Studies in English Language and Education
Studies in English Language and Education (SiELE) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Department of English Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The journal presents research and development in the field of teaching and learning of English language, general linguistics and literature. Authors must register to this journal before submitting their work and they must follow the Author Guidelines of the journal. Submissions that do not adhere to the guidelines provided will be rejected. Please submit your article through the online submission of this journal. You may address further inquiries to the Editor at sielejournal@usk.ac.id. From 2014-2020, SiELE Journal published twice a year, in March and September. From 2021 onwards, it publishes three times a year in January, May, and September. The journals have a policy of “Zero Tolerance on Plagiarism”. We recommend that authors check their articles with plagiarism prevention tools (ithenticate.com, turnitin.com, etc.) before submission.
Articles
954 Documents
<![CDATA[Investigating the sociological use of slang from a hearer-oriented perspective ]]>
<![CDATA[Masrizal Mahmud]]>;
<![CDATA[Muhammad Sadli]]>;
<![CDATA[Diana Fauzia Sari]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 9, No 3 (2022) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v9i3.26130
<![CDATA[Numerous studies have investigated the importance of slang in linguistics in various media, including novels. The dominant works on this subject have focused solely on the structural explanation of slang, leaving out its sociological context and meaning. Given the nature of slang itself as a pure informal language, studies about the semantic meaning of slang must be essential. This research looked into the slang words and expressions in a true-crime novel entitled ‘Black Mass’ by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill in 2000. The goal is to discover the semantic meaning of slang words and expressions in the novel using the qualitative method and Mattiello’s hearer-oriented (2008) theory as the underlying theory. We applied the documentary method to retrieve the data and further analyzed it using Miles et al. (2014) theory. Heavily influenced by the setting of South Boston and its crimes, Black Mass data indicated that this novel’s slang is primarily attributed to freshness and novelty. Subsequently, we found evidence of the novel’s use of desire to impress and faddishness, playfulness and humor, and impertinence properties. Color and musicality are this novel’s least common categories of slang, with only four occurrences in the entire manuscript. Given that the novel’s literature cover is still scarce, it is hoped that these findings are helpful to those who are interested in studying and researching the semantic area.]]>
<![CDATA[News as authentic materials to improve essay writing in a hybrid learning setting ]]>
<![CDATA[Lestari Setyowati]]>;
<![CDATA[Sony Sukmawan]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 8, No 3 (2021) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v8i3.19851
<![CDATA[This study aimed to investigate the effect of using news as authentic materials for essay writing skills. This experimental study employed the one-group pre-test and post-test design to 18 fourth-semester students who joined the Essay Writing Course in one of the universities in Indonesia. These students were selected through systematic random sampling and went through treatments for 12 meetings where they were taught in a hybrid learning setting. The first four meetings used the conventional face-to-face classroom interaction. The rest of the meetings were done online because of the outbreak of COVID 19. The instruments to collect data were tests and documentation. Before they were given to the students, the teaching materials, pre-test, and post-test designs were tested and validated. The authentic materials were news texts about global issues such as poverty, environmental protection, gender, race and ethnicities, and diseases. Two raters scored the students’ writing by using Jacobs ESL Composition Profile. The researchers used IBM SPSS 25 software to analyze the data. The results of a paired sample t-test analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the students’ writing scores before and after using news as authentic materials (p = .959 α = 0.05). The paper further discusses the implications of this study for theoretical and practical use. ]]>
<![CDATA[Representation of ecocriticism in the folklore of Mak Ungkai spirit ]]>
<![CDATA[Tomi Arianto]]>;
<![CDATA[Dairi Sapta Simanjuntak]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 7, No 2 (2020) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v7i2.16822
<![CDATA[The purpose of this qualitative study is to analyze the relationship between human and nature behind the story of Mak Ungkai by using the ecocritical approach. The informants in this study are the native Malay people who live in Tanjung Kertang village, Batam, Indonesia. They were determined by looking at relevant backgrounds based on the research theme: they are the Malay generation, both young and old, know about the Malay folklore of Mak UngkaiSpirit, have profession and activities at the sea, and reflect the representation of families in Tanjung Kertang village. Based on those criteria, the researchers finally chose 25 respondents to conduct in-depth interviews. These interviews were recorded by using the audio recorder and camera. The results indicated that the relationship between nature and humans behind the story of Mak Ungkai Spirit could be seen from the position of nature as human subjects and objects. The position of nature as a subject included nature as mother of earth, nature as caring ethic, and nature as holistic. Meanwhile, nature as an object is reflected from exploitation of nature and violence. This study is related with the local wisdom and culture in Indonesia. Therefore, international and local environmental non-government organizations related with social and humanity can use the result of this study for preservation of the local culture and environment, and among them is through the local wisdom.]]>
<![CDATA[Perception of the attitudinal function of intonation in responding to Yes/No questions: A study of non-native English language teachers ]]>
<![CDATA[Noor Alhusna Madzlan]]>;
<![CDATA[Che Ton binti Mahmud]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 5, No 2 (2018) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v5i2.10476
<![CDATA[This study highlights the importance of intonation and its function for intelligibility in communication, particularly amongst teachers in ESL classrooms. It was carried out to ascertain non-native English language teachers’ awareness of the attitudinal functions that intonation carries in responding to yes/no questions. Thirty Malay English language teachers working in a language centre were taken as the sample. Two different tasks, a listening test and an open-ended questionnaire, were provided to test their knowledge and perception of the attitudinal functions of intonation with regards to the responses given to yes/no questions. The findings from this study suggest that these teachers demonstrated an intermediate level of knowledge about intonation and its attitudinal function. However, they were in agreement about the importance of intonation for communication in classrooms, with students from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The implication of this study is that teachers should provide students with sufficient exposure to the proper use of intonation in order to avoid miscommunication. Students must be made aware that correct intonation facilitates correct interpretations.]]>
<![CDATA[Social Semiotics Evaluation of English One by Gender ]]>
<![CDATA[Nesa Nabifar]]>;
<![CDATA[Mir Saeid Baghermousavi]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 2, No 2 (2015) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v2i2.2692
<![CDATA[Textbooks receive focal attention in every educational setting. In 2013, the English text books used in Iranian schools were changed and new books, the Prospect series, were introduced. The older English text books are not used for teaching anymore. One of these was English One which was used for teaching the first grade at junior high school. As far as the researchers know, there was no previous research using this book in terms of gender from a semiotic point of view. Therefore, the researchers tried to investigate it in terms of social semiotics as defined by Kress and van Leeuwen (2006). Their findings showed that males are more often present in the images, and both genders are seen as collaborating with the readers of this book. Their findings also showed that both genders are trying to encourage the readers toward establishing communication by more often showing gaze towards each other in the images. This study has implication for students of linguistics, for course designers and for English teachers as well. ]]>
<![CDATA[EFL students’ responses to learning basic reading and writing skills ]]>
<![CDATA[Syayid Sandi Sukandi]]>;
<![CDATA[Dian Noviani Syafar]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 5, No 1 (2018) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v5i1.8419
<![CDATA[This research presents the responses from Indonesian EFL students to teaching-learning basic reading and writing skills in the context of Indonesian higher education. The 120 respondents, who completed questionnaires, were students enrolled in Writing 1 and Reading 2 courses in the English Education Study Program of the Teachers Academy in West Sumatra [STKIP PGRI Sumatera Barat]. There were four findings from the survey, namely: 1) EFL students preferred studying reading (37%) more than writing (27%), 2) EFL students read about the same amount of literary texts (25%) as they did popular texts (23%) and academic texts (22%), 3) grammar and spelling are the most difficult aspects for EFL students to learn with 33% having difficulty with basic reading skills, and 53% with basic writing skills, and finally 4) EFL students prefer to open a dictionary when they encounter difficult words in reading a text (62%) and do the same when they have difficulties in expressing their thoughts in writing English (38%). These findings show that EFL students have a variety of responses in terms of learning basic reading and writing in EFL English. In addition, the findings show that the tendency of EFL students to prefer reading to writing is relatively high.]]>
<![CDATA[Enhancing English proficiency through social circle and vocabulary among Malaysian adult learners ]]>
<![CDATA[Astri Yulia]]>;
<![CDATA[R. Malatesha Joshi]]>;
<![CDATA[Nor Azilah Husin]]>;
<![CDATA[Sakhiyyah A. Rahim]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 10, No 1 (2023) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v10i1.25740
<![CDATA[For second language learners, language proficiency is normally gained through formal instructions in the English as a second language classroom. However, besides the classroom, language can also be learned in a natural setting, for example, through social interactions. This study examines social interaction as an alternative approach to improving English language proficiency. A total of 93 students participated in the study. Sixty of the students were from the school of education, and 38 were from a private university. The participants took an Online English level and vocabulary test as part of data collection of this study. The data analysis was conducted using two multiple regression models in SPSS version 22. The multiple regressions yielded a correlational report between the social circle and English language proficiency among the students. Results demonstrated that the students’ social circle was close (M=60). These variables are not critical when accounting for social and close circles independently in a regression model. Only vocabulary was detected as a significant factor influencing the students’ English proficiency. However, the interaction between the social circle and vocabulary positively contributes to English proficiency. This finding supports the social capital in which learning can be enhanced through social interactions within a social circle. Furthermore, this finding calls for teachers’ and education practitioners’ attention to facilitate vocabulary learning through social interactions.]]>
<![CDATA[Print-based multimodal texts: Using illustrated poems for generating ideas and writing narratives ]]>
<![CDATA[Thusha Devi Rajendra]]>;
<![CDATA[Surinderpal Kaur]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 9, No 1 (2022) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v9i1.21830
<![CDATA[The article provides insights on how print-based multimodal texts can be utilized to generate ideas and help students to write narrative texts. A qualitative approach in research design was employed with a pre-test and a writing assignment. NAPLAN’s (2010) Writing-Narrative Marking Guide was adapted to evaluate the respondents’ narrative essays. Moreover, diary notes were used as instruments to gather data. The respondents were five Year 10 students from a suburban secondary school in Selangor, Malaysia. The findings indicated that the illustrated poem ‘Pond’ enabled the respondents to generate ideas for their writing. The narratives also fulfilled the criteria of text structure, ideas, character and setting, and vocabulary as stated in the Analytical Rubric for Narrative Marking. Therefore, the respondents were able to write narratives. However, the utilisation of picture stimulus only helped to generate ideas to a certain extent. The quality of narrative writing was also further improved through feedback provided during the teaching and learning sessions. The findings also revealed that the respondents were able to achieve the ‘can do’ statement as stated in the CEFR Assessment Format. Furthermore, the use of print-based multimodal texts encouraged multimodal and visual literacy as the respondents exploited semiotic resources within the texts. This study suggested that print-based multimodal texts could be used as instructional materials in narrative writing; thus, teachers should consider them to promote effective learning.]]>
<![CDATA[Flipped classroom in Indonesian higher education: A mixed-method study on students' attitudes and experiences ]]>
<![CDATA[Ika Wahyuni Lestari]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 8, No 1 (2021) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v8i1.17636
<![CDATA[The flipped classroom has been widely applied in many educational settings. Thus, it is significant to understand how its implementation is perceived by students. This mixed-method study aimed to find out the fourth-year students’ attitudes at a university in Indonesia on the flipped classroom they attended. It was also aimed at exploring their perception of the benefits and pitfalls they experienced when attending the flipped classroom. Employing a convergent mixed-method design, the quantitative data were obtained from 75 students (n=75) who were asked to complete a questionnaire. For the qualitative data, 13 students, divided into two groups, were invited to participate in a focus group interview to explore their experiences in attending the flipped classroom. The findings indicated that the students had positive attitudes towards the flipped classroom (M=2.87) and reported several benefits they perceived. Nonetheless, aspects regarding motivation (M=2.50) and the use of videos (M=2.49) and other technological supports indicated negative attitudes and were considered as pitfalls in the implementation of the model. Implications and recommendations were addressed for the better implementation of a flipped classroom.]]>
<![CDATA[The strategy of Two Stay Two Stray to improve EFL students’ reading skill ]]>
<![CDATA[Diana Fauzia Sari]]>;
<![CDATA[Siti Sarah Fitriani]]>;
<![CDATA[Sevty Emafetery]]>
<![CDATA[ Studies in English Language and Education Vol 6, No 1 (2019) ]]>
Publisher : <![CDATA[Universitas Syiah Kuala ]]>
Show Abstract
|
Download Original
|
Original Source
|
Check in Google Scholar
|
DOI: 10.24815/siele.v6i1.13057
<![CDATA[The objectives of this study are to figure out whether the use of Two Stay Two Stray (TSTS) strategy could improve Grade 8 EFL students’ reading skill in a junior high school in Banda Aceh and to find out the students’ perspective about the use of this strategy. One class was randomly chosen as the sample in this study. The data were collected by using tests and questionnaire. The data were both analyzed by using statistical formulas. The results show that the use of TSTS in teaching reading to the Grade 8 students was successful. It can be seen from the mean scores of the experimental class that was 84.70. Moreover, the t-score (6.81) was higher than t-table (2.021), and this indicates that the students in the experimental class who were taught using TSTS got better improvement than before they were taught using this strategy. The results from the questionnaire also revealed that the students’ have positive responses in relation to the use of TSTS because this strategy offered a positive relationship between teacher-students and students-students, and further increase their interest in learning. This led the students to escalate their self-confidence, social interaction, individual accountability, and group skills. A better understanding of the materials taught was also attained because they could learn together as a team.]]>
