A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Use of Metaphor in Online Car Advertisements

The objectives of the current study are threefold: a) to investigate what types of metaphors are used in Arab and Western car advertisements and why they use them, b) to explore how metaphors are used in Arab and Western car advertisements, and c) to explore how cultural attributes are used along with metaphors in Arab and Western car advertisements. The study adopted a descriptive approach through content analysis using three models: cultural (Hofstede, 2005), metaphorical (Lankoff & Johnson, 1980), and contrastive discourse analysis (Farclough's, 2001), approaches to analyze the data. The study sample comprised 30 car advertisements from Holland, France, Germany, Italy, the US, and Arab countries, each with five advertisements published online in 2016. The findings of the study show that car advertisements frequently use metaphorical strategies. In addition, the study revealed differences between Arab and Western advertisements in terms of the employment of cultural attributes. Finally, the study also indicated that even within the Western context, there is a different use of metaphorical strategies with subtle differences.

Online-based Rubric for Peer Assessment: Effectiveness and Implications

This study investigates using technology to promote authentic and meaningful learning in applying a peer assessment rubric for a public speaking assessment in a higher education institution in Brunei Darussalam. Three hundred six undergraduates from Universiti Teknologi Brunei's Schools of Business, Computing, and the Engineering Faculty conducted the assessments in real-time using online-based rubrics accessible via their smartphones or laptops. Comparisons were made between the lecturers' marks and students for each rubric criterion, and a set of questionnaires was distributed to investigate students' perceptions toward the peer assessment after the assessment. The results indicated a variable discrepancy between assessments by the lecturers and students for the rubric criteria. While in some disciplines, peer marking was found to overmark compared to the lecturer by more than 15%, in other cases, the marks were similar. Comparison between peer and lecturer assessment indicated that the level of agreement was sensitive to the lecturer, but less so between student cohort when assessed by the same lecturer. When differences were observed, there was no apparent discrepancy in an agreement between aspects of the rubric which evaluated content or delivery. Students’ feedback revealed a positive response towards peer assessment but highlighted issues surrounding the technological aspects of the implementation process.

Mechanism of Valence Change in Mandailing Language: Linguistics Typology

This paper described the mechanism of valence change in Mandailing language. The concept of valence refers to the number of arguments a verb that serves as a predicate in a clause can present. Changing the valence of verbs in Mandailing through a causative process causes the verbs to experience an increase in valence. This study was included a qualitative descriptive study, in which the method is a study of language typology and the data analyzed based on the problems discussed using the method Agih. The results of the data analysis of this study are presented using an informal method in the form of explanation or exposure using ordinary words or verbal language. The determinants used by this method are the language elements in the Mandailing language. The purpose of this study was to find what types of verbs in the Mandailing language can experience changes in valence, symptoms, and their process of change, and the semantic role of these verbs. The data analysis from this study was obtained through the observation method and the proficient method with informants; based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that changes in the valence of the Mandailing language occur mainly in intransitive, transitive, transitive verbs, which are grouped into symptoms that cause valence reduction and valence expansion. This study is also expected to inspire some researchers interested in the mechanism of valence change in Mandailing language, either micro or macro.

The Access to and Use of ICT in Learning English: A Case of University Students

This research aimed to find out the students’ access to ICT application and how far ICT application helps students in mastering English language skills faced by English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu in the 2020/2021 academic year. This research was an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. The population of this research was English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu. The sample of this research was selected by using purposive sampling technique, totaling 80 students for questionnaire and 24 students for interview. The data were collected by using questionnaire and interview. The instruments were consisted of 15 items adapted from Dang Hoang Tri and Nhung Hong Thi Nguyen (2014). This research used Microsoft Excel to analyze the data. The result of this study showed that students access 15 ICT applications in English learning. Also, researcher found that the majority of students have positive perception towards ICT application can help students in mastering English language skills.

Needs Analysis of English Materials for Islamic Economics Students

This study aims to find out the needs of English material for Islamic economics students. The method employed in this research is descriptive. Forty students and ten stakeholders were asked to complete the questionnaire, and ten stakeholders were interviewed. The result of the research: 1) the highest themes or topics needed based on students' perception is the relevance of Islamic economics, meanwhile based stakeholders' perception is the methodology of Islamic economics; 2) the highest discourse texts needed based on students' perception is Islam as a way of life, whereas based on stakeholders' perception is facts and theories of Islamic economics; and 3) the highest English Skills needed to be based on students and stakeholders' perception is speaking skill. In sum, the researchers concluded that speaking is an important skill needed by the Islamic economics study program of the Muhammadiyah University of Bengkulu.

An Evaluation of TOEFL Benchmark Policy as an Exit Requirement for Undergraduate Students

This study investigated the TOEFL benchmark policy as an exit requirement for Universitas Teuku Umar students. The research method used was survey design hereby the data from the questionnaire and students' TOEFL score were collected. Under the policy, the students have to pass the standard passing score of TOEFL to graduate. 100 non-English major students from Universitas Teuku Umar participated in this study. The results of the study revealed that the participants gave more positive responses than negative ones. The extend of approval for this policy seemed more related to their abilities, awareness of the importance of learning English, and motivation to learn English. The result from TOEFL scores taken from 2018-2019 found that as many as 58% of students failed to obtain minimum criteria (˃ 400) while only 42% of them reached 400 or above. It indicates that Universitas Teuku Umar students are not ready yet to face this policy. On the other hand, based on the questionnaire result, most students agreed with the implementation of TOEFL as an exit requirement, however, a minimum passing score should be evaluated and a set of students' needs under the policy should be facilitated.

The Linguistic Features in Egyptian-Authored English Research Article Literature Reviews in Linguistics

The current study aims at investigating and comparing the linguistic features of lexical items, tense usage, and voice choice in a sample of ten Egyptian-authored linguistics research article (RA) literature reviews (LRs) in local and international English-medium journals between 2013 and 2019. The paper followed a combination of genre-based and corpus-driven approaches, analyzing the data qualitatively and quantitatively. It adopted the state-of-the-art #LancsBox. The analysis revealed interesting differences between both sub-corpora in the use of lexis, especially in Moves 2 and 3. It was found that lexis varied to reflect the different rhetorical functions of the LR. They also differed in the use of the past simple tense. However, both sub-corpora agreed on using the present simple tense and active voice the most. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a helpful guide for Egyptian and novice researchers to use the linguistic features more appropriately in their LRs. It has pedagogical implications for designing EAP and ESP courses. Further studies on larger corpora are needed to analyze the linguistic features and highlight variations across genres, disciplines, and languages.

Interpersonal Meaning of Mangupa Towards Dalihan Na Tolu Tapanuli Selatan in Medan

The recent study analyzed the interpersonal meaning of "mangupa" process to obtain the interpretation of language in its function as an exchange of experience. And the interpersonal meaning of the utterances uttered by Dalihan na tolu of Mora, Kahanggi, and Anak boru, show the form of each position and the meaning. This study is qualitative research, which naturally observed the data and analyzed it based on the interpersonal analysis. This research found that the text in mangupa is dominantly realized in statement form. Statements come from giving, information from the source/speaker. And the second is offering; the offer was realized from giving, goods/services from source/ speaker. Mora, kahanggi and anakboru were giving statement in mangupa process of Angkola's wedding ceremony. In addition, these three participants demonstrate their role while Kahanggi as the moderator of the ceremony, anakboru as the helper who takes responsibility for preparing the things needed at every stage of the ceremony, while mora has the authority to provide guidance, suggestion, permission, and rejection at the ceremony.

Online Learning of Foreign Language Program in the Intensive Learning Class at the IAIN Padangsidimpuan Language Development Center

Pandemic learning forcibly moved from face-to-face learning into online learning. It makes teachers and learning transformation students IAIN Language Development Center Padangsidimpuan get a new challenge, they must master the teaching materials and teaching strategies as well as the need to master Technology internet-based learning. This study was carried on to find out how language learning Arabic online and challenges in learning the language at the Center for Language Development IAIN Padangsidimpuan. The research method applied a qualitative descriptive study. Participants were comprised of 178 students and lecturers at IAIN Padangsidimpuan Language Development Center academic year 2019/2020. Research instruments used were questionnaires, and documents from online learning screenshots. Analysis of this study employed the technique of presenting data in a narrative that resulted in the conclusion of the study. The results of this research indicated that the applications used in language teaching at the Center for Development Language were google classroom and WhatsApp. Barriers to learning are inadequate internet networks in a student residence. The biggest challenge of online learning is the lecturer and the students did not concentrate. Moreover, smartphones used in learning provided adverse effects on eye health and lack of interest in language learning. Lack of evaluation of learning and also lack time management that has been specified. A decrease in student achievement on speaking skill due to no reciprocal process orally in the learning process of faculty to students. There is a need for a new strategy at the Center for Language Development IAIN Padangsidimpuan so that learning objectives can be achieved. Lastly, the most important thing is that the preparation of digital facilities and infrastructure in implementing online language learning.

Colloquial Speech of University Students’ Utterance

The purpose of this study is to know more about the use of colloquial speech that grows and develops in the youth generation particularly college students. The researcher applied a qualitative descriptive research method with the theory of types of colloquial speech according to Yule (2010) as a detailed explanation. The research subject was students majoring in the English department at the language and art faculty, State University of Medan. Participant observation and interviews were the technique in collecting data. The result showed that from fifty samples of data, there were only seven of nine types shown by students namely, coinage, borrowing, compounding, blending, clipping, acronyms, and multiple processes. College students tend to show the use of coinage, blending, and acronyms. Communicating using colloquial speech or slang can help the user look more relaxed, cooler, confident, and not left behind. The informants adopt colloquial speech from online media even surrounding where they lived and applied it to the daily conversation with groups of friends.