English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Proceedings
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Subtitling Strategies Applied In Tilik Short Movie English Subtitle
Subtitling becomes the most popular AVT in movie industry, included short movie as well. In order to reach various audience across the world, English subtitle is a must when publishing short movie on YouTube, such as Tilik which won awards in 2018 that used Javanese language as the original language. This research focuses on the subtitling strategy of the crucial moment in Tilik short movie in English subtitle. The data was collected from transcribing the original dialogues in Javanese language as the SL and English as the TL on YouTube. The findings presented there are 45 subtitles appeared during the crucial moment in Tilik short movie. Moreover, there are seven subtitling strategies employed with details paraphrase used 19 times, condensation 18 times, direct translation and explicitation used six times, substitution three times, deletion and addition one time. The most frequent strategy used are paraphrase and condensation which is inseparable from the characteristic of Javanese language and the limitation of subtitling. All in all, this research presents that the subtitle in the first three minutes Tilik movie is a good subtitle.
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The Language and Power of The Characters in the Film “Free State of Jones
This study discusses the relationship between power and language in the Free State of Jones film which is analyzed using Fairclough's theory. Language is a tool used by humans to communicate with each other. Sometimes when humans communicate using language there are certain patterns that can be seen from the interaction. These patterns then become differences when one person communicates or talks to another person. These differences can occur due to factors such as who the speaker is and who he is speaking to. The more dominant the speaker's position, the more different the conversation is with the other party, plus the other party is in a submissive position. This can be interpreted that there is a relationship between language and power. Which is then divided by Fairclough into power of language and power behind language. A real example of this statement can be seen from the analysis of the Free State of Jones film. This study uses a qualitative design. The results of the study show that there is a relationship between power and language which is exemplified by the main character, Newt Knight. Newt uses language as a tool to gain power. He convinces others to agree with what he wants. Newt Knight also became a victim of the Power behind language, where he was forced to obey his superiors who had different goals than him.
Expressing Attitude in Academic Writing: Appraisal in Students’ Article Reviews
Of the various English skills that are considered challenging for English as Foreign Language (EFL) students, writing an academic text such as article review is one that students needs to master. Article review is a critical evaluation of a research article written by academics. Through article review, the attitude of the review writer can be identified. This research investigates the realization of appraisal in the article review written by EFL students majoring in linguistics in the English Department of Universitas Dian Nuswantoro. The focus is limited to the appraisal attitude that includes affect, judgment, and appreciation. The attitude was analyzed by using the appraisal framework proposed by Martin and White (2005). The data were obtained purposively by selecting article reviews that met the criteria. This research was conducted by employing a descriptive qualitative method and content analysis to analyze the data. The results show that appreciation dominates the findings, followed by judgment and affect. The reviews also show that the students mostly give positive attitude to the articles they reviewed. However, negative attitude is also found especially in terms of theoretical framework and the way the article is written, such as inconsistency and the use of symbols. Overall, the students show positive appreciation to the article they reviewed, since they consider that the article is helpful gives insight on the elaboration of appraisal framework in translation studies. This research implies that article review can help students to express their thoughts and ideas critically and apply academic style in the form of written texts in English.
An Analysis of Language and Social Class in the Movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
This research was to analyze the relationship between language and social class in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Language as communication can reflect a person's social identity and power. The research method used is a qualitative method with a literary study approach, and the theory used is Language and Social Class by Basil Bernstein. The results showed that there are factors that contain power, language style, and social identity. In conclusion, the language used in this movie shows the differences in social class and how they interact in society.
The Impact of University Counsellors' Roles on the Psychological Well-being of Higher Education Students in Minjiang University, Fujian Province
This study examined psychological well-being challenges among students at Minjiang University, China, and the impact of university counselors' roles. Data from 242 students, collected via questionnaires and interviews, revealed that academic pressure (81.8%), career uncertainty (68.2%), financial strain (58.7%), family/cultural expectations (52.9%), and social isolation (39.3%) were key stressors. While informal support networks (74.4%) were widely used, 28.1% employed maladaptive coping strategies like avoidance. University counselors significantly improved psychological well-being: students attending ≥5 sessions exhibited 30% higher resilience (M = 4.3 vs. 3.1, *p* < 0.001), while counseling users reported stronger stress management (M = 4.1 vs. 2.4, *p* < 0.001) and life satisfaction (M = 3.9 vs. 2.6, *p* < 0.001). These outcomes were linked to counselors' provision of mindfulness techniques and problem-solving strategies. However, 32.2% noted gaps in cultural sensitivity, particularly in addressing familial pressures. The findings underscore the need for culturally tailored training and expanded service access to optimize counselors' effectiveness in supporting student well-being.
A Pragmatic Analysis of English Lecturers’ Interpretation of Implicatures in Smudge the Cat Memes
Internet memes have become the object of numerous studies over theyears. M emesoften contain implicatures or additional implied meaning, especially when they flout or violate some conversational maxims. This implied meaning can sometimes be difficult to interpret which may lead to misunderstanding the meme itself. Therefore, this study aims to examine what kinds of maxims are flouted and what is the implicature behind the internet memes. Additionally, this research explores how English lecturers in a private university in North Jakarta interpret the implicature of the memes under study. A total of 5 memes are used in this research, all of which are Smudge the Cat memes collected from a Facebook group dedicated to posting various memes of this popular white cat. The data is analyzed qualitatively since it does not involve any numerical calculations. To collect the data for the lecturers’ interpretation of the memes, an online questionnaire was distributed via Google Form. The findings reveal that the main maxim that is violated in the memes is the maxim of manner as most of the replies in the memes can be said to be ambiguous. The implicature behind the memes vary depending on the meme itself, and some of the lecturers had difficulty identifying the additional implied meaning of the memes.
This study aims to investigate the use of phrasal verbs in the Inside Out movie, focusing on two main objectives: (1) to classify the types of phrasal verbs in terms of idiomatic and non-idiomatic categories, and (2) to explore the meanings of these phrasal verbs. The data of this study were collected from the utterances containing phrasal verbs in the movie script, using document analysis technique. The analysis was conducted utilizing the framework by McCarthy and O'Dell’s (2004). The study reveals a total 58 phrasal verbs, with 37 classified as non-idiomatic and 21 as idiomatic. In addition, there are two meanings of the phrasal verbs, some of which are used more than once. The most frequently used phrasal verbs are "look at," which appears eight times, and "get back," which appears six times. The analysis indicates that the use of phrasal verbs in the movie is influenced by the genre of the film, which is a family-friendly, animated comedy. This genre often employs straightforward, nonidiomatic language, making the dialogue accessible to its you audience. The findings of this study also suggest that phrasal verbs play an essential role in cinematic language, whose target audience are children. Where non-idiomatic expressions are more prevalent due to the nature of the genre. The study provides an implication for linguistic studies, particularly in understanding how language is used in cinematic contexts.
Incorporating SDG-Oriented Content into English Language Instruction in Indonesia: Advancing Sustainable and Critical Language Acquisition
This study examines the incorporation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into English Language Teaching (ELT) in Indonesia, with the objective of fostering both linguistic proficiency and sustainable cognition alongside critical awareness. As global concerns escalate, integrating SDG-oriented content into English education offers a timely and transformative pedagogical solution. This study used a qualitative descriptive methodology, incorporating textbook analysis and semistructured interviews with Indonesian English teachers, to elucidate the implementation of SDG topics in ELT classrooms. Four widely used English textbooks aligned with the 2013 Curriculum were analyzed using a framework focused on global citizenship, environmental literacy, social justice, and critical thinking. Eight teachers from diverse educational settings participated in interviews to provide in-depth perspectives on th pedagogical integration of SDGs. Utilizing frameworks from critical pedagogy and sustainable education, the findings indicate that the inclusion of SDGs improves students' critical thinking, global awareness, and social responsibility. Teachers encounter considerable obstacles, including insufficient professional development and a scarcity of localized resources. This article offers pragmatic insights for educators, curriculum creators, and policymakers seeking to enhance English instruction via a more globally responsive and socially active methodology
The Influences Of Social Media Marketing, Perceived Quality, And Environmental Consciousness On Consumer Purchase Intention Towards Electric Cars In Shandong Province, China
Shandong Province is an industrialized province of China ranked as one of the country's highest carbon dioxide emission levels. It was established that current air quality in the province is quite hazardous, especially in large cities, Jinan and Qingdao, where emissions from industries, coalburning power stations, and traditional automobiles add to poor air quality. Consequently, citizens of Shandong Province are making conscious choices and becoming more aware of environmental impacts from the sorts of cars they use. Social media marketing has become one of the most significant strategies wherein environmental messages can be promoted to consumers and cultivate feelings of needing new clean energy solutions. Consumers are more likely to trust and purchase an EV from a brand with a reputation for reliability, performance, and technological excellence. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing Consumer Purchase Intention based on 4 aspects: Demographic Factors, Social Marketing Media, Perceived Quality, and Environmental Consciousness. The quantitative method is applied. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percent frequency, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation are introduced. Various inferential statistical methods are used to test the hypothesis, particularly the Independent Samples t-test, the One-way ANOVA, and the Multiple Linear Regression Analysis
The Factor Influencing The Purchase Intention Of Live Streaming In Thailand
This study investigates the factors influencing the purchase intention of live streaming in Thailand. The theoretical foundation for the subsequent research is provided through a literature review covering relevant theories, such as the S-O-R model, social cognitive theory, and social interaction theory, including those on purchase intention, live streaming, marketing mix, influencers, social interaction, and content marketing—a total of 500 participants filled out the questionnaires. Content analysis and ANOVA were used to confirm the research hypotheses. The intention to purchase live broadcasts in Thailand was analyzed in depth through descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The marketing mix, influencers' social interaction, content marketing, and consumer trust influence consumers' purchase intention. This study provides valuable insights for understanding live streaming purchase behavior in Thailand. It provides a reference point for practice and further research in related fields. The study's findings show that marketing mix, influencers, social interaction, content marketing, and trust all significantly affect Thai consumers' live-streaming purchase intention. Specifically, the factors of marketing mix, influencers, social interaction, and content marketing showed a positive relationship with purchase intention
Factors of 7P and POCCC Influence the Effectiveness of Students' Enrollment in Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College
China's private vocational education institutions, such as Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College, face escalating challenges in student enrollment due to intensified competition from public colleges and evolving educational demands. This study aims to analyze the effects of planning and promotion, command and process, and coordination and personnel on enrollment effectiveness in Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College. Using a mixedmethods approach.Planning and Promotion, Commanding and Process, and Coordinating and Personnel. The findings reveal that all three factors have a significant impact on enrollment effectiveness. Strategic planning, paired with multi-channel promotion, enhances the college's visibility and attractiveness, while efficient command and streamlined processes improve operational efficiency and the applicant experience. Strong coordination among departments and a professional enrollment team fosters trust and satisfaction, directly influencing students' enrollment decisions. Regression analysis confirms positive relationships between these factors and enrollment outcomes, with Coordinating & Personnel demonstrating th strongest effect. This study contributes theoretical insights by integrating management and marketing theories in the context of vocational education enrollment. It offers practical strategies for optimizing enrollment management, including leveraging data-driven planning, digital promotional tools, and cross-departmental collaboration. The results offer a valuable framework for private vocational colleges to enhance their competitiveness and effectively address enrollment challenges.
The Influence of Organizational Culture, Career Development Opportunities and Job Autonomy on Faculty Job Satisfaction at Beijing Universities
In the wake of rapid transformation in Chinese higher education, faculty job satisfaction has become a crucial indicator of institutional success. This study examines the impact of organizational culture, career development opportunities, and job autonomy on faculty job satisfaction in Beijing universities. Validated scales, including measures of organizational culture, career development, job autonomy, and job satisfaction, were employed, and the resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings indicate that a positive organizational culture, robust career development opportunities, and higher levels of job autonomy are significantly associated with increased faculty job satisfaction. The study offers valuable insights for university administrators and policymakers aiming to improve faculty retention and institutional performance in a competitive academic environment.
Factors Influencing Higher Vocational College Students' Participation in Extracurricular Activities on Their Computer Academic Performance: A Social Cognitive Perspective
This study investigates the impact of demographic, psychological, and environmental variables on students' computer academic performance (CAP). Data was collected using a structured selfadministered questionnaire from 400 full-time Quanzhou College of Technology students. Based on social cognitive theory, data were collected through surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. The research found that grade differences significantly affected computer scores, with third-year students achieving higher grades, non-boarding students having relatively higher grades, and the duration of activities positively correlated with computer academic performance (CAP). Psychological factors (such as motivation and self-efficacy) significantly impacted students' CAP. Environmental factors (family support, the study environment, and teacher quality) also significantly positively impacted students' CAP. This study enriches the application of the Social Cognitive Theory in the field of vocational education, provides practical guidance for educational institutions, teachers, and policymakers, and also points out directions for follow-up research, such as expanding the sample range, conducting longitudinal research, paying attention to the impacts of emerging technologies, and comprehensively considering more factors.
Gender Representation Through Vocabulary Used By Women On Tiktok’s Caption
This study explores how gender is represented through vocabulary used by women on TikTok’s Caption, with a specific focus on lexicon related to femininity. The research is grounded in the sociolinguistic assumption that language reflects and reinforces gender roles in society. As digital spaces become central to self-representation, women increasingly use specific words to construct their gendered identities online. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive method within a sociolinguistic framework. Data are collected from TikTok captions that include words such as pregnancy, mommy, maternity, give birth, breastfeeding, makeup, and wife, which are typically associated with women and their roles. The analysis applies Lakoff’s theory of women’s language, especially gender-specific vocabulary. The findings indicate the vocabulary used is not neutral but deeply embedded in cultural and biological representations of women. Words like pregnant, mom, pumping, and motherhood explicitly mark the speakers as female, while terms such as makeup, eyelash extensions, and style my hair associate women with appearance and beauty work. The presence of these lexical choices highlights the social construction of femininity. Thus, the repeated use of words that emphasize traditional female roles, particularly those related to reproduction, caregiving, and appearance, linguistically represents gender. These lexical patterns confirm the relevance of Lakoff’s framework in analyzing modern gender expression through language, especially in digital discourse.
The Translation of Utterances Containing Javanese Speech Levels into English in The Wayang Performance Sesaji Raja Suya by Ki Purbo Asmoro
The translation of speech levels is necessary as an effort to introduce the culture of the place where those levels are used. Research on the translation of utterances involving speech levels is essential for evaluating and monitoring the quality of translated works emerging within the linguistic domains of Javanese and English. This study is a qualitative descriptive research aimed at examining the forms of speech levels, translation techniques, and the translation shifts that occur. The data source in this study is the utterances of the king character in the wayang performance Sesaji Raja Suya by Ki Purbo Asmoro, which has been published in book form under the title Sesaji Raja Suya in Javanese, along with its English translation The Grand Offering of the Kings by Kathryn Emerson. The findings of this study reveal that the translator encountered 293 instances of form shifts in translating utterances containing speech levels, while 296 instances retained the original speech level without any shift. The most commonly applied translation technique was amplification. This reflects the translator’s competence in effectively transferring meanings from the source language into the target language.
Rhetoric of Amateur Motivational Videos by AJ’s Life YouTube Channel: A Positive and Multimodal Discourse Analysis
The study of rhetorical analysis has extensively been conducted on renowned orators such as politicians or celebrities, yet it seems to undermine that ordinary, non-famous people are capable of delivering powerful rhetoric of positive changes. This research analyzes six videos from an amateur motivational YouTube channel named “AJ’s Life” on how it attempts to persuade its audience through empowering messages. Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA) was used as the main framework to analyze the textual elements while also referencing Aristotelian rhetorical appeals to assess the persuasive power of the speeches. Taking account of the visuals, the videos were examined using Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) to find out how they work together with the text. Results show that AJ from AJ’s Life uses several strategies in his language to evoke persuasion, mainly through cultivating a sense of shared struggle as well as opening up to be vulnerable. Visually, the videos are taken in a candid style to enhance the genuineness of the speaker. AJ constructs himself as a figure of authenticity and relatability in efforts to gain trust, therefore allowing him to deliver positive messages in a sincere manner through shared lived experiences with his audience. Further research can be done in analyzing the audience's reception to validate his rhetoric or using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to uncover underlying ideology and social values in the construction of AJ’s messages.
The Impact of Patriarchal Culture on Female Character in Ahmad Tohari’s Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk, Yasunari Kawabata’s Yukiguni, and Nadia Hashimi’s A House Without Windows
This article investigates the impact of pervasive patriarchal culture on female characters in three novels from different cultural backgrounds: Ahmad Tohari's Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk (Indonesia), Yasunari Kawabata's Yukiguni (Japan), and Nadia Hashimi's A House Without Windows (Afghanistan). Using feminist literary criticism and Sylvia Walby's theory of patriarchy, this study explores how entrenched gender norms, institutional practices, and male dominance systematically confine women in subordinate roles, denying their autonomy, voice, and fundamental rights. The analysis reveals patterns that recur throughout the novel: social stigma, emotional and physical suffering, economic dependence, lack of freedom, and internalization of inferiority among the female characters. Despite differences in setting and tradition, these novels expose similar mechanisms of oppression-sexual objectification, silencing, and moral judgment-that perpetuate gender-based inequality. However, the texts also reveal moments of female resistance, resilience and agency, demonstrating literature's potential to reflect and challenge patriarchal structures. This comparative study underscores the universality of patriarchal oppression and the importance of literature in advocating for gender justice and social change.
Existential Feminism in Priscilla: Patriarchy, Identity, and The Making of “the Other”
Patriarchy systematically constructs women’s identities through control and subjugation, often reducing them to “the Other” or a secondary figure defined by men. This research applies existential feminist theory to analyze Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla (2023), focusing on how patriarchal systems fabricate the identity of the female subject as “the Other,” a subordinate figure defined by men. The research investigates how the film portrays Priscilla’s character and transformation from a passive figure into a selfaware individual who reclaims her identity, exploring how systems enforce power, identity, and gender roles. Findings suggest that the film visualizes Priscilla’s internal and external conflicts in the context of love and fame under Elvis Presley’s dominance, utilizing narrative to critique forms of systemic othering while opening a space for female subjectivity and resistance. Positioning the film within feminist discourse, this research challenges patriarchal ideologies that marginalize women and instead foregrounds identity as a site of performance and resistance.
Analyzing Public Sentiment toward the Formation of the PrabowoGibran's Kabinet Merah Putih
This study focuses on analyzing public sentiment towards the Kabinet Merah-Putih formed by Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming, based on a survey conducted by Indikator Politik, which indicates that public confidence in the Prabowo-Gibran administration reached 85.3%. Utilizing data sourced from the comment sections of the KompasTV YouTube channel, the analysis employs corpus linguistics, also known as Computer-Mediated Critical Discourse Analysis (CMDA), in conjunction with critical discourse analysis. The methodology selected for this research employs a corpus-based approach, which facilitates the integration of data selection, collection, and identification in the form of comments reflecting public sentiment regarding the establishment of the Kabinet Merah-Putih, compiled into a Sentiment Cabinet Corpus (Korpus Sentimen Kabinet/ KSK). A total of 70,793 comments were downloaded using web scraping techniques with Octoparse, revealing frequencies and concordances that indicate both support and opposition.
STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF PERSONALITY TRAITS OF ART COLLEGE STUDENTS ON REAL-LIFE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
This study explores how personality traits impact real-life interpersonal relationships and online engagement among art students, highlighting the influence of these traits on social interactions and network usage. Understanding art students' social behaviors holds significant theoretical and practical value in the context of rapid societal development and the digital age. With their unique traits, art students may exhibit distinct patterns in their social behavior and online engagement. Identifying these patterns can enhance their social adaptation and guide educators and counselors. The study examines demographic variables (gender, age, grade) to explore differences among art students and explanatory variables, including personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness) and real-life interpersonal relationships (family, social acceptance, peers, teacher-student). The dependent variable is network engagement, referring to participation in social networks and reliance on online interactions. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from students at various art institutions, covering demographic information, personality traits, interpersonal relationships, and network engagement. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and regression, was applied to explore variable relationships. The study aims to reveal how personality traits and interpersonal relationships affect network engagement. It is expected that extraverted art students will have broader social connections. At the same time, those with harmonious relationships may engage less online. The findings will enhance understanding art students' social behaviors and network usage, offering insights for relevant interventions and guidance.
Investing in English: Imagined Identities among Indonesian Pesantren Students
This article draws on the author’s doctoral research exploring EFL learners’ identity and investment through arts-based intervention in Indonesian Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). Grounded in Bonny Norton Peirce’s (1995, 2013) concept of investment, it examines how pesantren students imagine their identities as English learners and what motivates their investment in the language. The study involved 29 students (aged 16 to 18) from three senior high school pesantren in Depok, West Java. Data were collected mainly from focus groups and analysed using thematic and critical discourse analysis. Findings show that most students strived to become successful language learners, and some projected identities as proficient English users. Other participants lacked clear imagined identities despite expressing ongoing interest in learning the language for its symbolic values. Notably, a new form of ‘virtuous investment’ emerged, wherein students framed English learning as an act of religious duty aligned with Islamic teachings. This finding invites an extension of the investment framework to consider learners’ religious beliefs or spiritual identities as another factor that shapes their aspirations and commitment to language acquisition. It also suggests that the concept of ‘spiritual capital’ should be included to extend Darvin and Norton’s (2015) definition of ‘capital,’ which may be particularly relevant in educational contexts like pesantren where learners’ faith plays a pivotal role in their learning trajectories. This article concludes by emphasising the need of recognising these diverse elements to assist educators develop more inclusive teaching strategies that appreciate learners as complex social beings and cater to the needs of various English language learning environments.
Public Responses to the Indonesian National FootballTeam Player Naturalization Program: Corpus-Based Discourse Analysis.
This study is aimed to help determine the public response to the naturalization program of Indonesian national team players by PSSI and understand the social factors and ideologies of the community that give rise to these responses. This study uses a corpus approach to process large amounts of data, the theory of Computer-Mediated Discourse Analysis, to categorize public comments into support, ambiguity, or rejection. Then, the theory of Critical Discourse Analysis by Van Dijk is applied to examine the factors or ideologies that underlie public responses. The study results indicate that comments of support for the naturalization program are influenced by pragmatic values, professionalism, and legitimacy triggered by the satisfactory results of naturalization. Meanwhile, comments of ambiguity provide conditional support for the naturalization program not to rely too much on this program and to improve the quality of the local league and players. It is influenced by the failure to improve the local league and players. Finally, comments of rejection that view naturalization as a pragmatic solution, harm local players and ignore the value of nationalism are influenced by politicized policies. This study contributes to understanding public discourse in sports and examines policies from a community perspective.
Silenced Forest: Erasure of Non-Human Life in Government Discourse on IKN
The relocation of Indonesian capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan raises a controversy in which the government needs to spread information about IKN to avoid misunderstanding through their official website. The way the government depict IKN and how it is related to the environmental awareness is suitable to be investigated further. Therefore, the researchers aim to investigate how non-human entities are linguistically omitted or marginalized in official discourse about IKN. Utilizing ecolinguistics within an ecological discourse analysis (EDA) framework, the study analyzes 34 articles from the official IKN website, covering discourse from 2019 to 2025. Results reveal three erasure categories—void, mask, and trace—that systematically obscure or marginalize the non-human life. Such linguistic strategies significantly influence public perception, reinforcing anthropocentric narratives and potentially weakening ecological consciousness. The findings highlight the necessity for more vivid ecological representations to foster genuine environmental sustainability
A Systematic Review of AI-Based and Teacher-Based Writing Assessment
Establishing valid and reliable writing assessments in education remains a persistent challenge, especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool in evaluation. Although previous studies have investigated both AI-based and teacher-based writing assessments, few have addressed them through a systematic lens, leading to fragmented insights and inconsistent frameworks. This study aims to investigate the current state- of-the-art of AI-based and teacher-based writing assessments and to identify emerging debates and research directions in the field. A total of 258 articles were collected from Scopus, ScienceDirect, JSTOR, Emerald, and Ebscohost, and filtered using PRISMA guidelines. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal that AI-based assessments offer high consistency and efficiency in evaluating surface-level language features, but struggle with assessing higher-order discourse aspects such as coherence, argumentation, and rhetorical structure. Conversely, teacher-based assessments provide richer, context-aware feedback, yet are limited by issues of subjectivity and scalability. A hybrid model that integrates AI efficiency with human insight emerges as a promising solution to balance reliability and validity in writing assessment. Nevertheless, key debates remain regarding AI's scoring authority, construct validity, ethical concerns and, implementation across diverse educational contexts. This study calls for the development of unified frameworks and teacher training to support equitable and effective AI-human collaboration in writing assessment.
The Influence of Material Possession on Social Class in the Novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart using Marxism and Hegemony Theory
This research discusses the struggle for wealth in the novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart which is analyzed using Karl Mark's Marxist theory and Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemony. Ideally, humans live happily with their own share of wealth. However, the emergence of groups with abundant wealth who are greedy want to dominate the social class. This of course has an impact on other groups of people who are below them. The focus of this research is on Harris and the methods used to control members of his family who are in lower positions and how they respond to this as well as the factors that result in them being controlled. The control exercised by Harris as the ruling class is proven by the theory of hegemony which is mostly described through manipulative discourse. Domination by the ruling class is maintained through the ideology they instill. Meanwhile, the response from the lower class can be proven using Marxist theory where two different responses will be formed, namely obedience and rejection. This research uses a qualitative design with the close reading method. The results of the research show that from the domination exercised by Harris, it was found that there were parties who submitted to him and there were also parties who resisted. So a conflict arises which is the impact of the opposing party. This conflict will end the greed of the ruling class who wants to dominate the social class.
Unveiling Students' Primary Representational System through Predicate Analysis in Neuro-Linguistic Programming for Enhanced Learning Effectiveness
In the 1970s, Richard Bandler and John Grinder established Neuro- Linguistic Programming (NLP). NLP was originally utilized in psychology but has now been applied for educational contexts, especially in English language acquisition. The representational system, a fundamental component of NLP, intricately links to students' sensory modalities in the representation of their experiences. Grinder and Bandler presented five sensory modalities: visual, aural, kinesthetics, olfactory, and gustatory. The most often utilized representational system is called the primary representation. There are four ways of analysing primary representational system: predicate analysis, eye scanning patterns, Satir categories (body posture), and self-report questionnaires. This study provides a qualitative descriptive report of predicate analysis of students' Primary Representational System (PRS), by identifying sensory categories with relative predicate frequencies. Research data was collected through interview. The results showed that fifteen students preferred visual PRS, two students preferred auditory PRS, and eight students preferred kinesthetics PRS. Unveiling students' Primary Representational System (PRS) preferences can inform instructional design and enhance language learning effectiveness
AI for All Voices: A Scoping Review on Inclusive Pronunciation and Speaking AI Tools
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners often face challenges in developing speaking skills, including limited practice opportunities, pronunciation difficulties, and speaking anxiety. As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become more integrated into language education, they offer new ways to support speaking and pronunciation practice. However, multilingual and non-native learners remain underrepresented in developing and designing many of these tools. This scoping review examines how AI-assisted pronunciation technologies address inclusivity in EFL contexts, more specifically for multilingual learners. A total of 15 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2025 were retrieved from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. The findings show that AI tools generally enhance pronunciation accuracy, fluency, and learner motivation while offering personalized and flexible learning environments. Several tools also support affective inclusivity by reducing anxiety during speaking tasks. Yet, inclusivity is often a by- product rather than an intentional design goal. Persistent challenges include accent bias and a reliance on native-speaker training data, which can disadvantage multilingual learners. This review underscores the need for more inclusive and culturally responsive AI systems and provides a foundation for future research in equitable EFL pronunciation support.
Students’ Attitudes Toward Using Google Translate for Speaking Practice in English
Speaking is a crucial but challenging ability for ESL students to acquire. They lack enough chances to practice, so they typically struggle to become confident and fluent; moreover, conventional learning techniques can be monotonous or not participatory. Nowadays, tools like Google Translate enable students to practice speaking independently (Alm & Watanabe, 2024). This study aims to find out how students view utilizing Google Translate to enhance their speaking. The study gathered responses using a 5-point scale and a survey comprising straightforward questions. Thirty-second students from the Muhammadiyah University of Semarang comprised the participants. Students' opinions on utilizing the instrument were ascertained by utilizing survey data analysis (Fatkhurozi & Hidayat, 2024). According to the data, most students enjoyed using Google Translate, particularly for confidence boost and pronunciation aid (Raza, 2018). Nevertheless, some students cautioned against counting too much on it since they claimed it was not always accurate. While Google Translate is commonly recognized for its practicality and speed, students' perceptions also reflect a growing awareness of its limitations in maintaining grammatical accuracy and contextual coherence (Putri et al., n.d.). The study concluded that, generally, given careful use and teacher guidance, Google Translate can be helpful. It can simplify and increase the enjoyment of speaking practice, but it should not replace other approaches to learning.
Mapping Truth and Lies: A Forensic Linguistic Analysis of Verbal and Non-Verbal Cues in Student Interviews
This study is the preliminary stage of a series of research projects attempting to develop a lie detection model in student interviews using a forensic linguistic approach. In this study, researchers focused on the differences between truth-telling and lying, as seen from the discourse and non-verbal cues. The data were taken from audio and video recordings of interviews with 20 students who were asked to draw two types of lots. The first draw required the students to either (1) take the envelope and the money inside it or (2) leave the envelope. The second draw required the students to either (1) tell the truth or (2) tell lies during the entire interview session. They were not allowed to show their draw results to anyone, until the end of the interview sessions. The researchers then analysed the discourse and non-verbal cues of the interview results. The theoretical framework used includes the Discourse Open-ness Theory (Fraser, 1990) to analyse the use of discourse markers that provide clues related to honesty or deception in conversation. The Illusion of Honesty Theory (Ekman, 2001) identifies non-verbal cues such as eye contact, gestures, and postures that are often associated with lying. Vrij’s Deception Theory (2008) introduces language strategies commonly used in lying and supports a deeper analysis of the verbal and non-verbal elements found in dishonest interactions. A forensic linguistic approach (Coulthard & Johnson, 2007) is applied to examine sentence structures and other linguistic features that often emerge in deceptive communication. The results of this study show that inconsistent answers, evasions, short and less detailed responses, longer response times, minimal eye contact, rigid or frequently shifting body positions, and nervous smiles are all indications of lies. In contrast, detailed, longer, and consistent responses, direct eye contact, and relaxed posture indicate truth-telling.
How Duolingo Enhances English Learners' Vocabulary and Skills
In this era of technology, innovations have developed rapidly and massively. Programmers create learning English applications, and the applications can be used by people who want to learn English independently. One of learning English applications offered and is quite popular among English learners is Duolingo Application. The writer also uses Duolingo to learn foreign languages, and the writer introduces Duolingo application to English learners who have not known about it or who have never used it. The writer thinks that if English learners are not surrounded by people who care about English and like sharing information, then these English learners will not be able to have the idea that in fact many good applications for learning English are available and are able to use for them to learn English independently. Therefore, the writer is interested in introducing Duolingo applications to many people, especially English teachers and learners, especially those who have no idea at all about Duolingo. This study will show the audience the look of Duolingo and activities available on the application. The activities on Duolingo can be done independently because it is user friendly and is interesting to use by anyone. By using Duolingo application English learners can increase their English vocabulary and to exercise their English skills. The writer finds that using Duolingo application is very fascinating, and the design of activities will motivate English learners to use it to learn English independently.
The Influence of Shopping Value, Promotions and Customer Satisfaction on Repurchase Intention
This study explores the impact of shopping values, promotional activities, and customer satisfaction on the repurchase intentions of female clothing consumers. The study focuses on a sample of female clothing consumers. It tests several hypotheses—450 consumers filled out the form. The research utilizes both exploratory and explanatory approaches. The individual background variables significantly impact female consumers' perception of shopping value. Furthermore, shopping value, promotion activities, and consumers' satisfaction positively and significantly affect consumers' repurchase intention. In addition, promotion activities had a positive effect on repurchase intention. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the shopping behavior of female consumers. It provides a theoretical basis for enterprises to develop more precise marketing strategies. By optimizing the layout of business districts, adjusting product positioning, and improving shopping satisfaction and other measures, enterprises can effectively promote the repurchase behavior of female consumers and then enhance market competitiveness.
A STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND ACADEMIC PRESSURE ON CAREER DECISIONS OF ART MAJORS IN UNIVERSITIES
College is a critical period for personal career development, and students must make major decisions such as primary choice and future career direction. Art students especially face unique challenges, such as combining creativity and technology and changing market demands. With the expansion of higher education, students' academic pressure increases, influencing their career decisions. This study explores the relationship between personal background, academic pressure, career decisions, and college art students to guide educational institutions and students. Independent variables include personal background (gender, grade, professional, family economic situation, personal career planning consciousness, five dimensions) and Academic pressure (personal level Academic pressure, school level Academic pressure, family level Academic pressure, three dimensions), dependent variables for career decision (anxiety hesitation, lack of personal cognition, education and professional knowledge, timing, external barriers five dimensions). The questionnaire survey method was conducted by email for the art students of Shanghai Vocational College of the Arts, and SPSS was used for data analysis. The study methods included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The sample recovery is efficient, and the distribution of gender and grade is balanced, covering the four major art majors. The study process includes three stages: questionnaire design and pre-test, formal test and data collection and analysis, and finally SPSS for data analysis.
The Influence of The POCCC Model and Hybrid Teaching Styles on University Teaching Development
The research aims to explore how the POCCC model influences teaching effectiveness and student engagement, to analyze correlation between student engagement and hybrid teaching styles, and to analyze the academic discipline, teaching experience, and how POCCC model utilization affects effectiveness. The Target group is 100 teachers with teaching experience and 500 students from Dongguan City University. The research instrument is the questionnaire for teachers and the questionnaire for students. Statistics are mean, standard deviation, correlation, and regression analysis. Results are that all teachers are Faculty Usage of the POCCC Model and Faculty Adoption of Hybrid Teaching Styles with moderate level, all teachers are teaching effectiveness and future needs with moderate level, all students have student experiences with the POCCC Model and the hybrid teaching styles with moderate level, mean = 3.02 and standard deviation = 1.42, all students have student experiences and learning outcomes with moderate level, Student engagement and hybrid teaching styles have Pearson correlation with 0.547, Equation; Effectiveness = 1.768 + 0.262 POCCC Model Utilization + 0.491 Teaching Experience + 0.078 Academic Discipline.
Students' Engagement in Learning Vocabulary for Daily Conversations
Practicing basic vocabulary is essential for students to enhance their fluency in daily English conversations. However, many students still struggle to retain and acquire new vocabulary effectively. In such situations, student engagement plays a crucial role in determining how well vocabulary is learned and applied. This study examines students' engagement when learning vocabulary intended for daily communication. The research followed a descriptive qualitative approach, involving 30 elementary school students. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed with a simplified Likert scale, making it accessible and appropriate for the participants’ age and interests. Findings showed that students were generally engaged emotionally; they often felt enthusiastic and enjoyed vocabulary- related activities, especially when these included games or roleplay. Cognitive and behavioral engagement also appeared, although speaking practice still challenged some. Overall, this study discusses the importance of creating learning experiences that encourage students to participate actively. It recommends that teachers use interactive and creative strategies to help students learn vocabulary more meaningfully.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) Among Students in Thai Language Instruction at Vocational Colleges
This study is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of social constructivism theory and language acquisition theory, focusing on Thai grammar teaching in higher vocational colleges. It aims to explore the effectiveness of the task-based language teaching (TBLT) method and its impact on students' learning interests and Thai language skills, providing theoretical support and practical guidance for applying this teaching approach in Thai language teaching. The research conducted a questionnaire survey and test assessments. The sample consists of 223 students from four classes of Thai language majors in their second year at Yunnan Z College. The data analysis showed good reliability and validity of the questionnaire. The intrinsic connections among the acceptance of the task-based language teaching method, learning interest, and Thai language skills were revealed through difference, correlation, and factor analysis. The research results indicate that students with a high acceptance of the task-based language teaching method have significantly higher learning interest and Thai language skill levels. Moreover, the acceptance of the task-based language teaching method is significantly positively correlated with learning interest and Thai language skills, and it has a significant positive predictive effect on both. Based on this, the study suggests that schools should incorporate the task-based language teaching method into the design of Thai language courses, stimulating students' learning interest and language application ability by enhancing their understanding of it.
Establishing valid and reliable writing assessments in education remains a persistent challenge, especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool in evaluation. Although previous studies have investigated both AI-based and teacher-based writing assessments, few have addressed them through a systematic lens, leading to fragmented insights and inconsistent frameworks. This study aims to investigate the current state-of-the-art of AI-based and teacher-based writing assessments and to identify emerging debates and research directions in the field. A total of 258 articles were collected from Scopus, ScienceDirect, JSTOR, Emerald, and Ebscohost, and filtered using PRISMA guidelines. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal that AI-based assessments offer high consistency and efficiency in evaluating surface-level language features, but struggle with assessing higher-order discourse aspects such as coherence, argumentation, and rhetorical structure. Conversely, teacher-based assessments provide richer, context-aware feedback, yet are limited by issues of subjectivity and scalability. A hybrid model that integrates AI efficiency with human insight emerges as a promising solution to balance reliability and validity in writing assessment. Nevertheless, key debates remain regarding AI's scoring authority, construct validity, ethical concerns and, implementation across diverse educational contexts. This study calls for the development of unified frameworks and teacher training to support equitable and effective AI-human collaboration in writing assessment.
Students’ Motivation in Listening Podcast
Listening is one of the hardest skills for students to learn in English classes that take place in the classroom. Students often don't get to use the real English language because there aren't enough different and real listening options. Podcasts are a flexible and engaging choice, as they utilize real language in real-life situations. This study investigates students' perceptions and attitudes toward using podcasts in the English classroom. We interviewed 30 students in the fourth and sixth semesters of the English Education Study Program at the University of Muhammadiyah Semarang, employing a descriptive qualitative research method. We did this by having them fill out a Google Form. The results show that students believe podcasts can help them stay motivated, learn more authentic English, and learn independently. Students liked how easy it was to find and listen to podcasts about things that mattered to them. There were still problems, such as not being able to get online and not knowing how to utilize podcast sites. According to the study, people can learn English better when they listen to podcasts that have well-organized activities and carefully chosen information.
The Students’ Perception on Watching English Movie for Speaking Performance
Speaking proficiency is vital in studying English, particularly for pupils in the digital age. Nonetheless, numerous students continue to encounter challenges in speaking English owing to insufficient exposure to genuine language resources and a scarcity of practice opportunities. This study investigates students' perspectives on utilizing English films to enhance their speaking abilities in English assignments. The study utilized a descriptive qualitative approach to elucidate students' perspectives and experiences. The participants comprised 30 students from the second, sixth, and eighth semesters at Muhammadiyah University of Semarang. Data were gathered using questionnaires as the primary instrument. The study's data were analyzed descriptively to ascertain students' perceptions of the influence of watching English films on their speaking performance. The investigation indicated that most students experienced increased motivation, confidence, and an enhanced ability to comprehend pronunciation, vocabulary, and phrases after viewing English films. In conclusion, viewing English films can be an effective and entertaining supplementary medium for enhancing students' speaking skills, particularly for academic tasks. Educators should incorporate film-based activities in speaking lessons to enhance student interest and speaking skills.
Students’ Difficulties in Speaking English
Speaking is an essential oral communication skill used to express ideas, emotions, or information to others. It is one of the most common forms of communication in daily life, whether in social interactions, education, or professional environments. The research was conducted using descriptive quantitative method with the target of 30 students from 2,4, and 6 semesters of English Education Program. Data was obtained by distributing questionnaires that had to be filled in by students as respondents. The result of this study show that students experience difficulties in speaking English. The difficulties experienced by students include limited vocabulary owned, low student understanding of grammar, lack of fluency when speaking English spontaneously. In addition, students also reported feeling anxious and insecure, especially when having to speak in formal or academic contexts. The daily environment that does not support the use of English exacerbates these conditions, resulting in low confidence and speaking ability. This study shows the need to improve English speaking in formal contexts and in the classroom. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students read consistently, practice grammar and pronunciation regularly, and find friends to practice speaking with in order to improve fluency and confidence in speaking
China's private vocational education institutions, such as Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College, face escalating challenges in student enrollment due to intensified competition from public colleges and evolving educational demands. This study aims to analyze the effects of planning and promotion, command and process, and coordination and personnel on enrollment effectiveness in Fuzhou Software Vocational and Technical College. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative interviews with school administrators and quantitative analysis of 400 students and 200 teacher questionnaires to examine three core dimensions: Planning and Promotion, Commanding and Process, and Coordinating and Personnel. The findings reveal that all three factors have a significant impact on enrollment effectiveness. Strategic planning, paired with multi-channel promotion, enhances the college's visibility and attractiveness, while efficient command and streamlined processes improve operational efficiency and the applicant experience. Strong coordination among departments and a professional enrollment team fosters trust and satisfaction, directly influencing students' enrollment decisions. Regression analysis confirms positive relationships between these factors and enrollment outcomes, with Coordinating & Personnel demonstrating the strongest effect. This study contributes theoretical insights by integrating management and marketing theories in the context of vocational education enrollment. It offers practical strategies for optimizing enrollment management, including leveraging data-driven planning, digital promotional tools, and cross-departmental collaboration. The results offer a valuable framework for private vocational colleges to enhance their competitiveness and effectively address enrollment challenges.
The Impact of Government Policies and Corporate Collaboration on the Performance of Digital Economy Innovation Platforms in Fujian Province
This study aimed to assess the effects of demographics on the performance of digital economy innovation platforms in Fujian province, analyze how government policies and corporate collaboration influence their performance, and identify the barriers and challenges involved in establishing and developing effective platforms. The research framework was developed based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) model, integrating efficiency and innovation capacity as key performance indicators. The convenience sampling method was employed to collect data from 400 respondents across various sectors of the company, who are actively engaged in the digital economy ecosystem. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The inferential statistical methods used were the independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression, all at a statistical significance level of 0.05. The analysis results indicate that the differences in age and work experience have a significant effect on performance in digital economy innovation platforms. Government policies, including financial incentives, regulatory frameworks, and strategic guidance, all contribute to platform performance. The regulatory framework has the most decisive influence, followed by strategic guidance and financial incentives. Corporate collaboration, encompassing joint research and development as well as partnership alliances, has a significant influence on the performance of digital economy innovation platforms. Notably, partnerships and alliances exert a more substantial influence compared to joint research and development. The research recommends a comprehensive approach to enhance platform performance, including strengthening the regular framework and promoting partnership and alliance efforts. Additionally, the study highlights the need for institutional reforms, resource integration, and the establishment of strategic alliances to build a robust digital economy ecosystem in Fujian Province
Analysing EFL Learners Speaking Skills through Authentic Materials and Role Play Activities
One of the key components of learning English as a foreign language (EFL) is speaking skill, which requires the capacity to interact, express ideas, and communicate well in natural surroundings. In the meantime, many EFL students still struggle to reach their ideal speaking ability. This study aims to investigate how well real materials and role-playing exercises help students improve their speaking abilities. Descriptive quantitative research was conducted, gathering data employing questionnaires sent to twenty English Education undergraduate students during semesters 2, 4, 6, and 8. The surveys were meant to gauge how well students thought real materials and role-playing applied and how it affected their speaking ability. Following the sessions, most students reported gains in fluency, confidence, and verbal interaction skills. The results show that in EFL classrooms, including real materials and role-playing exercises can successfully teach English speaking.
The Students' Confidence in Public Speaking
Public speaking often presents significant challenges such as nervousness, lack of confidence, and difficulty in conveying ideas clearly. Although frequently perceived as an innate talent, speaking skills can actually be developed through consistent practice and effective strategies. In today's competitive environment, mastering public speaking is crucial for both professional and everyday communication. This research aims to explore practical techniques that help individuals overcome anxiety and boost their confidence in public speaking. A qualitative descriptive method was applied to gain a deeper understanding of participants' perceptions and behaviours. The study involved 10 participants from diverse academic backgrounds who had undergone public speaking training. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a guided questionnaire focusing on preparation techniques, anxiety management strategies, and self-confidence perception. Participants shared their experiences using methods such as power posing, visualization, and daily practice. Findings revealed that consistent preparation, body posture adjustments, and mental rehearsal significantly enhanced their speaking performance and reduced anxiety. Participants also reported feeling more confident and in control after applying these strategies regularly. This study concludes that mastering certain psychological and physical techniques can lead to a noticeable improvement in public speaking abilities, suggesting that public speaking is a skill that can be cultivated by anyone with the right approach.
The EFL Students’ Difficulties of Pronunciation Practice
For EFL students especially, pronunciation is the foundation of communication and is crucial when separating meanings or creating understandable utterances. One cannot communicate without speaking in the language. Still, students mostly blame pronunciation for their difficulties communicating. Good English speakers will be understood even if they make mistakes in other spheres. Conversely, students with poor pronunciation will not be understood even with excellent grammar. This study aims to identify the elements influencing the pronunciation practice of the students and their challenges in English pronunciation. Data collection and analysis for this study used a quantitative approach. Thirty University of Muhammadiyah Semarang students enrolled in the pronunciation practice program used English as a foreign language. A structured interview, and a questionnaire were the tools used for data collection. The study found that pronunciation still presents a significant obstacle for EFL learners, compromising their communication capacity even with adequate grammar. Limited practice, lack of exposure, and mother tongue interference are among the elements causing these challenges. To improve their speaking clarity and confidence, teachers should thus advise pupils to interact with real English audio resources and offer more targeted pronunciation practice.
Analysis of English-Indonesian Translation Based on Students Perception
Translation plays a significant role in language learning, particularly in helping students understand texts in a foreign language. This study analyses students’ perceptions of English-to-Indonesian translation within the context of language education. Using a quantitative approach, the research involved 30 fourth-semester students from an English Education program at a private university in Indonesia. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that most students find translation to be a helpful strategy for improving comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and overall language skills. However, they also encounter difficulties, such as interpreting idiomatic expressions, understanding grammatical structures, and relying too heavily on digital translation tools. The study underscores the importance of incorporating translation practices into language learning and suggests implementing guided translation activities and proper technological support to enhance students' translation skills. The findings can assist educators in designing more effective teaching strategies for translation-based learning.
The Guidelines to Improve the Teachers' Research Ability of Rural Middle Schools in Guizhou Province
The research objectives are as follows: 1) To study the current situation of the research ability of rural middle school teachers in Guizhou Province; 2) Design guidelines to promote the research ability of rural middle school teachers in Guizhou Province. The sample group of this study used Reliability Statistics and KMO and Bartlett's Test tables to conduct a stratified random sampling of 500 rural middle school teachers in Guizhou province. Research tools include questionnaires, and data analysis includes Descriptive Statistics and Correlations. Research results include: The research ability of rural middle school teachers in Guizhou Province is low (x̅=2.716,S.D.=0.985) in seven aspects as follows: 1) the low level of innovation ability (x̅=2.524,S.D.=1.016),2) the low level of language ability (x̅=2.754,S.D.=1.078). 3) Low level of literature ability (x̅=2.826,S.D.=1.157), 4) low level of investigation ability (x̅=2.556,S.D.=1.063) ,5) low level of planning ability (x̅=2.789,S.D.=1.048),5) low level of implementation ability (x̅=2.633,S.D.=0.993) ,7) low level of documentation ability (x̅=2.433,S.D.=0.898). The researchers proposed the following guidelines for improving the research ability of rural middle school teachers in Guizhou province; 1)Strengthen the professional development system of teachers: establish a systematic research ability training mechanism to provide continuous learning and development opportunities; 2)Improve the evaluation and incentive mechanism: Integrate the research results into the teacher evaluation system, provide professional title promotion, rewards and financial support, and improve the enthusiasm of research; 3) Strengthen government and community support: increase policy support and financial input, and encourage enterprises and social organizations to jointly support teachers' scientific research activities; 4)Improve teachers' awareness of research: strengthen the publicity of the importance of educational research, guide teachers to take the initiative to participate in research, and improve research interest and motivation; 5)Foster a culture of self-reflection, innovation and lifelong learning: Encourage teachers to use research methods in teaching, improve teaching quality, and promote interdisciplinary learning and innovation
The Students ‘ Challenges in Mastering TOEFL Listening Comprehension
Listening comprehension is the hardest section for many TOEFL students. Students struggle with fast speaking, various English dialects, and advanced academic discourse, even with many digital tools. Their perspectives, past experiences, and learning styles affect how well they improve TOEFL listening comprehension. This study aims to identify the main obstacles students face in achieving TOEFL Listening Comprehension proficiency. This study used quantitative descriptive methods to collect and analyze data. Fifty college students who had undergone TOEFL preparation classes complained about the hearing section. Data was collected from five student interviews and a twenty-question structured questionnaire. The examination examined pupils' perspectives and unusual listening challenges. The study found that students with systematic practice and real content exposure had strong hearing awareness and adaptive skills. Students acknowledged the benefits of podcasts, listening apps, and other technological tools, yet some struggled to stay engaged. The study found that consistent listening practice, guided note-taking, and customized technological interventions can improve TOEFL listening section performance. To meet each student's needs, future lessons should include individualized listening activities and constant exposure to diverse English dialects.
The Use of Positive and Negative Adjectives in Shaping Protagonists and Antagonists in Children’s Books
This study explores the role of positive and negative adjectives in shaping the portrayal of protagonists and antagonists in children's books. Adjectives play a crucial role in character development, influencing readers' perceptions and emotional connections with the characters. This research analyses how authors use positive adjectives to construct heroic and admirable protagonists, while negative adjectives are employed to depict villains and antagonistic figures. Through a qualitative analysis of selected children's literature, this study examines patterns of adjective usage and their impact on characterization. The findings reveal that positive adjectives contribute to creating relatable, moral, and inspiring protagonists, whereas negative adjectives reinforce the contrast between good and evil by establishing antagonists as undesirable or threatening. Understanding these linguistic choices enhances our comprehension of how language influences young readers' moral and emotional development. This study provides insights for educators, writers, and scholars interested in the intersection of linguistics and children's literature.
Factors Influencing Employment Satisfaction of Vocational College Graduates: The Self-Determination Theory Perspectives
Against the backdrop of a changing global employment landscape, this study examines the employment satisfaction of vocational college graduates, a critical factor for career development, social stability, and economic growth. Motivated to understand how psychological needs shape employment outcomes, the research uses Self-Determination Theory to explore how autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs influence satisfaction among 400 graduates (2021–2023) from Fuzhou Software Technology Vocational College via questionnaire surveys. These needs were chosen as they reflect fundamental psychological drivers of human behavior, central to job satisfaction. Results show that all three needs correlate positively with satisfaction, with relatedness having the strongest impact, followed by autonomy. At the same time, competence’s independent effect is non-significant. Group differences exist across graduation years, employment statuses, and income levels. The study enriches the Self-Determination Theory’s application in vocational education employment and advises colleges to foster student autonomy and enterprises to offer growth opportunities. Future research should expand sample diversity, adopt longitudinal designs, and address emerging employment trends.
A Study on the Current State of Script Teaching in Chinese Universities' Drama Education
This study is based on a systematic analysis of the current state of script teaching in drama education at Chinese universities. It aims to explore the major issues in the current teaching of drama scripts and propose corresponding strategies for improvement. The research subjects are 200 students and 4 teachers from Guizhou Qiannan University of Science and Technology, with data collected through surveys and teacher interviews. The study aims to comprehensively understand the actual situation of drama script teaching in Chinese universities, analyze the difficulties faced by students in the learning process, evaluate the effectiveness of current teaching methods, and propose improvement measures to optimize teaching outcomes. The study found that the current drama script teaching faces uneven resource distribution, traditional teaching methods, and a lack of innovation. Students encounter significant difficulties in language comprehension, emotional expression, and performance skills. Consequently, the study proposes targeted improvement measures, such as introducing innovative teaching methods, improving teaching content, strengthening teachers' professional training, and enhancing the allocation of teaching resources. Through these improvements, the study aims to enhance students' language proficiency and performance confidence, strengthen the overall effectiveness of drama education, and promote the comprehensive development of students.