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This article examines umpasa as the determinant of the validity of the Mangalahat Horbo ritual and as a vehicle for transmitting the cultural values of the Batak Toba people from an anthropolinguistic perspective. Mangalahat Horbo is a buffalo sacrifice ritual that functions simultaneously as a cosmological, political, and linguistic event. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using three theoretical frameworks: Dell Hymes' (1974) SPEAKING model to analyze the ritual as a speech event, Roland Barthes' (1968) semiotics to dissect the denotative and connotative meanings of umpasa, and Kluckhohn's (1953) theory of cultural values and Sibarani's (2014) local wisdom theory to identify embedded cultural values. The findings reveal that umpasa operates on three simultaneous layers of meaning: pragmatic-performative, social-hierarchical, and cosmological-ecological. Umpasa is not merely an aesthetic ornament but a constitutive element of the ritual that shapes the social and cosmological reality of the Bius community. Eight cultural values are identified: communicative courtesy, adat knowledge transmission, self-restraint, collective responsibility, cultural preservation, cosmological reciprocity, distributive justice, and ecological harmony. This study affirms the urgency of anthropolinguistic documentation of Mangalahat Horbo before the Parhata masters of umpasa diminish further.

This study is motivated by the importance of the relationship between reading and speaking skills in Arabic language learning. Reading, as a receptive skill, plays a significant role in enriching vocabulary, understanding language structures, and constructing meaning, which in turn affects speaking ability as a productive skill. At Baitul Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Bandung, variations were observed in students’ abilities in reading Arabic texts and speaking Arabic, raising questions about the existence of a relationship between these two skills. This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of Arabic reading skills on Arabic speaking skills among fifth-grade students (Class V-A) in the 2024/2025 academic year. This research employs a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The subjects of the study consisted of all 28 students in Class V-A, selected using a saturated sampling technique. Data were collected through reading skill tests and speaking skill tests, and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Spearman rank correlation test. The results indicate a significant relationship with a strong level of correlation between Arabic reading skills and Arabic speaking skills. This is evidenced by the correlation coefficient (r-value) of 0.824, which is higher than the r-table value at a 5% significance level (0.374). It is recommended that the development of reading skills be more systematically integrated with speaking practice. Further research is suggested to involve a larger sample size and more diverse variables to strengthen the findings.

This study is motivated by the importance of the relationship between reading and speaking skills in Arabic language learning. Reading, as a receptive skill, plays a significant role in enriching vocabulary, understanding language structures, and constructing meaning, which in turn affects speaking ability as a productive skill. At Baitul Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Bandung, variations were observed in students’ abilities in reading Arabic texts and speaking Arabic, raising questions about the existence of a relationship between these two skills. This study aims to determine whether there is an influence of Arabic reading skills on Arabic speaking skills among fifth-grade students (Class V-A) in the 2024/2025 academic year. This research employs a quantitative approach with a correlational design. The subjects of the study consisted of all 28 students in Class V-A, selected using a saturated sampling technique. Data were collected through reading skill tests and speaking skill tests, and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Spearman rank correlation test. The results indicate a significant relationship with a strong level of correlation between Arabic reading skills and Arabic speaking skills. This is evidenced by the correlation coefficient (r-value) of 0.824, which is higher than the r-table value at a 5% significance level (0.374). It is recommended that the development of reading skills be more systematically integrated with speaking practice. Further research is suggested to involve a larger sample size and more diverse variables to strengthen the findings.

This study aims to develop an English learning module based on the role play approach to improve the speaking skills of Grade X students at SMA Negeri 21 Medan. The study is motivated by students’ low speaking ability due to limited communication practice and the use of conventional teaching methods. This research employs a qualitative approach focusing on needs analysis and initial product development. The research subjects include English teachers and Grade X students who participated in the needs analysis questionnaire. The findings indicate that students require interactive, communicative, and contextual learning and show strong interest in role play activities. Based on these findings, a role play-based module was designed to support speaking practice. However, this study is limited to the design and development stage and has not yet conducted expert validation or field testing. Therefore, further research is recommended to evaluate the feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of the developed module.

The development of a student's personality, particularly during classroom interaction, is heavily influenced by their level of self-confidence. A lack of self-assurance often leads to public speaking anxiety, which subsequently restricts student engagement and diminishes academic performance. This phenomenon is frequently identified among tenth-grade Vocational High School (SMK) students who are navigating a period of environmental transition. This research focuses on enhancing the self-confidence of Grade X SMK students struggling with speech-related anxiety through the implementation of group guidance services utilizing role-playing methods. The study follows a Guidance and Counseling Action Research (GCAR) design conducted over two cycles, consisting of preparatory, executive, monitoring, and evaluative phases. The participants were tenth-grade students with low self-confidence profiles as determined by questionnaires and field observations. Data were analyzed using a descriptive quantitative approach to compare performance levels before and after the intervention. The results demonstrate that group guidance integrated with role-playing is an effective strategy for optimizing student self-confidence, as shown by the consistent upward trend in scores throughout the cycles. These findings suggest that this technique serves as a strategic instrument for school counselors to mitigate social anxiety among students. 

This study aims to systematically examine empirical evidence on the effectiveness of role play in improving EFL students' speaking skills. Using Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology guided by the PRISMA framework, this study analyzed 20 peer-reviewed articles obtained from Google Scholar, ERIC, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria focused on studies investigating role play as an instructional technique targeting speaking skills in EFL or ESL contexts. Findings reveal that role play consistently and significantly improves key speaking components including fluency, accuracy, pronunciation, vocabulary, and confidence. Additionally, role play reduces speaking anxiety and promotes a more communicative and interactive learning environment. This review also identifies moderating factors such as class size, student proficiency level, and teacher facilitation quality that influence role play effectiveness. These findings suggest that role play is a highly effective pedagogical strategy for improving speaking competence, particularly in EFL contexts, and its systematic integration into curriculum design is strongly recommended.

This study aims to develop a storytelling-based learning media in the form of a YouTube video to support students’ understanding of narrative text based on their learning needs. This study employed a Research and Development (R&D) design using the ADDIE model, focusing on the stages of analysis and development. The data were collected through a questionnaire as part of the needs analysis to identify students’ responses toward listening and repetition activities, as well as the difficulties they face in understanding narrative texts. The results show that students generally respond positively to listening and repetition. However, they still experience difficulties in understanding the storyline and vocabulary. The findings also indicate that students need learning support in the form of audio, visual elements, and vocabulary assistance. Based on these findings, a learning product was developed in the form of a YouTube-based digital storytelling video entitled “Learn Narrative Text Through Fun Storytelling (Listen, Repeat & Retell)”. The video integrates storytelling, repetition, vocabulary explanation, and speaking practice to support students’ comprehension. Due to time limitations, this study was limited to the development of a prototype and has not yet included expert validation. Therefore, future research is recommended to conduct validation to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the developed product.

Globalization and technological developments require students to have global competencies, one of which is English language skills. This study aims to examine the urgency of English learning in elementary schools (SD) in preparing students' global competencies through a literature review. The method used is a qualitative research approach with a literature study sourced from scientific journals, academic books, and relevant educational documents from 2020–2025. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis techniques through data reduction, grouping themes, and synthesis of findings. The results of the study indicate that elementary school age is the optimal phase for language acquisition, so that early English learning can improve students' communication skills, digital literacy, and cultural openness. Communicative and contextual learning has been proven effective in increasing student motivation and self-confidence. Despite challenges such as limited teacher competence and students' fear of speaking English, English learning in elementary schools remains a crucial investment in preparing a generation ready to face global demands.

Arabic language learning is influenced not only by cognitive ability but also by students’ learning characteristics, including affective, social, and physiological dimensions, particularly the phenomenon of language anxiety that often hinders language performance. This study aims to analyze the relationship between students’ learning characteristics and the emergence of language anxiety in Arabic language learning, as well as to formulate its implications for instructional strategies. This research employs a qualitative approach through a conceptual study based on relevant literature concerning learning characteristics and language anxiety. The findings indicate that variations in students’ characteristics contribute to different levels of anxiety across the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Language anxiety is multidimensional and affects students’ participation, motivation, and academic performance. Therefore, Arabic language instruction should be designed using differentiated, communicative, and student-centered approaches while fostering a supportive learning environment. The study highlights the importance of the teacher’s role as a facilitator who understands students’ cognitive and affective dynamics in order to create more effective, humanistic, and responsive Arabic language learning.

Religious learning in secondary schools is not only implemented through intracurricular activities but is also strengthened by applicative extracurricular programs. One form of actualizing religious learning is kultum khitobiyah activities within the Islamic Spiritual Organization (Rohani Islam/Rohis). This study aims to describe the actualization of religious learning through Rohis kultum khitobiyah activities in developing students’ public speaking skills and spirituality at SMA Negeri 2 Tuban. This research employed a qualitative approach using field research methods. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, while data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that kultum khitobiyah activities effectively actualize religious learning through students’ active involvement in religious preaching practices. These activities contribute positively to the development of public speaking skills, particularly in terms of courage, self-confidence, and the ability to deliver ideas systematically. Furthermore, kultum khitobiyah activities also play a significant role in strengthening students’ spirituality, as reflected in increased religious awareness, internalization of Islamic values, and the manifestation of religious attitudes in daily life. Therefore, kultum khitobiyah activities within the Rohis extracurricular program have a strategic role in reinforcing religious learning by integrating communication skill development with students’ spiritual formation.

The purpose of this research is to examine how guidance and counseling instructors may help children in junior high get over their anxiety about speaking out in class. Students' lack of confidence and engagement in class might be exacerbated by the widespread problem of their fear of asking questions. In order to delve further into the issue, this study used a descriptive technique based on qualitative research. Students and instructors of guidance and counseling participated in interviews and observations to compile the data. The results highlight the important role that counseling and guidance instructors play in assisting students in coping with anxiety. Counseling sessions with individuals, group guidance exercises, and making an attempt to establish a welcoming classroom setting all contribute to this goal. Teachers also use excellent communication tactics and motivating initiatives to help pupils feel more comfortable expressing themselves. A more favorable classroom environment may also be achieved via collaboration between topic teachers and counseling instructors. Ultimately, the research demonstrates that students' anxiety of asking questions may be successfully reduced via the use of suitable counseling and guiding interventions. Consequently, students' self-esteem, classroom engagement, and academic performance are all much improved when guidance and counseling instructors are present.

English speaking skill is a crucial competence for university students, particularly those involved in student organizations focusing on language development. Members of English clubs are expected to actively use English in academic and organizational contexts; however, many still face challenges related to pronunciation accuracy, fluency, limited active vocabulary, and low confidence. These challenges are often caused by limited structured speaking practice and insufficient integration between digital learning tools and communicative pedagogy.This community service program aimed to enhance the English-speaking skills of members of the Bhamada English Club at Universitas Bhamada Slawi through the utilization of the Duolingo application integrated with a Task-Based Learning (TBL) approach. The program was implemented through three stages: preparation, implementation, and evaluation. Activities included needs analysis, speaking pre-test, guided Duolingo practice focusing on pronunciation and speaking features, task-based speaking activities, and post-test evaluation.The results demonstrated improvements in pronunciation accuracy, speaking fluency, and participants’ confidence in using English orally. The integration of Duolingo as a source of comprehensible input and Task-Based Learning as a communicative output strategy proved effective in enhancing speaking skills. This program indicates that technology-supported task-based instruction can serve as an effective and sustainable model for improving English speaking skills among university students.

This study aims to develop a pop-up book learning medium with the theme “Einkaufen” (Shopping) as a German language instructional medium for Grade XI students at SMA Negeri 3 Binjai. The background of this study is the low level of students’ understanding of the learning materials and their lack of learning motivation due to the use of monotonous conventional media. This research employs a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the ADDIE development model, which includes the stages of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The results of the implementation stage indicate that 98.3% of students agreed that the pop-up book is effective for use in German language learning, and 96.7% stated that the material content is easy to understand. The pop-up book consists of six pages containing learning materials and exercises that focus on reading, writing, and speaking skills. Validation by material and media experts yielded a score of 90, categorized as very good. These findings demonstrate that the developed pop-up book medium is not only visually engaging but also capable of enhancing students’ motivation and comprehension in an integrative German language learning process. This medium can serve as an effective alternative for improving the quality of foreign language learning at the secondary school level.

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using vlogs as a Project Based Learning (PBL) media in the Fantasy Makeup course to enhance students’ soft skills, particularly in communication, public speaking, creativity, and problem solving. This research employed a pre-experimental design with a one group pre-test and post-test design. The sample consisted of 25 students selected through a census sampling technique, in which the entire population was used as the research sample. Data were collected through observation and questionnaires administered in two stages: a pre-test before the implementation of the learning model and a post-test afterward. The data were analyzed using a Paired Sample T-Test to identify the mean differences in students’ soft skill scores before and after the learning treatment. The results showed a significant improvement in communication, public speaking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities after the implementation of the vlog-based PBL model. Therefore, the use of vlogs is proven to be an effective and innovative learning medium to strengthen students’ soft skills in the context of the Fantasy Makeup course.

This research was motivated by the low level of children’s speaking ability in learning activities. This study aims to improve the speaking skills of children aged 5–6 years at Raudhatul Athfal Mas’udi and to examine how animated video learning is implemented to enhance the speaking skills of children aged 5–6 years at Raudhatul Athfal Mas’udi. The method used in this study is a qualitative method with the type of Classroom Action Research (CAR). The subjects of this study were Group B students of Raudhatul Athfal Mas’udi Pontianak, totaling 17 children. There are three aspects examined in this study, namely understanding information that is heard, repeating more complex sentences, and answering more complex questions. To obtain the data, this research used observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of the study show that children’s speaking skills before and after each cycle experienced a very good improvement. Thus, animated videos are proven to be effective in improving children’s speaking skills.

This study aims to describe the application of role-playing techniques in group guidance to improve self-confidence in adolescents at Rantepao Christian High School. A descriptive qualitative approach was used with eight eleventh-grade students with low self-confidence, identified through initial observations and interviews. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation during eight group guidance sessions, and documentation such as student reflection journals. Data analysis followed the Miles and Huberman model, including data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that role-playing techniques were effective in improving students' self-confidence, as evidenced by increased active participation, group speaking skills, and positive self-expression post-intervention. Students were initially hesitant and shy, but after role-playing in social scenarios such as presentations and peer interactions, they showed significant behavioral changes. Supporting factors included a supportive group atmosphere and positive feedback from counselors and peers. This study contributes to guidance and counseling practices in Christian schools, emphasizing the importance of experiential methods such as role-playing for adolescents in the North Toraja community. Practical implications are recommended for guidance and counseling teachers to integrate this technique into student self-development programs.

This study aims to analyze students’ perceptions of public speaking training in improving self-confidence at Madrasah Al Hidayah Betoyokauman. The research is motivated by the low level of students’ self-confidence when speaking in public, which is often characterized by nervousness, fear, and reluctance to express opinions. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach to explore students’ subjective experiences and interpretations after participating in public speaking training. The research activities were conducted on Thursday, January 8, 2026, through material presentations and direct public speaking practice, including roles such as master of ceremony, presentations, speeches, and stand-up comedy. Data were collected using a student perception questionnaire to capture students’ views and experiences regarding changes in self-confidence after the training. The results indicate that students generally have positive perceptions of the public speaking training and experience an improvement in self-confidence, as reflected in increased speaking courage, better control of nervousness, and stronger belief in their own abilities. The training not only enhances students’ speaking skills but also serves as a medium for developing students’ soft skills. This study implies that public speaking training can be implemented as a supportive program to improve students’ self-confidence and communication skills in the madrasah environment.

Language is part of culture. Not everyone knows the philosophy and meaning behind the names of food. The purpose of this study is to find out the meaning, function, and value of the names of jenang in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. In addition, to find out what the philosophy of naming jenang is in Purworejo Regency, Central Java. From the perspective of semiotics (Roland Barthes' semiotic theory), semantics, culture and philosophy, several conclusions can be drawn. This research method includes a qualitative descriptive research method. Research data were obtained using the technique of listening and speaking. The data analysis method uses qualitative descriptive. Data analysis uses Rolland Barthes' semiotic theory. The author also briefly touches on meaning using a semantic perspective. In Purworejo Regency, eight (8) types of jenang are familiar in the daily lives of the people in Purworejo Regency, namely jenang sumsum, jenang abang putih, jenang procot, jenang candil, jenang katul, jenang pathi kerut (jenang garut), jenang krasikan, and jenang alot.

Shyness is one of the affective factors that often hinders students’ ability to speak English in the classroom, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. This study aims to investigate students’ experiences of shyness in speaking English, identify the factors contributing to their shyness, and examine its impact on their speaking learning process. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. The participants were junior high school students who were involved in English learning activities during a community service program (KKN). Data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire consisting of 20 questions related to students’ attitudes, feelings, experiences, and coping strategies in speaking English. The findings reveal that most students experience nervousness, fear of making mistakes, and fear of being laughed at by peers when speaking English. Peer reactions, low self-confidence, limited vocabulary, and pronunciation difficulties were identified as the main factors causing shyness. Furthermore, shyness negatively affects students’ participation and willingness to practice speaking English in class. However, supportive teachers, group-based activities, and a relaxed learning atmosphere were found to help reduce students’ shyness. This study suggests that teachers should create a supportive and non-threatening classroom environment to enhance students’ confidence in speaking English.

This study aims to examine the relationship between reading interest and students' speaking skills at the elementary school level using a literature review approach. The background of this study focuses on the importance of reading interest as an element of speaking skills that need to be honed from an early age, and there is a strong assumption that reading interest has a major influence in improving these skills. The method applied is an analysis of five scientific articles found through a search using the keywords "speaking skills", "vocabulary", and "reading interest" on Google Scholar. The results of the study showed that all studies analyzed concluded that there was a significant and positive relationship between reading interest and speaking skills. Students who have a high interest in reading generally show better speaking skills thanks to their rich vocabulary, good sentence structure, and the ability to convey ideas regularly. These findings have important implications for teachers, curriculum developers, and parents to combine reading activities with speaking activities in the educational process. Increasing literacy culture from an early age has been shown to support the development of students' oral communication skills more effectively and sustainably.