ELE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE ROLE OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION COURSE FOR THEIR TEACHING PRACTICE

ELE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE ROLE OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION COURSE FOR THEIR TEACHING PRACTICE

Abstrak

Komunikasi antar budaya memainkan peran penting dalam lingkungan pendidikan yang beragam saat ini, di mana guru bertugas membina lingkungan belajar yang inklusif dan efektif. Studi ini mengeksplorasi persepsi dan pengalaman mahasiswa English Language Education (ELE) mengenai peran Intercultural Communication Course (ICC) dalam praktik pengajaran mereka. Pendekatan penelitian kualitatif dengan menggunakan kuesioner dilakukan dengan sampel 27 mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris angkatan 2019 dan juga dilakukan wawancara semi terstruktur dengan l enam mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris angkatan 2019 di Surabaya yang telah menyelesaikan ICC pada semester kelima dan juga melakukan praktek mengajar program pendidikan guru mereka. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa ICC berdampak signifikan terhadap persepsi dan pengalaman siswa tentang praktik mengajar mereka. Mereka melaporkan peningkatan kesadaran akan bias budaya mereka sendiri dan peningkatan refleksi diri, yang mengarah ke praktik pengajaran yang lebih inklusif. Peserta menyatakan peningkatan dalam kemampuan mereka untuk memfasilitasi komunikasi dan menyelesaikan konflik yang timbul dari perbedaan budaya. Selain itu, kursus ini dipandang penting dalam mengembangkan rasa percaya diri siswa, menggabungkan materi dan aktivitas yang relevan secara budaya ke dalam pelajaran mereka. Namun, beberapa tantangan teridentifikasi, termasuk terbatasnya kesempatan untuk penerapan praktis selama kursus dan kebutuhan akan dukungan dan pelatihan lanjutan di luar ICC awal. Peserta menekankan pentingnya pengembangan profesional yang berkelanjutan dalam keterampilan komunikasi antar budaya dan menyarankan untuk mengintegrasikan lebih banyak kesempatan belajar berdasarkan pengalaman dalam kurikulum pendidikan guru. Penelitian lebih lanjut diperlukan untuk mengetahui bagaimana dosen mempersepsikan Intercultural Communication Course (ICC). Peneliti masa depan juga diharapkan menemukan bagaimana mengembangkan materi ICC yang tepat untuk siswa ELE untuk mendukung karir mengajar mereka sebagai calon guru EFL.

Kata kunci: Mata Kuliah Komunikasi Antarbudaya, mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, praktik mengajar, persepsi, pengalaman

Abstract

Intercultural communication plays a crucial role in today's diverse educational settings, where teachers are tasked with fostering inclusive and effective learning environments. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of English Language Education (ELE) students regarding the role of an Intercultural Communication Course (ICC) in their teaching practice. A qualitative research approach employing questionnaires was conducted with a sample of 27 ELE students of the 2019 cohort and also conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of six ELE students of the 2019 cohort of one state university in Surabaya who had completed ICC in their fifth semester and also done their teaching practice of their teacher education program. The findings indicate that the ICC significantly impacted students' perceptions and experiences of their teaching practice. They reported enhanced awareness of their own cultural biases and increased self-reflection, leading to more inclusive instructional practices. Participants expressed improvements in their ability to facilitate communication and resolve conflicts arising from cultural differences. Moreover, the course was seen as instrumental in developing students' confidence, incorporating culturally relevant materials and activities into their lessons. However, some challenges were identified, including limited opportunities for practical application during the course and the need for continued support and training beyond the initial ICC. Participants emphasized the importance of ongoing professional development in intercultural communication skills and suggested integrating more experiential learning opportunities within the teacher education curriculum. Further research is needed to know how the lecturer perceives the Intercultural Communication Course (ICC). The future researcher is also expected to discover how to develop the right material for ICC for ELE students to support their teaching career as EFL pre-service teachers.

Keywords: Intercultural Communication Course, ELE students, teaching practice, perceptions, experiences.