Functional Analysis of Narrative Texts in Elementary School Textbook “Fly with English”

Background: This study is an analysis of narrative texts in Elementary School textbook “Fly with English” based on lexico-grammar and context in the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). This study is also expected to give the pedagogical implication based on the context of teaching and learning process Method: This research uses descriptive qualitative type of study in investigating the problem. In the technique of collecting data, the writer uses observation and documentation. The writer finds 95 clauses in narrative text. In analyzing the data, the writer uses lexico-grammar of SFL framework to answer the first problem. Moreover, the writer refers to context of SFL framework to answer the second problem, and the writer also uses context of teaching and learning to answer the third problem. Result: Based on the result, there are six types of processes in the narrative text, those are: (1) material process (40%), (2) mental process (23,1%), (3) relational process (20%), (4) verbal and behavioral process (7,4%), and (5) existential process (2,1%). The writer also finds fifteen types of the participants, namely actor, goal, senser, phenomenon, sayer, verbiage, carrier, attribute, token, value, receiver, client, recipient, behaver, and existent. Moreover, the writer finds six types of circumstances, that are, location, matter, manner, accompaniment, cause, and extent. Implication: The pedagogical implication of studying Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) in narrative text is to give the insight of the teacher about SFL genre pedagogy in teaching and learning process. In functional grammar, teacher can teach the language features in different ways, such as by introducing the terms of processes, participants, and circumstances that contain in the narrative text clauses.

Polysemous Words in English Movies, Learning Obstacles or Gifted Talent?

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to investigate how L2 learners deal with polysemous words or phrases without instruction about polysemy and (2) to observe what alternatives L2 learners have instead of instruction. In this paper, a case study was administered with three advanced college students. The material was an American movie, Café Society (Allen, 2016). All participants were tested three times with mostly polysemous words and phrases. It was found in the first test that the participants depended heavily on context to decide which senses of polysemous words were appropriate. The second test showed that the participants failed to handle the context because it was too difficult for them. In the third test, participants often misjudged the context and consequently made wrong choices among several senses. The results of the tests indicate that context is key to dealing with polysemous words or phrases. The pedagogical implication is that L2 students need context to deal with polysemous words or phrases. Teachers must instruct about the context. Image schemas and conceptual metaphors are only products of the interaction between context and polysemous words.

Pedagogical implication of Audio-Articulation Method to defossilize /e/এ/ sound in English pronunciation of Bangladeshi EFL learners

The purpose of this article is to show how to defossilize the English /e/ sound which is pronounced by the Bengali learners of English instead of /ei/ sound in such words like ape, make and day etc. This mispronunciation creates confusion among the native speakers of English and the Bengali learners’ pronunciation loses comprehensibility to the listeners. The author, in his experience, observes that Phonological fossilization of /e/ sound in the Bengali speakers of English is the main cause of this mispronunciation and incomprehensibility level in them. The present study is a detail lesson plan to defossilize the problem causing /e/ sound by using Audio Articulation Method propounded by Mehmet Demirezen in the classroom practice. As a fossilized pronunciation error correction method, the audio articulation method can play a vital role in creating awareness of a fossilized sound among the EFL learners in Bangladesh. By applying different kinds of drills, such as, conversation drills, substitution drills, question-answer drills, repetition drills, language games etc in the class hour, the teachers can endeavor to defossilize the problem causing sounds among the students and both the teachers and learners in Bangladesh can be benefited through this practice.

Investigating Interpersonal Meaning-Making in Indonesian EFL Learners' Writing: A Systemic Functional Perspective

This study presents an investigation of interpersonal meaning-making in students’ writing analytical exposition text. The objectives of this study are to describe the common mood types and to describe modality realization used in the text. Nine texts from 144 texts were collected to analyze. The theories from Systemic Functional Linguistics are adapted as the framework to analyze the clause of the text. The findings of this study showed that students have used mood types which can be seen in the use of subject and finite as mood elements, and the use of predicator, adjunct, and complement as residue. The arrangement of mood element ad residue shows the mood type they used. Regarding to SFL theories, the common mood type in this study is declarative as its function of analytical exposition text to discuss topic critically and deeply from one point of view. The result showed that students have attempted to provide information in the text. In the terms of modality, the median modality has a higher frequency in this text than that of high modality and low modality. It indicates that the students have an effort to position themselves and build the relationship to the reader in the text. Moreover, the zero frequency of low modality shows that the students did not provide opportunities for readers to doubt their position in the text. In conclusion, problem –solving approach as the pedagogical implication is appropriate for students to improve cognitive aspects in terms of communicative skills, so students have been able to create the effective analytical exposition text which is intended to discuss something critically from one point of view.

Investigating Translation Technique: A Result of the Students’ Work on Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The modern era, especially in the global pandemic Covid – 19, the need of information, knowledge and entertainment becomes a crucial part since the activities must go online. The government rule stated that the information shall be accessible for anyone, the deaf and hearing impaired, for instance. This descriptive qualitative study aims to investigate the translation technique done by the students in working for subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) in Audiovisual translation class. The finding of 208 data revealed that there are 12 of 18 techniques applied proposed by Molina and Albir. The most dominant technique is literal translation, besides it showed that the students as a subtitlers may apply one or more techniques during doing the subtitling. As a pedagogical implication to this study, the results can be considerations in designing the curriculum for Audio visual translation subject with complete theories and practices, especially in terms of building the emotion and characterization

A Discourse Approach to Spoken and Written Narratives: Pedagogical Implications for EFL Learners

Recent research on the analysis of spoken discourse (Halliday, 1985, McCarthy, 1998) shows that spoken language also has a consistent structure and in many respects, it does have the language patterns as that of written English. Thus, it proves that both spoken and written language have a describable structure. The aim of this study is to explore some discourse features of both spoken and written English and their pedagogical implication. For this purpose, two texts: a spontaneous speech (recorded and transcribed) and then a short-written poem are analyzed at both micro and macro level of discourse. As both texts have narrative content, Labov’s model of narrative analysis is applied to identify their organizing pattern. Similarities and differences in the discourse features of both texts are also examined. Some pedagogical implications of such an analysis are also suggested to language teachers; so that they can improve students’ language competence skills by adopting discourse-based teaching strategies.

Perception of gesturally different Mandarin retroflexes by Taiwan Mandarin speakers

This paper reports results from a study investigating whether there is a perceptual difference between gesturally different Mandarin retroflexes. Previous studies have suggested that there are two articulatory manners for Mandarin retroflexes: One involves the tongue tip being “curled-up,” and the other the tongue body being “bunched-up.” Thus, by implementing a perception test on Taiwan Mandarin listeners and an acoustic analysis, the research determines whether retroflexes produced with these gestures will be perceived differently. The resultsdings then show that “curled-up” and “bunched-up” retroflexes are not perceptually contrastive at a phonological level. However, the latter are perceived to be phonetically more retroflexed, with such property of stronger retroflexion reflected in their lower M1 (first moment) values. These findings yield one pedagogical implication. The teaching of retroflex articulations can be made reference to the gesture with which Mandarin learners can produce with more ease.

Pedagogical Implication of Clause Expansion Mastery through E-Learning Instruction to Improve Academic English Writing Skills

The current study investigated the pedagogical implication of Clause Expansion (CE) mastery to improve academic English writing skills. Fifteen students participated in the study. A two-cycle action research design was used to justify how the mastery of clause expansion contributed to the development of academic writing skills. Prior to intervention, they were assigned to write academic texts based on IELTS writing test. Then, they were given a three-week task-based e-learning instruction on CE., based on Systemic Functional Linguistic Framework of Clause Expansion.In the process of Explicit Instruction (EI) of CE, they were exposed in academic writing exercises to apply their knowledge on CE in various grammatical contexts in which it is required as Input Flood (IF). Another test was administered to see how it progressed from the pre-test. Then, another three-week task-based e-learning module, was given for their second online learning activities. A post-test was administered to see how it contributed to their overall writing skills. It turned out that CE mastery under e-learning special instruction did significantly improve their writing skills. They become more confident in writing academic texts. It is highly recommended that CE be taught as an integral part of a writing course.

The Pedagogical Implication of Maybrat Oral Literature (Elements and Value of Character Education)

This research aimed to know the elements in the folklore of Maybrat Regency and value of character education contained in the folklore of Maybrat Regency. The data obtained in this study were three stories from Maybrat Regency which were obtained through the results of interviews with informants who came and were in Maybrat Regency. The research method used is descriptive research method with procedures: conducted interviews, record the interview process, rewrite the results of interviews in this case folklore, analyzed elements in folklore, and analyzing the value of character education in folklore. The results in this research include three stories of Maybrat Regency entitled: (1) The origin of Arus Village, (2) The Origin of Way Clan, and (3) the Origin of Howay Clan. Here the result of analyze elements: (1) the theme of love and hard work, (2) the location of the story in the Maybrat Regency, (3) the characters that appear in family life (husband, wife, siblings, and a group of village people) their life character respects one another, (4) contains a degeneration plot, and (5) contains a positive message to work hard and maintain harmony in life. Furthermore, the value of character education is also contained in this story, namely: discipline, hard work, independence, caring for the environment, responsibility, tolerance and caring for others.

Utilizing Local Wisdom-Based Reading Text to Improve Students’ Reading Comprehension of the Second Grade of MAN 1 Baubau

Local wisdom-based reading text as the authentic teaching material overcomes various obstacles of reading comprehension in EFL which activate the students’ schemata. This research is about utilization of the local wisdom-based reading text to improve students’ reading comprehension. The types of comprehension include identifying main idea, understanding unfamiliar words, identifying text details, and being able to find reference within the text, being able to make inference regarding the text. The research design was pre-experimental study using a sample of 27 students in the second grade of Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 1 Baubau. A pre-test was administrated before intervention and after the same test for the post-test was administered to find out the students’ improvement on reading comprehension. The result confirmed that local wisdom-based reading text is an effective tools to empower EFL learners’ comprehension. The most prevalent improvement regards familiarity of the lexical items ability in making inference as well as finding out main idea. The students’ positive responses that were based on the perception confirmed that local wisdom-based reading text could be encouraged to come up with pedagogical implication applicable for the EFL classroom notably at the second grade of MAN 1 Baubau.