Foreign student guest lecture and Indonesian EFL students' motivation in cross-culture understanding course

Imam Wahyudi Karimullah,Sari Kurnia Rahmawati,Elchin Gashimov

doi:10.33474/j-reall.v2i2.12633

Abstract

This study explores an innovative way to increase students' learning motivation in a cross-culture understanding (CCU) class at an English Language Teaching study program in a private university in Indonesia. The lecturer assigned EFL students to find international students to share their cultures to solve students' lack of motivation in indoor learning activities. From observation, interview, and an online survey to 94 students (four classes), 98.9 % agreed that the international students' guest lecture method could increase EFL students' motivation to learn CCU. The Indonesian lecturer exposed to global culture and international students exposed to Indonesian culture becomes the primary resource for Indonesian EFL students to get insight and inspiration for their intercultural communication and adaptation practices.

Highlights

Cross-cultural understanding (CCU) class is a course for students to know and understand other countries' cultures
The lecturer assigned Indonesian EFL students into several groups based on the topics to design the classroom learning activity using the foreign student guest lecture (FSGL) method
The topics are the countries' cultures they may visit in the future. These EFL students were assigned to invite international students to present their cultures in CCU class

Summary

Introduction

Cross-cultural understanding (CCU) class is a course for students to know and understand other countries' cultures. Based on the researchers' observations at an English Language Teaching Program at a private university in Indonesia, CCU class sometimes uses outdoor learning methods. This method invites students to know and experience firsthand events in the field (Asmara et al, 2016; Price, 2016). The students carry out independent learning activities outside the classroom based on the course topic or the learning objectives They usually work individually or in a group (Asmara et al, 2016). Students do outdoor learning activities by observing or interviewing foreigners in public places or tourism sites to learn about international cultures

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Discussion

Conclusion