THE PERCEPTION OF TEST OF ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE

AIM1. To find out how the students perceive TOEFL and their own test preparation.2. To find out the students’ opinion about the effectiveness of polytechnic measures designed to promote English proficiency.3. To what extent the demographic variables of gender, semester, test taking experience, interest in English, and English ability influence the

students’ perspectives on TOEFL as one of graduation requirements.

METHODOLOGYSubject:178 “Diploma-IV” Accounting Study Program students of Samarinda State Data Collection:The questionnaire that used in this research was adapted from an established questionnaire by Chen & Squires (2010) that consisted of 23 items.Data AnalysisTabulating the data based on the variables to find out the frequencies, percentage, rank, mean and standard deviation. The researcher also tried to

indicate the correlation between the participants’ perspective on the English graduation requirement and those variables by a chi-square test.

The two most frequent reasons given for its effectiveness is that it can enhance English proficiency (45%) and enhance motivation to learn English (41%). The least frequent reason given for an English graduation requirement is that other colleges have the same requirement (4%)

The two most frequent reasons given for the ineffectiveness of the English graduation requirement were the participant’s lack of confidence that they would be able to pass the English the English proficiency tests (68%) and learning English is not helpful for career and advanced studies (17%). None of the participants agree that it can decrease study time on content knowledge.

There were 43 female students and 16 male students. 14 of them were never following TOEFL test. Most of them also had low proficient English (39 students) compared to the students who intermediate proficient English (6 students). They also prepared themselves for facing the TOEFL by reading and listening radio (30 students). Although most of them were somewhat confidence in passing the TOEFL (38 students) but they most of them interested in learning English (33 students)

RESULTS “Diploma-IV” Accounting Study Program

Students’ Perceptions on TOEFLWhen the participants were asked about their

experience in taking TOEFL, approximately 123 students or 69% had ever taken TOEFL test before, and only 58 students. or 31%. Most of them took TOEFL in Samarinda State Polytechnic (115 students or 96%), and the rest of them also took TOEFL in their Senior High School (38 students or 32%). When they asking about how they prepared themselves in facing TOEFL, most of them answered by reading books or listening to radio programs (96 students or 54%). It was followed by taking course (48 students or 27%), other answers such as, watching movies, playing games, asking someone who knows TOEFL, and studying online (46 students or 26%), and using the resources at self-access language learning centre (40 students or 22%). Unfortunately, no students went to language school.

“Diploma-IV” Accounting Study Program Students’ Opinions regarding the Effectiveness of Polytechnic Measures for Enhancing English Proficiency

Among 11 measures, the three items thought effective by the largest number of participants were English learning counseling (77% effective or very effective), standard TOEFL score 450 (71% very effective or effective) and English extracurricular activities (71% very effective or effective). On the other hand, the three items thought ineffective by the smallest number of the participants were English content area course (28% very effective or effective) and waiving the freshmen’s English course by passing the standardized English proficiency test (39% very effective or effective). Participants were divided in their opinion regarding the TOEFL as the graduation requirement. 97 participants or 54% perceived TOEFL as graduation requirement was effective or very effective, while 53 participants or 29% perceived that it was ineffective or very ineffective, and only 28 participants or 16% had no opinion.

CONCLUSION More participants (54%) thought that TOEFL as graduation requirement was effective than those thought it was ineffective (16%). Most of the participants believed that the policy could enhance their English proficiency and motivate them to learn English. Three measures perceived to be effective by the most participants were English learning counseling (137 participants or 77%), English extracurricular activities (126 participants or 71%), and Standard TOEFL score 450 ( 126 participants or 71%). There were only 40 participants or 28% perceived English lecturer in content are were effective. SUGGESTIONS The management needs to appeal to the English lecturers to give some exercises to their students about TOEFL since TOEFL is not included in curriculum of Samarinda State polytechnic. And then, the management and the lecturers need to increase the students’ confident in passing or conducting the TOEFL, such as, giving some seminar of TOEFL and conducting TOEFL competition. Since it was reported that TOEFL test had little influence on English study strategies or the amount of time studying, the management to give an extra course for students to take so that they will prepared them well for the test.

REFERENCEChen, Mei-Ling & Squires, David. (2010).

Vocational College Students’ perception on Standardized English Proficiency Test. ASIAN EFL Journal, p.70-90

Ng, Jacob N.K., (2008). Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Good Indicator for Student Success at Community Colleges?. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. Oregon State University

Sektalonir Oscarini Wati BhaktiSamarinda State Polytechnic