FROM POLICY FRAMEWORKS TO CLASSROOMS: EFL CHALLENGES IN INDONESIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70210/amrj.v3i2.138Keywords:
EFL, language policy, English education in Indonesia, teacher quality, digital divide, curriculum reformAbstract
This article explores the multifaceted challenges facing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education in Indonesia, focusing on the interplay between national policy, curriculum implementation, and classroom practices. Employing a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, this study synthesizes findings from academic publications, government reports, and international research from 2004 to 2024. The analysis reveals persistent issues, including policy-practice gaps, limited teacher training, resource disparities, and insufficient attention to local contexts in curriculum development. Additionally, classroom-level obstacles such as mixed-ability learners, low motivation, and lack of authentic materials hinder effective language instruction. The study emphasizes the need for adaptive pedagogical approaches, continuous professional development, and a more localized curriculum design. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of EFL complexities in Indonesia and offer insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers committed to enhancing English education across diverse regions.
Downloads
References
Astuti, S. P. (2017). Exploring teacher beliefs and classroom practices of Indonesian EFL teachers. TEFLIN Journal, 28(1), 17–37. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v28i1/17-37
Bjork, C. (2005). Indonesian education: Teachers, schools, and central bureaucracy. Routledge.
Butler, Y. G. (2004). What level of English proficiency do Asian learners need to study at universities in English-speaking countries? TESOL Quarterly, 38(2), 231–253. https://doi.org/10.2307/3588380
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Dörnyei, Z. (2009). The psychology of second language acquisition. Oxford University Press.
Fauzi, I., & Khusuma, I. H. S. (2020). Teachers' elementary school in online learning of COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Jurnal Iqra’, 5(1), 58–70. https://doi.org/10.25217/ji.v5i1.914
Hamied, F. A. (2012). English in multilingual Indonesia: A tool for unity or a source of discord? In A. Kirkpatrick (Ed.), English as an international language in Asia: Implications for language education (pp. 63–75). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4578-0_5
Kirkpatrick, A. (2012). English as an international language in Asia: Implications for language education. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4578-0
Kubota, R. (2011). Questioning linguistic instrumentalism: English, neoliberalism, and language tests in Japan. Linguistics and Education, 22(3), 248–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2011.02.002
Lamb, M. (2004). Integrative motivation in a globalizing world. System, 32(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2003.04.002
Lamb, M. (2017). The motivational dimension of language teaching. Language Teaching, 50(3), 301–346. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444817000088
Lie, A. (2007). Education policy and EFL curriculum in Indonesia: Between the commitment to competence and the quest for high test scores. TEFLIN Journal, 18(1), 1–14.
Marcellino, M. (2008). English language teaching in Indonesia: A continuous challenge in education and cultural diversity. TEFLIN Journal, 19(1), 57–69.
Rahmawati, Y., & Ertin. (2020). Critical perspectives on English language teaching in Indonesia: Policies, practices, and possibilities. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v10i1.25084
Renandya, W. A., Hamied, F. A., & Nurkamto, J. (2018). Teacher training for low-proficiency EFL teachers. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching, 13(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.25170/ijelt.v13i1.1177
Renandya, W. A., Widodo, H. P., & Faizah, S. (2018). Enhancing teacher professional development through classroom-based research: A case from Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v8i1.11357
Setyono, B., & Widodo, H. P. (2019). The representation of multicultural values in the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture-endorsed EFL textbook. Intercultural Education, 30(4), 383–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/14675986.2019.1548102
Supriyadi, T., Aryanti, T., & Anggraeni, R. (2021). Digital literacy and EFL teaching in Indonesian high schools. Journal of Language and Language Teaching, 9(2), 131–140. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v9i2.3675
Widodo, H. P. (2015). The development of vocational English materials from a social semiotic perspective: Participatory action research (PAR) in the Indonesian context. TESOL International Journal, 10(1), 98–110.
Widodo, H. P. (2016). Language curriculum innovation in Indonesia: The story of the 2013 curriculum. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 6(1), 53–63. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v6i1.3410
Widodo, H. P., Faizah, S., & Renandya, W. A. (2020). Teacher professional development in EFL contexts: Voices from Indonesia. Language Education in Asia, 11(2), 179–190. https://doi.org/10.5746/LEiA/20/V11/I2/A03/Widodo_Faizah_Renandya
Widodo, H. P., Perfecto, M. R., & Elyas, T. (2020). EFL teaching in the digital age: Policy, pedagogy, and practice. Asian EFL Journal, 27(2), 105–132.
Yuwono, B. D., & Harbon, L. (2010). Implementing English curriculum in Indonesian secondary schools: What and how? Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching, 6(2), 141–157.
Yuwono, G. I., & Harbon, L. (2010). English teacher professionalism and professional development: Some common issues in Indonesia. Asian EFL Journal, 12(3), 145–163.
Zein, A. (2016). Teacher quality in Indonesian EFL contexts: Challenges and opportunities. TEFLIN Journal, 27(1), 77–92. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v27i1/77-92
Zein, M. S. (2016). Pre-service education for primary school English teachers in Indonesia: Policy and practice. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 36(1), 119–134.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Novi Indriyani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
