status in the supernatural horror genre