This research examines the exploitation of epistemic modality markers in political discourse. This research inspects modal auxiliaries and semi-modals use in four speeches addressed by Obama at the annual United Nations General Assembly during his second period as a President of America. Applying both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research is in an attempt to accomplish the whole investigation dealing with explorative and quantification of epistemic modality in Obama’s political discourse. The data were taken from Obama’s speeches from 2013 to 2016 at the United Nations General Assembly. The findings demonstrate that 471 modality markers were found in Obama’s speeches and he frequently delivered epistemic probability with 189 cases or 40.2% modal auxiliaries and semi-modals. Epistemic certainty and possibility were found in 125 cases or 26.6% and in 157 cases or 33.2%. The highest degree of epistemic modality, epistemic certainty, is expressed by employing must, have to, need to, cannot, could not, and may not. Modal should, will, would, be going to, and ought to express epistemic probability and modal can, could, may, might, and be able to are exploited to express the lowest degree of epistemic modality, epistemic possibility. The higher epistemic modality markers involved in a proposition indicate the higher confidence of evaluation and judgment asserted based on the speaker’s knowledge, belief, and evidence. In contrast, the lower epistemic modality markers found indicate lower confidence in the evaluation and judgment of the proposition.

Despite its increasing popularity among young adults, TikTok has been very slow in finding its way into the English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching profession. Yet before introducing the application into the EFL classrooms, it is no doubt imperative to discern what is preferable among EFL learners. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the extent to which EFL learners perceive TikTok as facilitating their learning. To this end, the participants (N = 31) were asked to fill out a short, online questionnaire to gather information about (i) whether they utilized TikTok as an affordance for their EFL learning and (ii) whether they perceive its integration into the EFL classrooms as facilitative of their learning. The findings revealed that although they did not explicitly mention that they used TikTok as an affordance for their EFL learning, they held a belief that TikTok is effective in promoting their English proficiency. According to the students, there were three factors of note which contribute to the effectiveness of TikTok, namely abundant authentic input availability, easy-to-grasp information and availability of free tuition related to English language learning. Pedagogically, it implies that TikTok is worth integrating into the EFL classrooms.

This research aims to identify the process types of the transitivity system from the reading passages and conversational texts of the EFL textbook entitled Modul Pengayaan for seventh-grade junior high school students, which is composed based on the implementation of Kurikulum 2013. The present study employed a descriptive qualitative research design. The data of this study are obtained from reading texts and conversational texts (text dialogues). The collected data of the transitivity process presented in sentences and clauses were analyzed using Halliday's transitivity system. The results show that all the process types of transitivity system with 35 processes were found in the reading passages and conversational texts of the textbook, namely: material process with 5 data (14.28%), mental process with 12 data (34.28%), verbal process with 3 data (8.57%), relational process with 13 data (37.14%), behavioral process with 1 data (2.85%), and existential process also with 1 data (2.85%). All the types of transitivity processes have been presented adequately based on Halliday's theory, although the two types of transitivity process (behavioral and existential process) almost have come from ignorance. Therefore, this study suggests that the textbook designer and material developer produce diverse clauses and sentences by using the six process types of transitivity in English written texts, especially in the reading passages and conversational texts.

Specialized tax and accounting dictionaries are useful for vocational students as an independent learning medium, as they facilitate vocabulary mastery and eliminate the need for general dictionary lookups. The focus of this paper is the development of a dictionary of tax accounting terminology as an independent learning medium in the academic reading process and analysis of its implementation. This learning medium was developed using an adaptation of the ADDIE model which consists of five phases: needs analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. This study elaborates on the student's perspective on the product produced in this study, namely a self-learning kit in the form of a tax accounting terms dictionary as well as student experiences in using dictionary applications to support their learning. The dictionary covers 731 data entries with the description of word translation, word class, definition, and sample sentences in English and Indonesian. In addition, users are also provided with 8 self-evaluation exercises in Quizizz which can be accessed via barcode scanning or link. Data analysis in the form of respondents’ responses in Google Form was described based on aspects of student feedback after using the dictionary. The descriptions of student perceptions are summarized into aspects of design, content, and usability. Students gave positive responses in those three aspects and highlighted that the dictionary assisted them in improving their vocabulary mastery, and reading comprehension as well as in reflecting on their learning progress through self-evaluation.

This study aimed at investigating the English phonological process of characters’ pronunciation while pronouncing the English words in the Black Panther movie. The characters of this movie used the dialect of isiXhosa which is spoken widely in Southern Africa when speaking English. The characters developed the English or they signed phonological disorder. This study was researched qualitatively by using Lass’ theory of phonological process. This study is concerned with assimilation, dissimilation, deletion, and insertion. The result of this study identified that regressive assimilation, progressive assimilation, reciprocal assimilation, aphaeresis, syncopation, apocopation, prothesis, and epenthesis existed. Paragoge and dissimilation were not developed. Aphaeresis showed the highest number of occurrences. Mostly the phonemes arose in /h/ /ɾ/ /j/ /k/ /d/ /t/ /n/, /ð/, /θ/, and /æ/, /ɜ:/, /ə/. /ɾ/ was produced with quick and strong vibration in a syllable, and it was solely deleted in the coda of a syllable, /h/ was deleted by other consonant, the mutual consonants /t/ and /j/ created /ʧ/ and /d/ and /j/ created /dʒ/, /ð/ and /θ/ converted to /d/ and /t/, and schwa converted to /ʌ/. Aphaeresis deletion constructed English contraction. Some phonological process phenomena did not corroborate the Lass’ theory. The phonological process occurred in non-native English speakers due to the influence of L1 pronunciation on L2 pronunciation.

The research on the development of "Listening" practice using Text2Speech Applications aims to develop teaching of English, ‘Listening’ for teachers and students who are not experts in the field of information technology. This study tries to discuss how to adopt and adapt Text-to-Speech software / applications in teaching and learning of English. Text2Speech is a computer application (software) that makes it possible to convert written text into spoken text so that it can be heard. By using the Text2Speech application, written text in MS Word format can be converted into spoken text. Text2Speech allows any text to be read in a computer-synthesized voice. By utilizing Text2Speech, written text can be read and sounded so that it can be heard by the user. Text2Speech allows users to determine how to pronounce a word, phrase, sentence, and even text or parts of text. By utilizing the Text2Speech application, teachers and students get "listening" learning materials in native speakers' voices, so that students get used to hearing "listening" teaching materials from native speakers.

The study aimed at discovering the process through which three tourist guides of French, Spanish, and Japanese acquired different foreign languages. The data was taken through in-depth interviews to explore the motivation that drove their language learning, the language interference, the technique they used to self-teach themselves the language, and their immersion in the language’s native country. The recorded interviews were then transcribed and analyzed through data reduction, data display, and verification drawing. The results were then given to the subjects to ensure trustworthiness and to verify the researcher’s interpretation of the interview. The study found that 1) one of the most crucial factors of language learning success was strong motivation, which led to consistency and risk-taking attitude; 2) a significant growth of language mastery took place when the subjects spent extended time in the language’s native country; 3) both formal classroom instruction and informal independent learning were essential for their language improvement; 4) the subjects proactively consulted the native speakers to improve their vocabulary inventory, to correct inaccuracies or to gain new language expressions; and 5) due to the different nature of the languages they were learning, each subject had a diverse view on grammar and language interference. In pedagogical implication, teachers could foster students’ willingness to learn with either instrumental motivation, i.e. by raising awareness of the benefit of foreign language ability, or with integrative motivation, i.e. by raising students’ interest in the culture or people whose language was being studied. Besides, language learners, or language teachers, might reflect on this research to complement formal-classroom learning with a large degree of informal-independent learning.

Presentation is a type of public speaking which requires special skills besides language competency. Presentation skill in English is a lesson or subject which can be found in some educational institutions in Indonesia. Besides presentation, public speaking can be in a form of speech, debate, and meeting. In public speaking, a speaker can face more than two people or even hundreds or thousands of people. While in ordinary conversation, the speakers and the listener called interlocutors are limited to only a few people. Presentation class is meant to improve the students’ performance in English public speaking. Feedback is usually given after a presentation activity is completed. In this case, the students who were trained were given feedback by the teacher. Feedback is given thoroughly on the language, content, and method of presentation. Research on feedback or assessment on oral presentation is underexplored. The present research is proof supported with empirical data which suggests that the role of feedback is important and statistically assessed as significant in making the later performance better. The main factor that determines the quality of a presentation is language skill. However, there are other aspects that are quite decisive such as the material or topic of the presentation and the presentation method.