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This paper reports on a quasi-experimental study designed to explore the relationship between lexical diversity and academic vocabulary use among Indonesian EFL university students engaging in online academic writing discussions and assignments. The study analysed 11,624 tokens and 5437 types collected from students' contributions in online discussions and academic writing assignments. Findings revealed that the level of lexical diversity among the students was significantly varied depending on the text length and the total amount of data. It was found most students were indicated to possess average ESL level of academic writing with a D value ranging from 50 to 70 while some others indicated a high level of adult ESL with developed academic text in the range between 70 and 80 D level. Moreover, it was also found that the degree of lexical diversity was not affected by the writing topic familiarity or students' academic year. Findings revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between measures of lexical diversity and academic vocabulary use. Contrary to expectations, while a diversified vocabulary generally correlates positively with student writing performance, this relationship reverses in contexts emphasizing the academic quality of writing. These results highlight the complex dynamics of lexical usage in academic writing and suggest that mere lexical diversity does not always equate to higher academic writing quality. This study contributes to a critical understanding of how lexical diversity functions in digital academic environments and offers implications for English language teaching practices in higher education settings.

At the beginning of the learning process, class routines in the form of basic talks, songs and games are one way for kindergarten children to get used to practicing English at a young age and building their self-confidence to communicate with their friends. Thus, the aim of this study was to elaborate the mentoring activity in training teachers on how to incorporate various activities into the classroom routine. Four female teachers of an Islamic private Kindergarten participated in the mentoring program. This is a case study design of qualitative research with classroom observation and interviews. The study revealed that teachers were able to demonstrate some classroom activities through short dialogues, songs and games. It indicated that mentoring activity is found to provide participants with benefits and satisfaction, as well as the potential to motivate them to practice with kindergarten children in classroom.

The variety of learning by applying teaching techniques in a fun, effective and efficient manner provides an important role in the learning process of children. Therefore, this community service activity aims to train the participants' abilities in teaching techniques that are specialized in games, songs and storytelling in English. This activity was carried out by using Google Meeting for two days. In addition, the uses of learning media and class routine activities are the goal of this community service. 18 participants participated in this activity, most of whom were kindergarten teachers. The implementation was carried out using the methods of lecturing, brainstorming and discussion, demonstration and mentoring. The results show that the participants' knowledge and understanding of the given themes increased. Participants are also able to answer several questions at the end of the session and be involved in online game activities. The results of the evaluation show that this activity is very useful and beneficial in increasing their ability to implement more varied teaching techniques that are in accordance with the abilities of kindergarten children.

Even though some authors argue that critical thinking (CT) is almost impossible to be taught to students in non-Western countries since Western and non-Western countries have different cultural background, several studies on CT conducted in Asia, Africa and predominantly Muslim countries have showed that it can be taught to non-Western students. CT has actually been fashionable in non-Western countries, and several non-Western countries have nowadays included it in their educational agenda. In spite of CT’s gaining popularity in non-Western countries, there is very little information as regards what kind of CT which is adopted in those non-Western countries’ education and what CT framework which can work in their teaching-learning processes, especially in the field of ELT. This article attempts to propose a critical thinking framework that can be used in ELT as well as other school subjects. The framework is the result of critically analyzing, examining and synthesizing 20 critical thinking taxonomies, strategies, programs and tests.

This article presents critical review of three empirical studies on the use of drama in language learning. Results of those studies are very supportive to integrate drama into EFL. Also, the results of the studies are in agreement with the ideas stating that drama can give positive contributions to students’ language proficiency. In fact, apart from improving students’ language skills, drama can promote collaboration and negotiation. Given the advantages of using drama in the EFL classroom shown by those studies, there is little information concerning the use of drama in the Indonesian EFL.

This article presents serious independent arguments why literature needs to be retained in the Indonesian ELT (English Language Teaching) curriculum. In general, ELT curriculum nowadays seems to neglect the importance of literature since the introduction of the communicative approach. Three aspects are presented in connection with why the notion may need immediate application: (1) literature brings many advantages to Indonesian ELT learners; (2) literature can be used to teach critical thinking skills; and (3) critical thinking can be used to promote tolerance. This article is developed based on mainly the ideas of literature teaching proposed by Collie and Slater (1987), Lazar (1993), and Ghosn (2002). Hence, critical thinking and tolerance are values not getting serious attention in educational processes in this country even though these values have been included in the National educational objectives for Indonesia.

This study aims to investigate the Indonesian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers’ conceptions of critical thinking. 59 teachers coming from three different provinces (Jakarta, Banten, West Java) in Indonesia participated in this study by answering open-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire asked two questions. The first question asked whether the participant recognised the term ‘critical thinking.’ The second question asked how the participant conceptualised critical thinking. The study found that only one teacher who never heard the term critical thinking. With regard to the conceptions of critical, there were some emerging themes such as analysis, evaluation, criticism, creativity, problem solving, reflection, curiosity, and even Bloom’s taxonomy. Findings of this study are similar to the critical thinking conceptions proposed by Western academics.

Welcome to the July 2017 issue of Journal of ELT Research. This issue is accompanied by the spirit of post-Ramadan followed by Eid al-Fitr, two Islamic events bringing about many insightful meanings of life. The events in short bring humans closer to their Creator and be aware of their role as a creature. As a creature, we are always encouraged to learn, finding out the secret of His creation. In so doing, research is one of the ways to see the unseen phenomena. In terms of language teaching and learning, there are still many things we, ELT practitioners, do not know about. Research, even though it is simple, still can give a positive contribution. Our July 2017 issue touches a variety of issues in ELT which can give such a contribution.

Even though critical thinking has been included in education system in Indonesia, it is unlikely to be widely implemented in teaching-learning processes in all levels of education in this country. Indonesian ELT (English Language Teaching) can actually play a role in promoting critical thinking in education. However, the development of ELT in this country since colonial to present era does not seem to facilitate students’ critical thinking skill. This article presents historical perspective with regard to ELT and critical thinking. The first part reviews the history of Indonesian education which did not promote critical thinking, followed by the historical development of Indonesian ELT. The third part discusses socio-political condition which could be partly solved by promoting critical thinking in education and society. The final part suggests incorporation of critical thinking into English textbooks as ELT can also be used as a vehicle for teaching critical thinking.

Though critical thinking has been officially written as one of educational objectives in Indonesia as written in the Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 17 Year 2010 Regarding Educational Management and Administration, it seems that schoolteachers in this country still do not understand what it is and do not realise the importance of critical thinking for students and professionals of this country. This might be because there is no clear conception of what kind of critical thinking needed in education in this country, or it may be because Indonesian schoolteachers do not really know how to encourage students’ critical thinking as they may be still confused with this concept as mentioned above. The latest 2013 curriculum, however, seems to have accommodated the infusion of critical thinking into school subjects, as can been seen in the adoption of Bloom’s taxonomy. This article therefore attempts to argue what critical thinking can contribute to Indonesian students and people as well as proposes reading activities based on Ilyas’ critical thinking framework. This framework is the result of synthesising, examining and evaluating critical thinking taxonomies, strategies, programmes and tests.

From the Editor