Students' Language Preferences in Semantics Class

Abstract

This present study seeks to investigate the students' language preferences in the Semantics Class. The study addresses the following questions: a) What are the students' language preferences in Semantics class? b) What are the reasons for such language preferences? The participants consisted of 100 students registered in two Semantics classes, year 2010/2011 of English Department, Satya Wacana Christian University. The data was collected from 6 questions of open ended questionnaire. The study found two major findings. First, the majority students preferred the teacher to use the majority of English in the Semantics class. Second, there were three reasons why the students prefer to use the majority of English. The reason was the need to use English as L2 learners to increase English ability and understand explanation in English. The next reason was to familiarize students to English, especially spoken English. The last reason was the idea of L1 as a wall and barrier of the English exposure which made students' English ability hardly develop. Pedagogical implications of the findings will be discussed at the end of the paper.