.png){kind=logo}
Email this article 
INDONESIAN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNERS’ INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: PROFILES AND CHALLENGES
(1) Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng, Indonesia
(2) Universitas Nusa Cendana, Indonesia
(3) Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia
(4) Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
This research addresses interpersonal communication abilities and the related challenges faced in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms within Indonesian university settings. Knowledge of interpersonal communication influences how EFL learners perform in educational environments that require direct interaction. This study aims to explore students’ interpersonal communication abilities in speaking classes and the challenges they encounter. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and July 2023, involving 315 college students from six English Study Programs at six universities across three Indonesian provinces. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews, followed by quantitative analysis. The findings indicate that the respondents’ interpersonal communication profiles were classified as Moderate (Average = 3.26). The most prevalent challenge (Average = 4.6) in developing interpersonal communication skills during speaking courses was difficulty in understanding the pronunciation of their speech partners. These findings are significant for undergraduate students, as they highlight the importance of developing communication skills through communicative competence. EFL learners are encouraged to communicate effectively by focusing on both the micro and macro components of linguistics. These elements are essential to cultivating a more compassionate, dynamic, engaging, functional, and experiential language learning environment, as they complement each other.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Alkhaldi, A. A., Alhasan, R. F., Huwari, I. F., & Abushaaban, H. (2023). Strategies for reducing oral communication apprehension in English: A qualitative study of Jordanian undergraduates. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(7), 1638–1644. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1307.05
Ariyani, A., Wello, B., Basri, M., & Arham, M. (2024). Lecturers' interpersonal communication skills and their influence on student engagement in EFL speaking classes. ELT Worldwide: Journal of English Language Teaching, 11(2), 512–526. https://doi.org/10.26858/eltww.v11i2.67062
Artykbayeva, F. (2024). Value characteristics of the core of the mental lexicon of native speakers of language and culture in the light of intercultural communication. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 53(3), 24–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-024-10074-9
Benraghda, A. (2022). Self-assessment as a self-regulated learning approach in English oral presentations: College students’ choices and perceptions. Cogent Education, 9(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2123472
Bowman, N. D. (2024). On the continued need for replication in media and communication research. Media and Communication, 12, 4–8. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.7935
Breen, A. M., & Giacalone, C. G. (2019). Teaching interpersonal communication skills in athletic training professional programs: A mixed methods study. Hispania, 102(2), 165–168. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpn.2019.0038
Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistic, 1(1), 1–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/applin/I.1.1
Castro, K. N. V. (2024). Communication with a culturally and linguistically diverse population from primary care. Semergen, 50(4), 102149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semerg.2023.102149
Cherepynska, A. F., Bevzo, H. A., & Zhuravlov, V. D. (2022). Verbal aspects of interpersonal communication in English. Mìžnarodnij Fìlologìčnij Časopis, 13(4), 92–100. https://doi.org/10.31548/philolog13(4_2).2022.010
Chomsky, N. (2006). Language and mind (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Dietl, J. E., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., & Lippke, S. (2023). Interdisciplinary and interprofessional communication intervention: How psychological safety fosters communication and increases patient safety. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164288
Dzięcioł-Pędich, A. (2021). Technology in support of developing speaking skills in ESP courses. Lublin Studies in Modern Languages and Literature, 45(3), 57–69. https://doi.org/10.17951/LSMLL.2021.45.3.57-69
Elvira, A., Pratiwi, D., & Gharamah, F. M. A. (2024). Students' actional competence in presentation skills in EFL classroom: A lesson of communicative language teaching implementation. JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(4), 1965–1977. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i4.11787
Farooqi, R., Ashraf, F., & Nazeer, I. (2020). Interpersonal communication, teamwork effectiveness, and organizational commitment in Pakistani nurses. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 35(4), 675–692. https://doi.org/10.33824/PJPR.2020.35.4.36
Fromkin, V. A. (2003). Linguistics: An introduction to Linguistic Theory. New York: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
García, M. R. (2020). Intersubjective communication: From classic approaches to the incorporation of body and emotions for its theoretical and empirical approach. Doxa Comunicacion, 30, 145–163. https://doi.org/10.31921/doxacom.n30a7
Halliday, M. A. K. (1973). Explorations in the functions of language. London: Edward Arnold.
Hargie, O. (2016). Skilled interpersonal communication: Research theory and practice (6th ed.). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315741901
Hasanah, N., Muhazir, M., Simarmata, S. W., Batubara, A., & Dina, R. (2021). Effect of interpersonal communication skills of teachers in teaching teacher motivation during the pandemic COVID-19. Journal Research of Social, Science, Economics, and Management, 1(6), 603–609. https://doi.org/10.36418/jrssem.v1i6.82
Juniarti, N. T., Amzah, A., & Magdahalena, M. (2020). Using tongue twister technique to improve students' pronunciation ability. Inspiring: English Education Journal, 3(1), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.35905/inspiring.v3i1.1324
Kaldarova, A., Kulgildinova, T., Berdenova, S., Zakirova, G., & Zhanabayeva, S. (2024). Subject-related communicative language competence: Exploring future information technology specialists’ learning and teaching. Journal of Education and E-Learning Research, 11(1), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.20448/jeelr.v11i1.5288
Kanaza, F. U. (2020). A language function: The analysis of conative function in Meghan Markle's speech. Etnolingual, 4(1), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.20473/etno.v4i1.20347
Khamis, N., Yunus, M., & Mansor, A. Z. (2024). Exploring language learning strategies of TESL practicum students through a phenomenological lens for enhancing language competency. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(2), 436–460. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.2.21
Kondo, J., Tomizawa, R., Jibu, T., & Kamide, K. (2020). Developing an interpersonal communication skill scale targeting female nursing students. BMC Research Notes, 13(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-4896-6
Liu, X., Wu, D., Ye, Y., Xu, M., & Jiao, J. (2020). Improving accuracy in imitating and reading aloud via speech visualization technology. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(8), 144–160. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i08.11475
Longa, L. D., Valori, I., & Farroni, T. (2022). Interpersonal affective touch in a virtual world: Feeling the social presence of others to overcome loneliness. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795283
Lwanga-Lumu, J. C. (2020). Intercultural communicative component (ICC) in the English second language (EL2) curricula: Trends and challenges of transformation in South Africa (SA) and the global world. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 20(1), 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v20i1.300
Mcquitty, D. (2023). Teaching interpersonal communication concepts to increase awareness and reduce health disparities. Patient Education and Counseling, 109, 25–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.068
Menggo, S., Suastra, I. M., & Padmadewi, N. N. (2019). Self-recording videos to improve academic English-speaking competence. The Asian EFL Journal, 25(5.2), 130–152.
Mohammad, T., Alzubi, A. A. F., Nazim, M., & Khan, S. I. (2023). EFL paraphrasing skills with QuillBot: Unveiling students’ enthusiasm and insights. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 7(5), 359–373. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202324645
Mohammed, A. W., & Adea, M. K. (2022). Effect of nurses' interpersonal communication skills on quality of care in hospitals. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(3), 6947–6962. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6ns3.7609
Mojtahedzadeh, R., Hasanvand, S., Mohammadi, A., Malmir, S., & Vatankhah, M. (2024). Students’ experience of interpersonal interactions quality in e-learning: A qualitative research. PLoS ONE, 19(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298079
Montero, M. A. (2023). Personal valuation of Chinese language for social functions among senior high school learners. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 5(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.59400/fls.v5i2.1663
Morgenstern, A. (2023). Children’s multimodal language development from an interactional, usage-based, and cognitive perspective. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 14(2), e1631. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.1631
Nandagopal, S. K. (2023). A meta investigation of speaking skills: Practice, feedback, and self-directed efforts. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 66(2), 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2023.3251140
Pečiuliauskienė, P. (2018). The structure of interpersonal communication skills of the new generation senior school students: The case of generations X and Z. Pedagogika, 130(2), 116–130. https://doi.org/10.15823/p.2018.26
Rahmawati, F. (2019). Blended learning in an English listening and speaking course: Freshmen’s voice and choice. Advances in Social Science, Education, and Humanities Research, 353, 56–62. https://doi.org/10.2991/icosihess-19.2019.9
Rum, E. P., Garner, M., & Basri, M. (2020). Lecturers' approaches to developing students' interpersonal communication skills in Indonesian EFL classroom. Asian EFL Journal, 27(41), 291–308.
Sanchis-Giménez, L., Lacomba-Trejo, L., Prado-Gascó, V., & Giménez-Espert, M. del C. (2023). Attitudes towards communication in nursing students and nurses: Are social skills and emotional intelligence important? Healthcare, 11(8), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081119
Şihmantepe, A. (2021). Improving maritime English oral communication skills in an online environment: Engaging students as teams. Trends and Developments for the Future of Language Education in Higher Education, 272–292. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7226-9.ch014
Solomon, D., & Theiss, J. (2022). Interpersonal communication: Putting theory into practice (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351174381
Wal, N. T. (2023). Everyday barriers in communicative participation according to people with communication problems. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66(3), 1033–1050. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00405
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v28i1.8670
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sebastianus Menggo, Karolus Budiman Jama, Ni Luh Putu Sri Adnyani, Ni Wayan Krismayani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Indexed and abstracted in:
LLT Journal Sinta 1 Certificate (S1 = Level 1)
We would like to inform you that LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching has been nationally accredited Sinta 1 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia based on the decree No. Surat Keputusan 10/C/C 3/DT.05.00/2025. Validity for 5 years: Vol 26 No 2 2023 till Vol 31 No 1 2028.
Sinta 1 certificate to post here asap. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
This work is licensed under CC BY-SA.
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/llt, e-ISSN 2579-9533 and p-ISSN 1410-7201, is published twice a year, namely in April and October by the English Language Education Study Programme of Teacher Training and Education Faculty of Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.