IJLHE: International Journal of Language, Humanities, and Education
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2024): IJLHE: International Journal of Language, Humanities, and Education

An Evaluation of Lexical Density in K13 English Textbooks: Aligning Text Complexity with Students' Proficiency Levels

Sembiring, Pemina (Unknown)
Simanjuntak, Ivan Fernando (Unknown)
Sinar, Tengku Silvana (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
14 Dec 2024

Abstract

This study evaluates the lexical density of reading materials in the K13 English textbooks used in Indonesian secondary schools, focusing on the alignment of text complexity with students' cognitive abilities and language proficiency levels. A total of 10 reading texts from both junior and senior high school textbooks were analyzed, covering various genres including narrative, descriptive, expository, and functional texts. Lexical density, defined as the proportion of content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs) relative to the total word count, was calculated for each text. The results revealed significant variations in lexical density across genres, with descriptive and report texts exhibiting higher complexity, while genres like narratives and procedures showed a more balanced lexical composition. The study found that texts with higher lexical density may be challenging for lower-level learners, while more balanced texts are likely more accessible. These findings suggest that, while some texts are appropriately challenging, others may require adjustments to better cater to students' proficiency levels. The study highlights the importance of revising the K13 English textbooks to enhance their suitability for diverse learners and align more effectively with the goals of the K13 curriculum. The use of lexical density as an objective metric provides valuable insights for improving the readability and overall effectiveness of English language education in Indonesia. This research implies that curriculum designers and textbook authors should consider incorporating a wider range of text complexities to accommodate varying student proficiency levels, ensuring equitable learning opportunities and improved language development outcomes

Copyrights © 2024






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijlhe

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

IJLHE: International Journal of Language, Humanities, and Education is a journal devoted to language and literature researchers, humanities, as well as practitioners in the field of education. IJLHE Journal is managed by the Institute for Research and Community Service STKIP PGRI Bandar Lampung ...