Competency-Based English Language
Training
Ridha Mardiani
Emilia Karjadi
The number of Indonesian students studying overseas and
joining Youth Exchange Program increases from time to time. To understand the
experiences of students studying overseas, the research was conducted using
qualitative approach. Data was collected through questionnaires with 40 respondents
who were studying overseas and once studied overseas,
and in depth interviews with five respondents. The data obtained showed that
even the respondents had learned English for years in secondary schools; they
got a lot of problems with their English when they interacted with people in a
foreign country, which caused misunderstanding, misconception, and conflicts. One
of the causes of these communication breakdowns was respondents’ unfamiliarity
with target culture. So culture has an important role and cannot be separated
from English teaching. In this paper we want to concentrate on (1) how to
develop instructional strategies if teaching cross cultural understanding that
can be used in and out of the class; (2) what aspects of culture should be
taught related to the experiences of Indonesian students studying overseas. It
is expected to contribute significant standardization of teaching EFL as well
as developing EFL materials in
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Mardiani, R.,
& Karjadi, E. (2003, October). Competency-based English language training. Paper presented at the 51st
TEFLIN International Conference,
Website: www.geocities.com/eltindonesia
Email: eltindonesia@yahoo.com