Learners as Story Writers: Creative Writing Practices in English as a Foreign Language Learning in Indonesia

Abstract

This research project aimed to investigate creative writing practices in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning in Indonesia, focusing on students’ capacities in using their resources to write stories in English. This qualitative case study involved two Indonesian students taking a Creative Writing subject as participants. The data were collected from semi-structured one-on-one interviews, guided journals, and samples of students’ writings. The study revealed notable findings. First, there were two capacities that the two Indonesian students demonstrated, namely inciting inspirations and synthesising. To induce inspirations, the students did three practices, i.e. observing surroundings, drawing inspirations from experiences, and getting ideas from others’ creative works (i.e. novels, movies, songs, photos). These practices might not be unique techniques, yet, they allowed snapshots of local, cultural facets (e.g. incidents, values, issues, beliefs, norms) to emerge in the students’ writings. Second, synthesising has been identified as a valuable capacity employed by the two students to develop and write stories in English. This capacity to synthesise information, ideas, skills, and knowledge from different sources may enhance creativity in writing. Third, this study found that the students’ capacities and practices of writing stories corresponded to the stages of learning in Dewantara’s 3N (Niteni-Nirokake-Nambahi) learning principles.