English grammar proficiency among indonesian postgraduate students
Identifying areas for improvement
Keywords:
TOEFL, Language proficiency, Grammar, Postgraduate studentsAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the grammatical challenges faced by postgraduate students and provide practical solutions to address these issues. Employing a descriptive approach, this research examined the implementation of a compulsory TOEFL MOCK Test policy for new postgraduate students. Twenty postgraduate students participated in this study, focusing on the second section of the test, which assesses Structure and Written Expression. The grammatical analysis was informed by the framework outlined in Barron's TOEFL book, 'Practice Exercises for the TOEFL'. The second section comprises questions on word choice, verbs, clauses, agreements, parallel structures, nouns, pronouns, comparison, connectors, modifiers, and redundancy. The findings revealed that the most challenging questions for the students were related to word choice and verbs, with only 45% of the participants (9 out of 20) demonstrating adequate Structure English Competency. The remaining students struggled to answer the structure and written expression questions, resulting in low scores. Overall, the scores of the 20 participants ranged from 330 to 567, with a standard score of 425 for postgraduate students. Based on these results, it is concluded that postgraduate students understand English structure well. By recognizing the significance of English grammatical aspects in academic success, the academic world can take steps to improve language instruction, assessment, and policy, ultimately enhancing students' overall academic performance.
Downloads
References
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. (2023). English language requirements for visa applications. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/eligibility/english-language
Chapelle, C. A., & Chung, Y.-R. (2023). Validating TOEFL scores as a measure of English proficiency. Language Testing, 40(1), 35-55. DOI: 10.1177/02655322221134311
Denzin, N. K. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications.
Educational Testing Service. (n.d.). About ETS. Retrieved from https://www.ets.org/about/
ETS. (2023). TOEFL scores: Your path to study abroad. https://www.ets.org/toefl/scores
ETS. (2024). TOEFL scores: Validity and usage. https://www.ets.org/toefl/scores/validity
Hamim, M. (2022). Why TOEFL was Necessary for You? Malang: https://binus.ac.id/Malang/2022/08/.
Kunnan, A. J. (2009). Test fairness and test use: A response to Xi. Modern Language Journal, 93(3), 411-414. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2009.00923.x
Liu, J., & Chen, Y. (2023). The impact of TOEFL preparation on language skills development. Journal of Language and Linguistics, 22(3), 541-562. DOI: 10.1016/j.jll.2023.02.005
Liu, O. L. (2008). The effects of scoring models on the validity of TOEFL writing scores. Language Testing, 25(4), 547-571. DOI: 10.1177/0265532208090645
New Zealand Immigration. (2024). English language requirements for visa applications. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/english-language
Phakiti, A. (2023). The role of TOEFL in improving language skills for academic purposes. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 63, 102-115. DOI: 10.1016/j.jeap.2023.01.002
Powers, D. E. (2010). The TOEFL iBT: A new era in English language assessment. Language Assessment Quarterly, 7(3), 233-244. DOI: 10.1080/15434303.2010.498531
Shahane Renuka (2023). Retrieved from https://www.exambazaar.com/blogpost/5-advantages-toefl-test
Wagner, E. (2024). The effects of TOEFL test preparation on writing skills. Assessing Writing, 29, 100344. DOI: 10.1016/j.asw.2024.01.003
Xi, X. (2008). Methods of test validation. In E. Shohamy & D. L. Kaplan (Eds.), Language testing and assessment: Encyclopedia of language and education (Vol. 7, pp. 355-369). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-30424-3_24
