ELT in Focus

Measuring the Relationship Between Attitudes and Intentions to Participate in SLA Research: A Study of EFL Students at the School of Arts & Humanities of Meknés, Morocco

Hicham Laabidi, Abdenbi El Harrath — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This study was carried out to measure the relationship between undergraduate EFL students’ attitudes and behavioral intentions to participate in SLA research at the School of Arts and Humanities of Moulay Ismail University. This was a quantitative study that used descriptive-correlational design. The population of the study was all undergraduate EFL students at the School of Arts and Humanities of Moulay Ismail University. A validated Likert scale-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 115 participants selected through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, means and standard deviations were used to measure students’ attitudes and intentions to participate in SLA research. While Spearman rank correlation, as a non-parametric test, was used to measure the relationship between attitudes and behavioral intention to participate in SLA research. The study found that EFL students have moderately positive attitudes towards participation in SLA research. Similarly, the study revealed that EFL students have a moderately positive intention to participate in SLA research. Spearman rank correlation yielded a coefficient of .703 indicating a strong positive correlation between attitudes and behavioral intention to participate in SLA research. The results of this study may be used as a basis for more research on attitudes towards participation in SLA research.

Keywords: Attitudes, Behavior, Behavioral intention, SLA research, research participation.

Digital collaborative writing technique using Padlet in essay writing classroom

Anit Pranita Devi, Rianny Puspitasari — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This research explores the utilization of Padlet as a collaborative writing platform in enhancing students' argumentative essay writing skills. Employing a case study by means of observation, document analysis, and interviews, the study examines how Padlet is employed on collaborative essay writing classroom and how it facilitates students’ writing skills in argumentative essay writing process. The research findings reveal that while Padlet effectively fosters collaborative interactions among students, enabling them to engage in constructive feedback provision and substantive discussions, its underutilization remains noticeable. The platform's inability to facilitate targeted feedback due to the absence of specific text highlighting and commenting features emerged as a critical limitation hindering comprehensive feedback provision. In spite of these limitations, Padlet significantly improved various dimensions of students' writing skills. The collaborative environment nurtured by Padlet enabled peer feedback exchange, leading to enhancements in grammar, vocabulary, coherence, and overall essay quality. However, students' restricted exploration of Padlet's features underscores the gap between its potential and actual utilization within the classroom. To advance this research, future studies should focus on addressing Padlet's functional limitations by advocating for feature enhancements facilitating targeted feedback.

The implementation of Padlet in teaching writing skills of recount text for eighth grade students in Bandung

Reby Saharra Hidayat, Intan Satriani — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Nowadays, teachers need interesting media to facilitate teaching and learning process in the classroom. So, Padlet is one of media needed in teaching writing skill of recount text. This research aimed at finding out the implementation of Padlet in teaching writing to eight grade students of junior high school in Bandung. This research used case study research design as the methodology. The participants of this research were 33 seventh grade students at one of junior high school in Bandung. This research applied observation sheet as the research instrument. Based on the results obtained, the implementation of writing recount text using Padlet was successful in gaining the students’ involvement in writing recount text, students’ problem solving without teachers’ help and students’ understanding of instructions in each meeting. In conclusion, the implementation of Padlet really supports learning writing skills, especially for recount text.

Using YouTube videos as teaching media in improving students’ speaking skill

Luluk Wiji Asti Suloso, Rahma Sakina — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The purpose of this study is to examine students' perceptions of using YouTube videos to improve their English language skills and to examine the use of YouTube videos to improve students' language skills. This study used a mixed methods approach with a research design survey using a questionnaire research instrument and a quasi-experimental study research design using pre-test, treatment and post-test research instruments. This research was conducted at Bintara Vocational High School, Rancaekek in two classes, namely the experimental class and the controlled class. When analyzing the results of data collection, the pre- and post-tests as well as the results obtained were analyzed using the NCSS 2021. The data collection results showed positive results in using YouTube videos in improving students' speaking skills. Most students have a good perception of these media, but some have a neutral perception. Additionally, this study shows an improvement in speaking skills, meaning that the use of these media is effective. The results of this research are intended to provide an overview and information for English teachers who use YouTube videos as teaching media, especially when learning speaking.

Bridging the gap: Project based-writing procedure texts as a pathway to real-world jobs for vocational students

Elih Sutisna Yanto, Irma Maulia Firdaus, Sidik Indra Nugraha — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This best practice article presents a guided teaching strategy aimed at vocational students to improve their procedure text writing skills. The practical application-focused program focuses on developing students' understanding, writing skills, and speaking in professional contexts. The challenges vocational students face in combining technical expertise with clear communication are addressed through interactive activities, self-correction techniques, and various presentation methods. Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) genre pedagogy and the Teaching and Learning Cycle (TLC) form the basis of the teaching approach. The study, conducted in a West Java vocational school, uses a case study design that demonstrates the coexistence of anxiety and excitement, the effectiveness of collaboration, and strategies for overcoming obstacles in learning procedure texts. The findings highlight the central role of teaching strategy in preparing vocational students to communicate effectively in their professional activities.

The use of presentation by PowerPoint in improving students’ speaking skill

Mu'man, Sevina Friska Khabib — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0700

PowerPoint is very helpful in making presentations to display points that can be captured quickly by the audience, and is expected to be a learning medium that can help students in speaking instruction. The purposes of this research are to find out the effectiveness of Presentation in improving speaking skills, and to find out obstacles that students face. This research used mixed methods with an explanatory research design. It was conducted at one of private vocational high school in Bandung Barat regency, and involved 35 tenth grade students. Data collection techniques used in this study were tests and questionnaires. The results showed that PowerPoint presentation was effective in improving students' speaking skill. The analysis indicated a normal distribution with Pretest Sig. (0.205), Posttest Sig. (0.241), and homogeneous (Sig. 0.384). The average results of the paired sample statistics included Pretest = 7.997, Posttest = 6.992, and the sample test in pairs is sig (2-tailed = 0.000). In addition, it was revealed there were obstacles faced by the students including lack of confidence, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. There were also several difficulties faced by the students in describing text, establishing 2-way communication, making the text interesting, and technical problems in creating PowerPoint.