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Character development and independence in early childhood constitute fundamental foundations for future life success. While both the Montessori method and role-playing activities have proven effective in early childhood education, research on their integration remains limited. To analyse the effectiveness of integrating the Montessori method with role-playing activities in enhancing character development and independence in early childhood. A quantitative study employing quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group design was conducted with 60 children aged 4-6 years. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=30, receiving the integrated method) and a control group (n=30, receiving conventional instruction). Significant improvements were observed in both character development (p<0.05) and independence (p<0.01) in the experimental group. The experimental group showed substantial gains in character scores (18.94 points) compared to the control group (4.36 points), with large effect size (Cohen's d = 2.06). Independence scores increased by 21.23 points in the experimental group versus 4.47 points in the control group, also with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 2.65). The integration of Montessori method with role-playing activities proves highly effective in enhancing character development and independence in early childhood, offering a promising pedagogical approach for early childhood education.

The diversity of Indonesian society, which consists of various ethnic groups, religions, cultures, and races, represents a great potential for the creation of a harmonious social life. However, the reality shows that intolerance and narrow fanaticism still often arise and even begin to influence students in the educational environment. This has the potential to create social conflicts and damage the nation's character in the future. This study aims to examine the role of education in shaping students to avoid fanatic behavior and social conflicts. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through relevant literature studies. The results of the study show that schools have a strategic role in instilling values of tolerance, inclusive attitudes, and religious moderation through learning, teacher role models, and a school culture that respects diversity. In addition, synergy between schools, families, and communities is needed to create an educational environment that is conducive to the development of students' character. Through the implementation of multicultural education and the strengthening of national values on a sustainable basis, students are expected to become a generation with strong character, tolerant, and able to live peacefully alongside others in a pluralistic society.

Social care values ​​are moral principles that emphasize empathy, altruism, solidarity, mutual cooperation, justice, and tolerance in social life. These values ​​form the foundation for individuals to understand the feelings of others, help selflessly, cooperate, be fair, and respect differences. This study aims to describe the representation of social care values ​​in Wattpad short stories in the family drama genre, identify the most dominant values ​​and the context in which they emerge, and explain the relevance of these findings to learning and character development in students. The study used a descriptive qualitative method because it focuses on the meaning of the text, rather than quantitative measurement. Data were collected through listening and note-taking techniques by carefully and repeatedly reading the short stories to identify sections of the text that contain social care values. Data included words, phrases, sentences, dialogue, and narratives that depict character actions, conflicts, or interactions reflecting empathy, altruism, solidarity, mutual cooperation, justice, and tolerance. All quotations were recorded on a coding sheet to organize the data systematically. Data analysis was conducted using the Miles and Huberman technique, which includes data reduction, classification, and interpretation. In the reduction stage, relevant data was selected and then grouped according to social awareness value categories. Next, interpretation was conducted to explain the representation of these values ​​in the storyline and relationships between characters. 

Modern education has produced various learning theories such as behaviorism, cognitivism, humanism, constructivism, and postmodernism, each contributing significantly to the understanding of learning processes, motivation, and knowledge formation. However, these theories are rooted in secular philosophical foundations that place humanity at the center of truth while neglecting the spiritual dimension revealed in Scripture. This condition creates tension for Christian education, which upholds the Bible as the epistemological basis and ultimate purpose of learning. This study aims to critically examine the secular assumptions embedded within modern learning theories, identify pedagogical elements that can be integrated into Christian education, and formulate strategies for Christian educators to utilize secular theories without compromising their theological foundation. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method through a literature review of books, journals, and relevant academic sources. The findings indicate that although modern learning theories offer valuable pedagogical insights, they contain naturalistic, rationalistic, humanistic, and relativistic assumptions that must be filtered through biblical theology. Christian educators are not required to reject secular theories entirely; rather, they bear an apologetic responsibility to discern useful methods, reject conflicting philosophical assumptions, and direct the entire learning process toward glorifying God. Thus, modern learning theories can function as effective tools within Christian education when positioned correctly as pedagogical instruments under the authority of Scripture.

Indonesia, as a multicultural nation, demands that Christian Religious Education (PAK) practices focus not only on doctrinal teaching but also on character development for students, enabling them to live within cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. Language is a crucial element in realizing inclusive education, as the use of impolite or offensive language can trigger prejudice, intolerance, and even bullying, as seen in the forced hijab case in Bantul. This study uses a literature review method to examine the role of language, politeness, and communication strategies in developing students who value pluralism and multiculturalism. The discussion demonstrates that politeness is the foundation of character development and reflects a person's moral values. Through strategies such as integrating Christian values ​​into the curriculum, inclusive teaching methods, creating a school environment that supports diversity, and a holistic communication approach, Christian Religious Education can be a means of transformation that fosters tolerance and harmony. The results confirm that the use of polite and non-offensive language is a key aspect in developing students with character, who are inclusive, and capable of becoming agents of peace in a pluralistic society.

This paper discusses the principles of Jesus’ teachings that are relevant for building effective and transformative learning within the context of contemporary education. Jesus is known as the Great Teacher who taught with authority, closeness, and methods capable of transforming the thinking, attitudes, and behavior of His listeners. Through biblical analysis and pedagogical examination, this study identifies several key principles, including the use of stories and parables to facilitate deep understanding, a dialogical approach that encourages active participation, contextualization of the message according to the listeners’ social background, modeling as a form of learning through example, and an emphasis on character transformation as the ultimate goal of education. The study concludes that the principles of Jesus’ teaching are not only effective in delivering content but also play a significant role in shaping the internal transformation of learners. By adapting these principles, modern educators can build learning processes that are more meaningful, holistic, and transformation-oriented.

This paper aims to examine the relationship between Social Learning Theory and the principles of Christian education, particularly in character formation and the discipleship process. Social Learning Theory asserts that human behavior is shaped through observation, imitation, and social interaction, thus role models and the environment play a central role in the learning process. This understanding aligns with Christian education, which emphasizes that faith and character are developed through relationships, life experiences, and role models, as demonstrated in God's relationship with Israel, the life of Jesus Christ, and the practices of the early church. The integration of these two approaches demonstrates that effective Christian character formation requires a combination of modeling, mentoring, and a supportive community, along with the spiritually renewing work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, modern psychological theory and the principles of faith education can complement each other to create a holistic approach to Christian education, whether in the church, school, or family.

This study aims to determine the effect of library facilities on students' interest in reading books in economics for grades 10, 11, and 12, majoring in social studies at SMA Negeri 1 Kabila, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province. This study used a quantitative approach. Data collection methods used in this study were observation, documentation, and questionnaires. Based on the description above, the population in this study was 489 students in grades 10, 11, and 12 majoring in social studies at SMA Negeri 1 Kabila. The sample in this study was grades 10, 11, and 12. The analytical method used was simple linear regression. The results showed an effect. The results obtained a R-squared coefficient of 0.258. This value means that 25.8% of the variability in the variable of interest in reading economics textbooks for grades 10, 11, and 12 majoring in social studies at SMA Negeri 1 Kabila, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province can be explained by library facilities, while the remaining 74.2% is influenced by other variables not examined in this study.

This research explores the use of person deixis in the Balinese language, with a particular focus on the honorific system as a form of social interaction. Person deixis not only reflects the relationship between the speaker and the interlocutor but also serves as a key mechanism for expressing social status, age, and emotional closeness. This research addresses the question: Does the choice of deictic forms involve specific cognitive processes, such as the assessment of social status, politeness, and situational context?  Beside that, this research also discuss what factors most influence the choice of personal pronouns used in dialogue? Employing a descriptive-qualitative approach and analyzing data from Balinese narrative texts, this article examines how the selection of deictic expressions engages complex cognitive mechanisms. The findings reveal that the use of honorifics is not merely a linguistic practice but also influences speakers’ patterns of thought in interpreting and evaluating social relationships. These results support the notion that language and thought are closely interconnected, and that the structure of the Balinese language cultivates a high degree of social sensitivity in its speakers from an early age.

Based on the ideal phenomenon of making any object a subject of discourse study, the author selects a book as the research object, using Norman Fairclough's theory as the analytical tool. Norman Fairclough's theory analyzes a text based on relations, identities, production, consumption, and socio-culture. The implementation of this theory is applied to the book titled Pengajian Ramadhan Kiai Duladi (Ramadhan Teachings by Kiai Duladi) to determine the author's intention within the text based on the text's production and the socio-cultural context of religious issues that occur during the month of Ramadhan. The research model used is qualitative descriptive. The research object is sourced from a title called Kiai Pemburu Dolar (Kiai the Dollar Hunter). For data collection, the author utilizes the documentation technique, gathering information or evidence through the examination of archives and documents that have been transcribed into written form. The results of the research conclude that, in the textual dimension, the book's author emphasizes the use of diction in their work. Meanwhile, in the discursive practice dimension, the author adjusts their status and educational background in the text's production, and the consumption is intended for all social levels. In the socio-cultural dimension, the author focuses more on social issues related to religion that frequently arise during the month of Ramadhan.

The novel "Woman at Point Zero" is a novel that predominantly draws on psychological elements. The purpose of this study is to describe: (1) the relationship between theme and character through action, (2) the relationship between theme and character's thoughts, and (3) the relationship between theme and character's feelings. This study uses a qualitative approach. The method used is descriptive analysis. The data consists of linguistic units such as sentences, phrases, and paragraphs related to character's actions, thoughts, and feelings. The data source is the novel "Woman at Point Zero," published by the Obor Indonesia Foundation in 2006. The conclusion of this study is that the theme influenced by action determines humans as supreme beings, the theme influenced by dominant thoughts determines humans as social beings, and the theme's relationship with feelings determines humans as individual beings. This novel depicts the dark side faced by Egyptian women amidst Arab culture steeped in patriarchal values. Women still experience unequal rights and never receive the same rights as men. As in Arab societies, patriarchal culture is one of the foundations of debate over women's status in society, and it continues to generate conflict. The lack of guaranteed women's rights, political freedom, and the hierarchical constraints of husbands leave women disadvantaged in all aspects of life, experiencing discrimination, violence, and poverty.

This study examines the effectiveness of digital storytelling in enhancing the speaking skills of secondary EFL learners. The research responds to persistent challenges in speaking instruction, particularly students’ limited fluency, low confidence, and insufficient exposure to meaningful communicative tasks. Using a mixed methods design, the study involved an eight week intervention in which students created scripted digital stories through narration, multimedia editing, and collaborative production. Quantitative data were collected through pre-test and post-test assessments measuring fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and coherence, while qualitative data were obtained through observations, interviews, and student reflections. The findings reveal substantial improvements in speaking performance, especially in fluency and coherence, accompanied by increased engagement, reduced speaking anxiety, and heightened self awareness during the storytelling process. These results highlight that digital storytelling provides repeated oral practice and authentic communicative opportunities that support learners’ linguistic and affective development. The study offers implications for English teachers and curriculum designers by demonstrating that technology supported narrative tasks can be integrated into regular instruction to foster more interactive, creative, and student centered speaking learning environments.

This study analyzes motor vehicle tax (PKB) compliance at the Binjai SAMSAT Office (2020–2024) using a quantitative descriptive approach. Significant fluctuations were detected: a drastic decrease in 2023 (83.98%) and a sharp increase in 2024 (167.91%). Service quality and taxpayer awareness have a positive effect on compliance. However, the tax amnesty policy and the effectiveness of fines have complex impacts and are strongly suspected of causing late payments and reducing the deterrent effect. The decrease in compliance in 2023 is thought to be related to the tax amnesty policy, which reduces incentives to pay on time. Conversely, the surge in compliance in 2024 can be explained as a response to improved services and a more intensive tax awareness campaign. While tax amnesty may help increase revenue in the short term, this study highlights the importance of consistent enforcement of sanctions to maintain long-term payment discipline. Recommendations include improving services, improving tax education, and evaluating fines and the tax amnesty policy. This research also emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the impact of amnesty policies on tax compliance patterns, as well as the crucial role of public awareness in increasing compliance with tax obligations. By utilizing empirical data, this study provides valuable insights for future tax policy improvements.  

This study aims to describe the main factors causing children in Perumaan Village, East Alok District to drop out of school, as well as the efforts made to overcome this problem. A descriptive qualitative method was used. This research was conducted in Parumaan Village, East Alok District, from February 12 to February 28, 2025, because there are still children who drop out of school in Parumaan Village. The data sources in this study are primary and secondary data sources. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation. After collection, the data was analyzed following these steps: Data Collection, Data Reduction, Data Presentation, Conclusion Drawing, and Verification.The results of the study show that the main causes of children dropping out of school can be divided into two factors, namely internal and external. Internal factors include lack of parental attention, economic conditions, and low interest in learning among children. Meanwhile, external factors include an unsupportive social environment, the influence of promiscuity, and low levels of parental education. These findings show that children tend to lose their educational direction when support from their families and surrounding environment is minimal. To address this issue, several efforts have been made, such as raising awareness about the importance of education by the village government, providing economic assistance such as scholarships and KIP (Indonesian Smart Card), and involving the community through mutual cooperation and mentoring. This study recommends strengthening collaboration between families, schools, the government, and the community to create a conducive and sustainable educational environment.

This study employs the formalism theory. Furthermore, aligning with it, the used of  qualitative method  to embark the information inherently exists as linguistic. It bears relevance to the focus of this research, that being novels, with the researcher endeavoring to scrutinize the characters' perspectives, viewpoints, and conduct within their fictional environment. The novel, The Awakening is utter the journey of unique married woman, Mrs. Edna Pontellier, to unfold the secret of ‘Edna’. From the analysis indicated there were two major ironies which majorly decorated the progress of the story, and those are ‘life and death’ and ‘innocence and maturity’. By bringing ‘Edna’ the main character, into a consciousness, she would awaken from seemingly an innocent woman through challenging journey to acknowledge maturity in herself.  Even though, ironically, in order to maintain her ’life’ in the end she has to face ‘death’ but at least she had been tried to complete her journey to be an whole self.  

Literary works are not only created for entertainment, but also to describe human life, which is full of values and moral issues. William Shakespeare's play ‘Timon of Athens’, which shows how a person is tested when betrayed by wealth, power, and friendship. This study aims to examine how morality is depicted in the play using Friedrich Nietzsche's theory of ‘master morality’ and ‘slave morality’. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method by analysing excerpts from the dialogue in the play “Timon of Athens” that demonstrate moral values. The results show that this play mostly depicts slave morality (65%), as Timon transforms from a kind and proud figure into someone filled with hatred and resentment after being betrayed. Meanwhile, master morality (35%) appears at the beginning of the story when he is still strong, confident, and generous. According to Nietzsche, master morality reflects strength, pride, independence, and the ability to create one’s own values, while slave morality emerges from weakness, suffering, and resentment as a reaction to disappointment or oppression. Overall, Timon of Athens illustrates how life changes and deep betrayal can cause a shift from the confidence and generosity of master morality to the bitterness and hatred found in slave morality.  

This study analyzes pronunciation learning activities in the English class at SDN 060877 through direct classroom observation techniques. The research aims to understand how teachers organize pronunciation instruction, the strategies applied during learning sessions, and the level of student participation in practicing correct sounds, stress patterns, and intonation. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through on-site observations focusing on teaching procedures, interaction patterns, learning media, and students’ responses. The findings indicate that pronunciation learning is integrated into reading and speaking activities, where the teacher models sound, guides repetition drills, and provides corrective feedback. Students demonstrate varied levels of confidence, with some actively engaging in pronunciation tasks while others rely heavily on teacher prompts. Environmental factors, such as limited audio-media tools and large class size, affect the intensity and effectiveness of practice sessions. Despite these challenges, classroom interactions show that learners gradually improve their sound accuracy and rhythm through continuous modeling and peer practice. This study concludes that direct observation provides comprehensive insights into real classroom dynamics, revealing both the strengths and areas needing improvement in pronunciation teaching. Recommendations are offered to enhance instructional techniques, learning materials, and student engagement.

This study explores the role of English in supporting the academic and professional development of management students, based on the lecturer’s reflections as both lecturer and researcher. As English becomes increasingly important in global education and employment, many students are required to read academic materials, complete assignments, and communicate using English. This study focuses on how English for Specific Purposes (ESP), especially Business English, helps students build discipline-related skills and prepare for real workplace communication. Using an autoethnographic approach, the researcher collected data from self-interviews, reflective teaching journals, and informal student feedback over one semester. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the lecturer’s experiences and observations. The findings show that English supports students’ academic growth by helping them understand textbooks, research articles, and business case studies. Students gained confidence in reading and presenting academic information after completing guided tasks. The results also indicate that ESP based on activities such as email writing, meeting simulations, and presentations strengthened students’ employability skills. These tasks helped students feel more prepared for internships and early career responsibilities. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of reflective teaching. By analyzing classroom challenges and student needs, the lecturer was able to improve teaching strategies, select more authentic materials, and provide better support for learners. This research shows that integrating ESP with employability goals can create meaningful learning experiences for management students. When English teaching is connected to real professional contexts, students develop both language proficiency and practical communication skills. The study also encourages lecturers to use reflection as a tool to enhance teaching quality and better support students’ academic and career preparation.

Instagram has become one of the most influential digital platforms for the construction and dissemination of lifestyle meanings, particularly through the presence of social media influencers. Among various lifestyle narratives, luxury is one of the most dominant and ideologically loaded representations circulated by influencers. This study examines how luxury is represented, constructed, and naturalized in the Instagram content of female Indonesian influencers using Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework. The object of this research consists of visual and textual Instagram posts that display luxury-related lifestyles, including fashion, travel, leisure, and consumption practices. The main problem addressed in this study concerns how signs of luxury operate at the levels of denotation, connotation, and myth to shape audience perceptions of success, femininity, and social status. The objective of this research is to reveal the ideological meanings embedded in influencer content and to explain how luxury is transformed into a normalized and desirable lifestyle. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with semiotic analysis. Data were collected through purposive sampling of Instagram posts from selected female Indonesian influencers with significant follower engagement. The findings show that luxury is represented not merely through high-priced commodities but through symbolic systems involving aesthetics, body presentation, spatial settings, and narrative captions. At the mythological level, luxury is naturalized as the result of personal effort, self-discipline, and modern femininity, thereby obscuring structural inequalities and reinforcing consumerist ideology. This study concludes that Instagram influencers function as cultural agents who reproduce dominant myths of success and luxury in digital culture.

This study aims to analyze the forms of assertive persuasion found in a collection of song lyrics by The Peal by employing a pragmatic approach, specifically Searle’s classification of speech acts. The focus of the research is to examine how the lyrics represent assertive functions as a means of conveying messages, attitudes, and perspectives intended by the songwriter. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method involving several stages: listening closely to the lyrics, identifying linguistic indicators of assertive persuasion, and explaining the meanings and communicative functions embedded in the utterances.The findings reveal that six selected songs by The Peal contain various forms of assertive persuasion. The song Isak Tangis demonstrates an assertive act of warning, while Berbahagialah reflects an act of suggesting. The song Porak Poranda represents the act of complaining, whereas Kehancuran shows elements of asserting or criticizing. The song Cinta Mana yang Kau Bela? contains elements of boasting, and Belum Waktunya reflects the act of reporting or presenting information. These results indicate that The Peal’s song lyrics function not only as artistic expressions but also as persuasive communicative media that convey social and emotional messages through diverse assertive speech acts.