Indonesian EFL Journal

LEARNER INITIATIVE AND ORAL PROFICIENCY: INVESTIGATING THE LINK IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

Suryanto Suryanto — 2025-05-30

In the context of 21st-century globalization and technological progress, English has become a crucial worldwide lingua franca, especially in non-native English-speaking nations such as Indonesia. Although English has been included into the Indonesian education system at all levels, numerous students encounter difficulties in attaining oral fluency despite extensive formal training. This study examines the correlation between learner initiative and students' oral competency in English, specifically targeting learners in the English Language Education Department of a private institution in Yogyakarta. Utilizing a quantitative correlational study methodology, data were gathered from 97 students through a validated questionnaire to evaluate learner initiative and academic records to assess speaking competence. Descriptive analysis revealed a high level of learner initiative (M = 45.20) and good speaking ability (M = 3.35). Spearman’s rho correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant albeit modest positive association (rs = 0.367, p = 0.001) between learner initiative and speaking proficiency. These findings suggest that while initiative is meaningful in oral language development, it is not the sole determinant of speaking proficiency. The study highlights the need for instructional strategies that foster learner autonomy and address other influencing factors such as anxiety, interaction opportunities, and feedback. The findings supplement the expanding literature highlighting the significance of internal learner traits, especially initiative, as crucial determinants of success in EFL speaking performance

FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR STUDY: ANALYZING THE BATAK PROVERB "DALIHAN NATOLU" FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

Rahmawati Rahmawati — 2025-05-30

Proverbs that represent their values and perspective are part of the rich cultural legacy of the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. "Dalihan Natolu" (translates as "The Three Hearth Stones") is one such proverb. This proverb is an important part of Batak social structure and values, which makes it a valuable topic for linguistic study. The "Dalihan Natolu" proverb is examined in this study using the Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) theoretical paradigm. SFG is a linguistic approach that examines the ways in which language is employed to create meaning and depict the outside world. We can learn more about the grammatical and semantic elements of the "Dalihan Natolu" proverb that contribute to its cultural importance by using SFG to analyze it. The ideational, interpersonal, and textual meta functions of SFG are the three main areas of analysis. The proverb's representation of experiences and construction of reality are examined by the ideational meta function. The interpersonal meta function looks at how the proverb conveys the speaker's position and enacts social interactions. The textual meta function looks at the proverb's method of arranging ideas to create a logical and cohesive message. The study's goal is to identify the language structures and patterns that underlie the cultural significance and symbolic force of the "Dalihan Natolu" adage through this in-depth investigation. Understanding the proverb from the standpoint of Systemic Functional Grammar helps us to better grasp the richness and complexity of Batak cultural expression as well as its applicability in the contemporary era. The results of this work advance the field of linguistic analysis of cultural artefacts and the academic understanding of Batak language and culture. In light of the swift advancements in social and technological spheres, the knowledge acquired can also contribute to the preservation and promotion of Batak cultural heritage.

BRIDGING ENGLISH INSTRUCTION AND CRITICAL THINKING: A NEEDS ANALYSIS AT TWO ISLAMIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN INDONESIA

Sandi Pradana — 2025-05-30

This study specifically examines the English teaching material needs of lecturers at STIT Tanggamus and STIT Pringsewu to enhance students’ critical thinking skills. Recognizing that critical thinking is an essential competence in higher education, particularly in English language learning, this research adopts a mixed-methods design to explore the types of materials currently in use, lecturers’ perceptions of students’ critical thinking abilities, and the gaps between existing resources and instructional needs. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis for data collection. The findings highlight a prevalent reliance on authentic materials, underscoring the need for explicit critical thinking frameworks and contextual relevance within the Islamic educational environment. Lecturers expressed concerns regarding students’ limited critical thinking capacity, citing language barriers, insufficient scaffolding, and lack of pedagogical support. It is crucial to redesign English teaching materials systematically to integrate higher-order thinking tasks, align with students' cultural and religious backgrounds, and provide clear instructional guidance. The findings highlight the essential requirements for both material development and professional training to enhance the cultivation of critical thinking in English language education within Indonesian Islamic higher education institutions.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ PERSONALITY TYPES (EXTROVERT AND INTROVERT) AND READING COMPREHENSION: A STUDY IN SMPN 2 LIRIK

Riza Astriani — 2025-05-30

Reading is one of the important basic skills in English. Personality types also have a relationship with students' reading comprehension. There are many ways of classifying one’s personality. One of these is categorizing them into extrovert or introverted types. This research was conducted through quantitative non-experimental research. The population of this research was all IX class students at SMPN 2 Lirik. The study used Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire to measure students’ personality types and examined their correlation with reading comprehension. While no significant overall correlation was found, extrovert and introvert characteristics influenced specific comprehension processes differently. Based on the data that has been collected, the level of students' extrovert personality, the results showed that the overall average score is 38.38. This places most students in the medium extrovert personality category. Meanwhile, regarding the level of students' introverted personality, the results showed that most students were in the medium category, with an average overall score of 42.17 from a total of 65 respondents. Both extroverts and introverts have a significant role in their reading comprehension abilities. Although overall there was no significant correlation between personality type (X) and reading comprehension based on the t-count value of 0.227 which is lower than the t-table of 1.998 and a significance value of 0.821 (greater than α = 0.05), the findings from the analysis of each indicator indicate that extrovert and introvert personality characteristics have different influences on the process of understanding texts.

Keywords: Students’ personality types (extrovert and introvert), reading comprehension