Javanese Interference on Students’ English Speaking Skill in the EFL Context

Abstract

Language is one of the crucial things in communication. Indonesia is one of rich countries that have various culture and ethnic group. One of the Indonesian cultures is Javanese language. Javanese language is the traditional language or first language that spoken by Javanese people (Setyowati, 2014). In other hand, Indonesian students necessary to learn English language as a global language including the Javanese students. This study investigated the Javanese interference on students’ English speaking skill in the EFL context. The data was gained by qualitative method using digital documentation and interview. The participants of this research were six of Javanese students in English Education Department at University of Islam Malang who have been selected. After analyzing the digital documentation and interview, the researcher draws two major points. 1) The Javanese students find difficulties in pronouncing θ, r, ʃ, tʃ, ʊ, ð, t, ʊəʳ, d, and dʒ. It was caused by the difficulties in controlling their mother tongue in mastering English vocabulary. 2) They find difficult to remove the first language accent to the foreign language because the habit of daily communication. To identify more, the researcher made interview section to find out their difficulties, the factor caused, the solution of difficulties, and their perception about the problem. Then, to solve that problem, the English teachers should be more innovative to develop the strategies and design the materials for the students and make them minimize the Javanese interference in their English speaking. Students also should learn and practice more to deny their Javanese interference so that could have good speaking skills and the listeners would be easier to understand what they mean. Finally, this study pointed out that Javanese interference can be solved by the English teachers and the EFL students.

Key Words: Language Interference, Javanese Students, English Speaking Skill