EXPLORING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN BALANCING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND LOCAL IDENTITY

English

Abstract

: English has become one of the global language's students' needs for both academic and future careers. While attaining proficiency in English, students need to stay connected to the remaining manifestations of their languages, values, and cultures, primarily the local Identity. This could be challenging, as students need to engage in global communication while still maintaining their cultural Identity. Balancing the acquisition of English with the motivation to learn, effective teaching, and overcoming the challenges of attaining English has been the primary focus of most research in the teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL) context. However, the cultural and local identity part hasn’t been studied much, especially in relation to students who leave their hometowns to pursue their education. This study focuses on examining the difficulties students face in learning English while still maintaining their Identity as locals. Using a qualitative method, the participants of this study were undergraduate students in the Department of English Education from the fifth and seventh semesters at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study revealed that students faced difficulties, including pronunciation difficulties, a lack of a supportive environment, and social pressure. To deal with these challenges, students use strategies like switching languages depending on the situation and using digital media as learning support. Future researchers can include more diverse participants from different areas. In addition, educational institutions and educators can also help students balance English learning and local Identity by using culturally sensitive methods.

Keywords: English proficiency, local Identity, learners and students' difficulties, EFL, culture and language, Identity in language learning