USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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Eudaimonic and Hedonic Tensions: Indonesian Youths’ Ambivalent Stances on Video Consumption and Reading Habits
Get PDFIn recent years, the rise of platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts has significantly increased the consumption of video-based media, surpassing text-based online resources. This study explores the ambivalence of Indonesian youths regarding their consumption of online videos and books for pleasure (hedonic) and personal growth (eudaimonic). Through an analysis of 49 essays written by first-year English major students at a private university, the study employs Voyant Tools and Gee’s Discourse Analysis to examine students’ perspectives on media consumption and the Create a Research Space (CARS) Model to evaluate their writing skills. The findings reveal that most of the essays lean toward neutrality or a combination of sentiments rather than exhibiting extreme positivity or negativity. Discourse analysis categorises their views into five standpoints—positive, negative, neutral, neutral-positive, and neutral-negative—while textual frequency analysis indicates that “Book” has a generally stronger association with academic and intellectual contexts compared to “Video,” which has a lower but still notable correlation with learning-related terms. The study highlights the potential of extensive viewing as more than just a complementary pedagogical strategy for extensive reading. CARS analysis reveals challenges in argumentative writing, particularly in topic development and niche establishment, with 15 students struggling to perform well in that area. These insights inform strategies for improving academic writing instruction, emphasising structured composition approaches to support students’ proficiency in foreign language writing
A Self-Study of Critical-Pragmatic Practices in Teaching Academic Writing in the Indonesian Context
Get PDFThis study explores the applicability of critical pragmatism in teaching academic writing to Indonesian students preparing for postgraduate study abroad. The study is situated during a time of increasing opportunities for Indonesians to access international education. Adopting the Self-Study of Teacher Education Practice (S-STEP) methodology, I reflected on my pedagogical practices in an online academic writing course, focusing on designing and delivering materials to three cohorts of Indonesian master’s students from diverse academic backgrounds. The course addressed their need to develop academic writing skills. This study revisits the literature on critical pragmatism and reflects on how I navigated pragmatic aspects, such as distinguishing student voice from scholarly sources, effective use of reporting verbs, and paraphrasing, alongside critical elements, such as promoting argumentation and encouraging students to take a stance. The analysis highlights complementary practices, revealing insights into balancing the critical and pragmatic dimensions in an Indonesian academic context. Through analysis of my reflective notes, this study sheds light on how both approaches interact, offering pedagogical insights for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructors in Indonesia. It also provides implications for the broader scholarly discussion on the integration of critical pragmatism in academic writing pedagogy
The Challenges and Opportunities of Speech Acts in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Classroom: A Literature Review
Get PDFIn order to explore possibilities as well as challenges in the use of speech acts in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms, the research employs an extensive literature review. One form of successful communication that works by means of asking, refusing and apologising is a speech act. However, the context-dependent nature of speech acts and linguistic and cultural differences between English and their own Bahasa sometimes made it difficult for EFL learners to master them. All these are exacerbated by poor education, which results in misconceptions and ineffective communication in the classroom. Despite the significance of pragmatic competence to language learning, it is still desirable to carry out an expansive study. It made it possible for the researchers to collect related studies, locate inadequacies in the way that teaching has been practised and explore what can be adopted to include speech acts in the curriculum of EFL. Through critical examination of existing research, this paper shall provide teachers with relevant information concerning effective teaching behaviours that improve learners’ pragmatic insight and communicative competence. Placing emphasis on these factors shall make language learning activities more pertinent and interesting to the learners and improve the effectiveness of the communicative ability of the learners
A Call to Integrate Visible Thinking Routines with a Reader Response Approach to Teaching Literature in English Language Education
Get PDFThinking is greatly valued across many educational contexts and in Malaysia, the development of critical thinking, reasoning, creative thinking, and innovative thinking is strongly featured in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (MEB). While there is a prominent focus on the development of thinking skills within the blueprint, thinking skills are rather weakly embedded in classroom practice, particularly in the teaching of literature in English. It is within this context that we call for the integration of Visible Thinking (VT) Routines through a reader response informed approach to the teaching of literature in English. We believe that utilising VT Routines can enhance critical engagement with literary texts and promote deep learning experiences for students. In this conceptual paper, we present how selected VT Routines can be used to support the development of two important dimensions of a reader response approach which are: (a) transacting with texts; and (b) developing criticality. We provide specific examples of how these routines can be used and illustrate what learning gains may be expected. By using VT Routines, English language teachers are provided with a systematic way to engage with a reader response approach to teaching literature in English. By using structures, routines, probing questions, and documentation, English language teachers can create opportunities for students to transact with texts and to develop criticality. Students’ thinking is made more visible and this inadvertently leads to better thinking and learning experiences for students
Language Development Barriers Encountered by Young Dual Language Learners as a Result of Early Exposure to Media: A Case Study
Get PDFBenefits of bilingualism abound in the literature. However, some scholars claim that young children who are exposed to dual language through early media viewing at an early age may experience language development problems. Such problems may in turn have them undergo therapies which can be counterproductive to their developmental milestones, particularly their dual language development. This research aims to gain deeper insights into the impact of early media viewing on young children’s early dual language acquisition. In this regard, a case study of five young dual language learners experiencing language development problems diagnosed as symptoms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Mental Retardation (MR) was conducted. Specifically, in order to gain preliminary data about their language development problems, the participants’ parents were interviewed, and an estimated 108-hour language intervention sessions were observed. Upon having conducted 108-hour observation, the researcher did not identify any symptoms of pragmatic, affective and grammatical prosody which lead to participants’ context blindness and problem-solving disabilities as the main characteristics of ASD and MR. Findings of this study revealed that early dual language exposure through media viewing without adequate social interaction may pertinently result in language development problems. It was also found that such problems are often misinterpreted as symptoms of ASD or of MR rather than the processes of bilingualism. It is therefore recommended that appropriate language intervention programs which provide adequate social interactions can really help young learners improve their dual language development
Translation of Culture-Specific Items from Thai to English in Tourism Promotional Videos
Get PDFTourism in Thailand is one of the powerful and dynamic industries which drives the economy of the country. Offering a variety of natural attractions, food and culture, Thailand becomes a renowned destination among tourists from all over the world. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is the official organization playing a significant role in supporting and promoting tourism business. Apart from websites, guidebooks and other promotional materials, Amazing Thailand promotional videos have been created and uploaded on YouTube by TAT to promote Thai culture to foreign tourists. Thai and English subtitles are added to the videos to narrate travelling experiences in Thailand. The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore the cultural categories and translation procedures of culture-specific items from English subtitles of Amazing Thailand promotional videos according to Newmark cultural translation framework (1988). The data of 110 culture-specific items were collected from 64 Amazing Thailand promotional videos by purposive sampling. The result showed that the most common category of culture-specific items is material culture (artefacts) while couplets is the most frequently used translation procedure in Amazing Thailand promotional videos. The finding from this study could shed light on translation of culture-specific items. It also encourages translators and tourism officers to get some ideas about translating tourism promotional content of their own particular culture and context
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Undergraduate Translation Technology Training in China
Get PDFTranslation technology plays an indispensable role in the global language services industry. As a key component of modern translation pedagogy, translation technology training has been widely integrated into tertiary translation programs in China. However, the effectiveness of undergraduate translation technology training remains underexplored. To address this gap, an online questionnaire survey was conducted with 309 undergraduate students to investigate their perceptions of translation technology training. Kaufman’s model was adapted and used as the framework to evaluate the training\u27s effectiveness. The results indicate that over half of the students expressed a positive attitude toward translation technology training. Most students found it effective in helping them acquire procedural knowledge of translation technology and enhance their overall technological competence. However, some students raised concerns about the availability of resources, insufficient hands-on practice, and the limited duration of training. The study concludes that undergraduate translation technology training requires increased resource investment, an extended training duration, and a stronger emphasis on fostering students’ autonomy. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how to enhance undergraduate translation technology training in similar contexts and provide a reference for future program development. 
Metagenomics of a Photo-Fermentative Bacterial Solution and Its Effect on the Growth And Yield of Mini–Green Cos Lettuce (Early view)
Get PDFPhotosynthetic bacteria (PSB) are widely utilized in agriculture to enhance plant growth and crop quality by improving nutrient uptake and phytohormone production. This study aimed to analyze the metagenomic composition of a photo-fermentative bacterial solution derived from fermentation and assess its effects on the growth and yield of Mini Green Cos lettuce. Metagenomic analysis revealed that Bacteroidota (38%) was the most abundant phylum, followed by Proteobacteria (23%), Thermotogota (17%), and Firmicutes (15%). Within Proteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria was dominant followed by Gammaproteobacteria. At the genus level, Petrimonas (22%), uncultured clones belonging to family Petrotogaceae (17%), Rhodopseudomonas (11%), Rubrivivax (6%), and an unidentified genus from Lentimicrobiaceae (4%) were the most prevalent. These findings highlight the microbial diversity of PSB solution, suggesting its potential role in plant growth promotion. A plant growth experiment was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments: control (T1), chemical fertilizer (T2), undiluted PSB solution (T3), and PSB solution diluted at a 1:1 ratio (T4), with ten replicates per treatment. Among all treatments, lettuce irrigated with undiluted PSB solution (T3) exhibited the highest growth rate, yield, and total chlorophyll content. However, its performance was not significantly different from that of the chemical fertilizer treatment (T2). These results suggest that PSB can effectively promote plant growth and yield, yielding results comparable to chemical fertilizers. Therefore, photo-fermentative bacterial solutions offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, supporting environmentally conscious agricultural practices
Understanding of Flower Initiation Pattern and Developmental Stages of Epiphyte orchid Aerides odorata Lour., from Sabah (Early view)
Get PDFAerides odorata Lour. is an epiphytic orchid with commercial potential due to its intriguing flowers. Nevertheless, the flowering patterns of this species have not been investigated. Flower initiation and development are important for plant reproduction because they mark the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, allowing plants to produce flowers and ultimately, seeds or fruits. Besides, floral initiation and development in orchids differ among various species. This work seeks to observe and document the flowering stages and find the optimal maturity stage for Aerides odorata Lour seed pod, which is crucial for in vitro asymbiotic seed germination. Three orchid plants with 2-3 peduncles each were observed daily over five months, every morning (9.00 – 11.00 a.m.) to record development from spike initiation to full bloom, and subsequently for three months post-pollination until capsule dehiscence. Summarising the information on floral developmental stages involved four main phases: spike formation (considered the first day of the phases), bud initiation, flowering, and senescence until seed pod formation. The results showed that approximately twelve significant floral developmental stages were systematically documented, each correlated with time intervals and morphological landmarks. Upon observation, it was noted that each of these species could create a maximum of 22 flower buds per plant. The flower is fully wilted 85 days after being pollinated. In addition, the pollinated flowers transformed into capsules and fully reached maturity after 100 days following pollination. Gaining insight into the floral initiation process in orchid species is crucial for optimising cultivation conditions and promoting successful flowering in these aesthetically pleasing and varied plants
Content and Face Validation of Educational Infographics for Electronic Cigarette Cessation Among Malaysian Youth
Get PDFThe increasing prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Malaysian youths highlights the inadequacy of current health education initiatives in addressing cessation challenges. This study aims to evaluate the content and face validity of educational infographics to support e-cigarette cessation among youth e-cigarette users in Malaysia. This study employed a cross-sectional study design and involved experts and youth e-cigarette users. Upon the development, 17 experts specialising in smoking or e-cigarette cessation, with a mean age of 39.10 years and a mean years of experience of 12.24 years, were recruited for content validation. Meanwhile, for the face validation, 10 Malaysian youth e-cigarette users, with a mean age of 24.00, were purposively selected to assess the clarity of the infographics and provide feedback. Content validity indices (CVI) and face validity indices (FVI) were calculated for each topic, with thresholds of > 0.74 and 0.83 indicating acceptable content. The infographics demonstrated strong content and face validity, with average CVI of 0.98 (range: 0.94, 1.00; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.00) and average FVI of 0.96 (range: 0.70, 1.00; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.00), respectively. The infographics can be utilised to promote e-cigarette cessation after the trial and implementation phase, to assess their real-world effectiveness