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Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) has become a key objective of English language education; however, its implementation in Indonesia remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the alignment between ICC expectations in the Kurikulum Merdeka, English textbooks, and classroom practices in Indonesian senior high schools. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed, involving document analysis of four government-issued English textbooks for grades X–XII, classroom observations in 15 schools across three provinces, a survey of 87 English teachers, and in-depth interviews with 18 teachers and 36 students. The findings reveal a three-level gap. First, the curriculum acknowledges ICC but lacks clear and measurable operational guidelines. Second, textbooks predominantly emphasize Anglo-American culture (64.8% of cultural content) while providing limited representation of Indonesian and global cultures. Third, 78.2% of teachers reported not explicitly integrating cultural dimensions into English instruction, resulting in stereotypical and culturally limited classroom practices. To address these issues, the study proposes the Triangulated Cultural Literacy (TCL) framework, integrating reflection on learners’ own culture, balanced exploration of target cultures, and intercultural negotiation. The findings highlight the need to operationalize ICC in the curriculum, improve textbook cultural representation, and strengthen teachers’ intercultural pedagogical competence.

This study aims to determine the application of picture media and bingo games in English learning at elementary schools and to improve students’ confidence in learning English. The research was conducted in the sixth grade of Aengbaja Kenek Elementary School in the 2025/2026 academic year with 7 students as the research subjects. The research method used was classroom action research with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and literature study.The results showed that the use of picture media and bingo games was able to increase students’ motivation, enthusiasm, and ability in learning English. Students became more active in learning new vocabulary, understanding grammar, practicing pronunciation, and improving their speaking and reading skills. In addition, the learning process became more enjoyable, interactive, and less monotonous, so students were more confident in using English. Picture media helped students understand the material visually, while bingo games created an interesting learning atmosphere through learning-by-playing activities. Therefore, the application of picture media and bingo games are effective as a medium for teaching English in elementary schools to improve students’ language skills and learning motivation.

The ability to describe graphs accurately in English is an essential academic skill for EFL learners, particularly in higher education contexts where students are required to interpret and communicate visual data. However, many learners still experience difficulties in producing grammatically accurate graph descriptions. This study aims to investigate the level of grammatical accuracy demonstrated by EFL learners in graph description tasks and identify the grammatical aspects that require further improvement. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the research analyzed 30 samples of students’ written graph descriptions produced by undergraduate learners. The analysis focused on several grammatical aspects, including subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, article usage, sentence structure, prepositions, and punctuation. The findings reveal that students frequently struggle with subject–verb agreement and article usage, while punctuation errors occurred less frequently. The study highlights that grammatical accuracy remains an important challenge for EFL learners in academic writing tasks involving data interpretation. Therefore, it is recommended that grammar instruction be integrated more intensively into graph description activities in English classes. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of more effective teaching strategies in academic writing instruction for EFL learners.

This study examines the effectiveness of Assemblr Augmented Reality (AR) in improving English vocabulary mastery among deaf students in an inclusive classroom setting. The research was conducted at SD N 2 Bengkala using a quantitative pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and post-test approach. The participants were Grade 5 deaf students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed vocabulary test consisting of 15 items, which was validated through expert judgment and demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.815). Descriptive statistical analysis revealed a substantial improvement in students’ vocabulary scores, with the mean increasing from 45.00 in the pre-test to 76.50 in the post-test. The minimum score improved from 40 to 73, and the maximum score increased from 50 to 80. Inferential analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test showed a significance value of 0.180, indicating no statistical significance due to the small sample size. However, the observed improvement indicates strong practical significance. The findings suggest that Assemblr AR enhances vocabulary learning by providing visual and interactive learning experiences that support deaf students’ cognitive processing. This study highlights the potential of AR technology as an effective instructional medium in inclusive education environments.  

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.

English learning at the elementary school level plays an important role in developing students’ early language competence, particularly in listening skills as the foundation for other language abilities. However, many learning processes still rely on conventional teaching methods that do not fully accommodate the developmental characteristics of young learners, resulting in limited engagement and listening comprehension. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of storytelling in improving English listening skills among elementary school students and to identify effective implementation strategies in classroom learning. This research employs a library research method by reviewing and analyzing various relevant literature sources, including books, scientific journals, and previous research findings related to storytelling in English language learning. The analysis shows that storytelling contributes significantly to improving students’ listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, attention, and learning motivation. Through structured narratives, expressive delivery, and the support of visual media, storytelling creates a contextual and meaningful learning environment that helps students understand spoken English more effectively. The findings also indicate that the effectiveness of storytelling is closely related to the developmental characteristics of elementary school students who learn better through concrete, imaginative, and engaging experiences. Furthermore, the implementation of storytelling through systematic stages pre-listening, while-listening, and post-listening can enhance students participation and comprehension during the learning process. In conclusion, storytelling can be considered an effective instructional strategy for improving English listening skills among elementary school students while also supporting vocabulary development and creating an engaging learning atmosphere.

. Studies on the use of a digital storybook for teaching English to young learners have been abundant; however, the integration of independence values into the story for elementary school students in Indonesia has received limited attention. Independence is one of the characters that educate young learners to become responsible and self-reliant. This study aims to design a digital storybook that integrates independence value into English language learning materials for fifth-grade students. Using a qualitative Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, this study employed a design framework as the main research instrument, derived from character education theory, Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL), and multimedia learning theory. Data were collected through the analyses of curriculum policies, English textbooks, children’s literature, character education, and multimedia learning. This study produced a digital storybook entitled Lisa Can Do It, which can be expected to become a medium to learn English and at the same time educate children about independence value. Findings indicate that character-based digital storybooks demonstrate the potential to integrate language learning with character education, providing a foundation for the design and implementation of digital learning materials integrated with character in English language education in elementary schools. Further research should focus on the implementation of the product to evaluate its impact on student learning outcomes.

Education involves acquiring knowledge and skills, with English learning being a skill-based process that requires consistent and engaging practice. In the digital era, mobile applications have emerged as effective tools to overcome traditional limitations in language learning. This study investigates the effectiveness of the Duolingo application in enhancing English vocabulary among university students. A pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was employed involving 40 first-semester Pharmacy students at Anwar Medika University. Participants engaged in daily Duolingo practice (20 XP per day) for 30 consecutive days. Data were collected through vocabulary pretest and posttest as well as a Likert-scale questionnaire. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant improvement in vocabulary scores, with the mean score increasing from 57.25 in the pretest to 81.70 in the posttest. Questionnaire results indicated high student motivation, positive perceptions of the app’s usefulness and ease of use, and minimal perceived disadvantages. The findings suggest that daily Duolingo practice is an effective, engaging, and accessible method for boosting English vocabulary acquisition. This study provides practical insights for educators seeking innovative technology-integrated approaches to language teaching.

Vocabulary acquisition is a fundamental component of English language learning because it enables students to comprehend texts and develop broader communication skills. In elementary school contexts, however, vocabulary instruction is frequently delivered through traditional teaching practices that are not closely related to students’ real-life experiences. As a result, students often face difficulties in understanding and retaining new vocabulary. One potential approach to address this issue is the integration of local wisdom into learning activities so that the materials become more contextual and meaningful for learners. Therefore, this study aims to examine how the incorporation of local cultural elements can support vocabulary development among elementary school students. This research employed a descriptive qualitative design using a library research method. The data were gathered from various academic sources, including national and international journal articles, scholarly books, and conference proceedings that discuss English language learning, vocabulary development, and the integration of local wisdom in educational practices. The collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis by identifying, comparing, and synthesizing relevant findings from previous studies. The results indicate that the use of local cultural content, such as folklore, traditional practices, and community-based contexts, can significantly support students in understanding and remembering new vocabulary items. Learning materials that reflect students’ cultural backgrounds also contribute to higher levels of learning motivation and classroom participation. In conclusion, integrating local wisdom into English learning can create a more meaningful instructional environment and effectively support vocabulary mastery among elementary school students.

This study aims to examine the use of picture books as a visual literacy medium in teaching English at the elementary school level, particularly in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This research employed a qualitative descriptive literature review by analyzing relevant national and international journal articles published within the last five years. The findings indicate that the integration of visual and verbal elements in picture books contributes significantly to students’ language development, especially in vocabulary acquisition, reading comprehension, and meaning construction. From an affective perspective, the use of picture books enhances students’ motivation, learning interest, classroom participation, and reduces language learning anxiety. The effectiveness of visual media is theoretically supported by Dual Coding Theory, which explains that information processed through both verbal and visual channels strengthens memory retention and comprehension. However, several challenges remain, including the selection of appropriate picture books and teachers’ limited competence in visual literacy. Therefore, systematic instructional planning and professional development for teachers are essential to optimize the use of picture books in EFL classrooms at the elementary level.

Storytelling has been widely recognized as an effective method for teaching English to young learners because it presents language in meaningful and engaging contexts. This study aims to explore the implementation of storytelling in teaching English to primary school students and to examine the perceived benefits and challenges from the teacher’s perspective. The study employed a qualitative descriptive research design involving one English teacher who taught Grade 6 students at SDN 261 Pinrang. The participant was selected through purposive sampling due to her experience in applying storytelling activities in English instruction at the lower primary level. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview and documentation, including lesson plans and teaching materials related to storytelling used in the classroom. The data were analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis by identifying recurring themes related to classroom implementation, student responses, perceived benefits, and instructional challenges. The findings reveal that storytelling was mainly implemented in listening and speaking activities using simple and familiar stories, visual aids, and follow-up tasks such as comprehension questions and story retelling. According to the teacher, storytelling contributed positively to students’ listening skills, vocabulary acquisition, motivation, and confidence in using English. Students showed higher levels of attention, engagement, and willingness to participate during storytelling sessions compared to traditional teaching methods. However, several challenges were also identified, including difficulty in selecting age-appropriate and culturally relevant stories, limited instructional time, large class size, and the teacher’s need for further training in designing effective storytelling activities. Despite these challenges, the study concludes that storytelling can create a positive and supportive learning environment when it is carefully planned and supported by adequate teacher preparation. The findings highlight the importance of instructional support to maximize the effectiveness of storytelling in primary EFL classrooms.

In the context of rapid educational transformation and increasing demands in English language teaching, teacher professional identity has become central to how teachers interpret experiences and sustain professional engagement. However, limited research has examined how such identities are co-constructed through the collaborative narratives. Addressing this gap, this study explores how Vietnamese Generation-Z English-as-a-Foreign-Language teachers construct and negotiate their professional identities through collaborative narrative interactions. Grounded in a post-structuralist perspective and informed by Positioning Theory, the study conceptualizes teacher identity as discursively produced and contextually negotiated through storytelling. Employing a collaborative trio-narrative inquiry design, data were generated through individual narrative interviews, group narrative conversations, and reflective journals with these three teachers. A theme-based narrative analysis, guided by Clandinin and Connelly’s three-dimensional framework and Positioning Theory, was systematically conducted. Findings revealed that participants’ identities developed through reflexive interpretations of past experiences, interactive negotiations in present teaching practices, and future-oriented projections of their possible selves. These identity (re)constructions were further embedded within a moral order characterized by personal affection, responsibility, and professional commitment. The study itself contributes to teacher identity research by foregrounding collaborative meaning-making and processes of self- and other-positioning. Pedagogical implications are offered for teacher education and continuing professional development, alongside acknowledged limitations and directions for future research.

The study titled “Designing a Web-Based E-Module for Empowering Tenth-Grade Students’ Writing Skills in Descriptive Text” aims to develop a digital learning medium to improve students’ descriptive writing abilities. The research applies a Design and Development (D&D) approach using the ADDIE model, consisting of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation, supported by a descriptive quantitative method. The study addresses limitations of traditional, teacher-centered instruction that relies heavily on printed materials by integrating technology into the learning process. The research begins with an analysis of existing teaching practices and learning resources for descriptive text writing. Based on this analysis, a web-based e-module is designed to provide a more interactive and engaging learning experience. The module includes structured materials such as definitions, purposes, text structures, language features, examples, and practice exercises. The e-module is then implemented in a tenth-grade classroom setting, followed by an evaluation of its effectiveness using quantitative data. The results indicate that the web-based e-module effectively improves students’ descriptive writing skills. Interactive features, including multimedia content, self-paced activities, and immediate feedback, enhance students’ motivation and active participation. Teachers and students report positive perceptions regarding the practicality, accessibility, and usefulness of the e-module. Pre-test and post-test results also show a clear improvement in students’ writing performance. Overall, the study concludes that web-based e-modules are a promising instructional medium for enhancing writing skills and supporting student-centered, technology-integrated English language learning.

This study discusses the role of prayer in shaping character and daily ethics as one of the main pillars of Islamic teachings. Prayer is not merely a ritual act of worship but also serves as a means of spiritual and moral education and shapes the overall personality of Muslims. This study uses a literature review method by examining various sources such as books, journals, and scientific articles relevant to Google Scholar from 2020 to 2025, sourced from 20 Indonesian-language journals and 5 English-language journals. Based on this background, prayer plays an important role in instilling values of discipline, responsibility, sincerity, patience, and self-reflection, which contribute to the formation of an individual's character and integrity. In addition, prayer also serves as the foundation of social ethics by fostering honesty, justice, empathy, politeness, and solidarity in social interactions. There is also congregational prayer, which, when performed, can strengthen the values of togetherness, brotherhood, and social concern, which are the foundations of a harmonious social life. Research shows that consistent and solemn prayer practices can control desires, prevent immoral and evil deeds, and provide mental and spiritual balance for the practitioner. Thus, prayer is an important instrument in the moral and spiritual development of Muslims and is relevant in facing modern challenges such as stress and social ethical degradation.

English Correspondence is an important course for university students from non-English departments as it equips them with professional writing skills needed in the workplace, including job application letter writing. This study aims to describe students’ writing outcomes in writing job application letters after receiving instruction in an English Correspondence course. The study employed a descriptive qualitative research design. The participants consisted of 22 students from a non-English department enrolled in the English Correspondence course at Stekom university. The data were obtained from students’ final job application letters and analyzed using an analytic writing assessment rubric focusing on content relevance, completeness of letter structure, organization, and use of formal English. The findings reveal that students generally achieved good writing outcomes in writing job application letters. The strongest aspect was the completeness of letter structure, indicating that most students were able to apply the standard format and components of a job application letter appropriately. Students also demonstrated relatively good performance in content relevance and use of formal English. However, weaknesses were identified in organization and language accuracy, particularly in developing coherent ideas and using grammatically accurate formal expressions. The analysis of representative excerpts from students’ letters further illustrates variations in writing quality across aspects. Overall, the findings suggest that instruction in the English Correspondence course contributed positively to students’ ability to write job application letters. This study highlights the importance of examining students’ writing outcomes holistically to provide insights for improving instructional practices in teaching professional writing.

Abbreviation is a common linguistic strategy used to achieve efficiency and clarity in modern communication. This study examines the abbreviation systems of English and Indonesian through a contrastive linguistic approach, focusing on morphological patterns, phonological constraints, and usage conventions. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, the data were collected from established linguistic references and analyzed using classical contrastive analysis principles. The findings reveal that English abbreviation formation is structurally flexible, allowing both pronounceable acronyms and non-pronounceable initialisms, often maintaining complex consonant clusters and orthographic capitalization. In contrast, Indonesian abbreviation formation is strongly influenced by phonological preferences, particularly ease of pronunciation and conformity to open syllable structures, resulting in forms that closely resemble ordinary lexical items. These structural differences suggest potential sources of negative transfer for language learners and challenges in translation practices. The study concludes that abbreviation systems are shaped not only by linguistic rules but also by sociocultural and communicative needs. Understanding these contrasts is essential for language teaching, translation, and further comparative linguistic research.

The aim of this study is to analyze verbal and non-verbal communication in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom by using the Sinclair and Coulthard (1975) model of classroom discourse. Although many studies have examined verbal interaction in EFL classrooms, few have discussed how verbal and non-verbal communication work together to support effective learning. To fill this gap, this research focuses on identifying the types and frequency of verbal and non-verbal communication used by the teacher and students during classroom interaction. This study used a descriptive qualitative method. The data were taken from an 80-minute video recording of an eleventh-grade English class at MAS Darul Quran. The recording was transcribed and analyzed based on Sinclair and Coulthard’s framework, which includes three main levels: Exchange (Informing, Directive, Question–Answer), Move (Initiation, Response, Feedback), and Act (Questioning, Explaining, Agreeing, Refusing, Revising, Appraising). The findings show that the classroom interaction was mainly teacher-centered. The teacher dominated the talk through Initiation moves, mostly in the form of questions, explanations, and instructions, while students gave short and simple responses. Feedback was used less often and mostly as short praise or confirmation. The teacher also used various non-verbal behaviors such as gestures, eye contact, movement, and changes in voice tone to direct attention and motivate students. The results suggest that combining verbal and non-verbal strategies can create a more interactive and engaging classroom atmosphere that supports student participation and understanding.

This study aims to analyse the difficulties experienced by female students at Tunas Ilmu Islamic Junior High School in learning English. English is an important subject in the curriculum, but some students still show difficulties in understanding and using the language effectively. This study uses a  qualitative descriptive method with observation, interviews and a questionnaire given to students. The initial results of the essay questionnaire show that 50% of students say they like English lessons, while the other 50% experience difficulties in learning. Meanwhile, the results of the multiple-choice questionnaire showed that students experienced three difficulties, namely difficulty reading sentences, understanding vocabulary, and understanding grammatical concepts. Learning difficulties are a problem that prevents students from following lessons as well as other students in general. Learning difficulties are commonly experienced by students. The results of the study show that the main difficulties students face are in speaking and listening skills, which are caused by a lack of vocabulary, low self-confidence, and limited exposure to English outside the classroom. Another contributing factor is the lack of variety in teaching methods. Therefore, this study is expected to serve as a basis for teachers to design more effective learning strategies that are tailored to the needs of students.

The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and tools like Canva has revolutionized English Language Teaching (ELT) in Indonesia, shifting from traditional methods to interactive, student-centered approaches. This study aims to explore the benefits and challenges of incorporating these technologies into ELT practices. Employing a qualitative literature review methodology, the research analyzed over 20 empirical studies from 2020 to 2023 on Canva and ICT in Indonesian ELT, supplemented by global Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) frameworks. Key findings reveal that ICT and Canva enhance student motivation, creativity, and communicative skills through multimodal and constructivist learning, while fostering authentic language exposure and collaboration. However, challenges include inadequate infrastructure, limited teacher training, digital inequities between urban and rural areas, ethical issues such as copyright infringement, and increased teacher workload. The implications underscore the need for systematic professional development, institutional support, curriculum alignment, and policies promoting equitable access to ensure transformative and sustainable technology integration in Indonesian ELT.  

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the application of direct and indirect methods in teaching English, specifically the topic of "Telling Time," at MTs Al-Amiriyyah through microteaching practice. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques including observation, interviews, and documentation. The research subjects consist of an English teacher and the students of class VIII A. The data were thematically analyzed to identify significant patterns in the teaching process. The findings indicate that the direct method is effective in building students' foundational understanding of time concepts, as it emphasizes explicit and concrete use of the target language and allows teachers to easily assess students' comprehension through drilling. On the other hand, the indirect method proved to enhance students’ ability to use English more naturally through contextual activities such as role play and daily schedule games. Moreover, students with kinesthetic learning styles responded more positively to the indirect method, as it enables them to learn through physical activity and direct participation. These findings suggest that a combination of both methods yields optimal results: the direct method is effective for the initial stage of concept acquisition, while the indirect method supports the development of communicative skills in a functional and enjoyable manner, aligning with students' characteristics.