CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The chapter discusses about a brief description of the whole content of the research. It covers background of the study, research questions, purposes of the study, significance of the study, limitation of the study, and definition of terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
In today's era, which is the era of globalization, the need to master English is very crucial thing for Indonesian people. English is important not only in education, but also public sectors in which people are interacting. English language proficiency has already become one of the requirements for many activities. It proved that the English language proficiency by running a test named TOEFL. Test of English as the Foreign Language (TOEFL) is the standardized test applied to measure the ability of non-native English speakers in the English language. According to Educational Testing Service (2005) , TOEFL test was first formed in the 19th century exactly in 1962. The test score is accepted in moreover 11.000 universities, institutions, agencies and others in around 165 countries worldwide (ETS). The test-takers can take the TOEFL test in almost all over the countries where the TOEFL accessible. Based on Educational Testing Service (ETS), there are approximately 165 countries and territories with 4500 TOEFL testing centres that available worldwide. The TOEFL test is conducted at least 50 times a year by the ETS (Educational Testing Service) TOEFL test has been applied internationally, including in Indonesia.
TOEFL is also conducted in Indonesia to measure English Language proficiency.
Originally, the TOEFL test was conducted by the English Language System (ELS) in
Indonesia. ELS is a specific institution that holds the TOEFL test, called Institutional TOEFL. Indonesia, a country that is not an English’s speaking country, does not use English as the main language but uses Indonesian as the first language. According to the English Proficiency Index (2021) report, Indonesia is in the 80th position out of 112 countries listed in the 2021 English proficiency ranking with a score of 466, which is in the low proficiency category. This is also sustainable with the TOEFL test. Even though the Indonesian people are quite familiar with the TOEFL test, this has not become a big influence for the Indonesian people to get a high score and meet a good average on the TOEFL test, but most of them still get a low score in the TOEFL test.
Poor average of English proficiency gives an impact for the fresh graduate students in Indonesia. Most of the fresh graduates in Indonesia were having difficulties to continue their study after graduating from university because they did not reach the standard score that are required (Saukah, 2000). In order to reach the requirements by obtaining the minimum score, the basic study of TOEFL should be applied in Indonesian college’s curriculum. Many institutions in Indonesia have decided some types of testing for undergraduate students to graduate from universities as one of the requirements for graduation, this is a demand for them to carry out the TOEFL test to prove the proficiency in the English language skills, which of course makes it easier to communicate and carry out social life in English speaking countries. The grade of TOEFL is mostly used as indicator in academic life around the world.
One of the requirements needed to graduate from university is passing the TOEFL test.
It means that passing the minimum score of TOEFL is a must and important thing that should be done to graduate from university. Besides that, there are other general requirements to graduate from university, such as: write the thesis, do the thesis defence,
computer test, and etc. Those are all the general requirements to graduate from university.
If the requirements do not fulfil, it means that the graduation will not happen.
TOEFL is one of a graduation requirement in universities in Indonesia, including Jambi University. Jambi University creates its abbreviation of the TOEFL test JUELT (Jambi University English Language Test). JUELT test system is also the same as the TOEFL test in general. The students have to take the JUELT test with the certain minimum score required to graduate from Jambi University. This requirement is based on the Rector's regulation number 9, 2020 about Jambi University Academic Rules 2020, article 51 of chapter X (ten) about evaluating learning outcomes. The rules stated that a student is declared to have passed the undergraduate program after fulfilling the following requirements in point (f), namely passed the English Language Proficiency test or JUELT with a minimum score of 400, which has been carried out by UNJA or other institutions recognized and proven by a certificate. Test results must be valid for a minimum of 2 years from the issue date. This requirement applies for all students at Jambi University, including English students and non-English students.
Forestry students, who do not have major in English, also required pass the JUELT test as a graduation requirement. They have to have a minimum 400 JUELT score by certificate of JUELT. Meanwhile, non-English students especially Forestry students learn English only at the first semester of their study as the introduction for their major course.
Although non-English students might not use English in their daily life, they still have to use English at their workplace or even if they want to continue to study abroad.
According to the Rector's regulation number 9, 2020 about Jambi University Academic Rules 2020, article 51 of chapter X (ten) about evaluating learning outcomes, this makes Jambi University implements JUELT as the proficiency test to measure someone’s ability
in using English and Forestry study program in Jambi University has also used this test for this requirement.
From the consideration above, the researcher is interest in raising title of study
“Forestry Study Program Students’ Perception toward JUELT Test as a Graduation Requirement” where the researcher focuses on the Forestry Study Program students’
views toward the JUELT test and their preparations and challenges in taking JUELT as a graduation requirement.
1.2 Research Questions
Based on the background of the study above, researcher conducted the research to answer the following questions:
1. What are the Forestry study program students’ views toward JUELT test as a graduation requirement at Jambi University?
2. How is the Forestry study program students’ preparations and challenges in taking JUELT test as a graduation requirement at Jambi University?
1.3 Purposes of the Study
Based on the research questions above, the purposes of the study are:
1. To describe the Forestry study program students’ views toward JUELT as a graduation requirement at Jambi University.
2. To describe the Forestry Study Program students’ preparations and challenges in taking JUELT test as a graduation requirement at Jambi University.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The results of this research are expected to be useful and provide the theoretical and practical advantages which are included in these following sections.
1. Theoretically
This study is expected to enrich the literature of this research and give some more information regarding the Forestry Study Program students’ views toward JUELT test as a graduation requirement and the preparation and challenges of the Forestry study program students in taking JUELT test as a graduation requirement at Jambi University.
2. Practically
The results of this study aim to provide the information and suggestion about the Forestry study program students’ views toward JUELT test as a graduation requirement and the preparation of Forestry Study Program students in taking JUELT test as a graduation requirement at Jambi University by giving the report to the head of Forestry Study Program. For the researcher, the results of this study aim to provide knowledge about research.
1.5 Limitation of the Study
As the researcher’s experience of having quite a lot of friends that are studying in Forestry study program that keep asking about JUELT therefore, the researcher focuses the participants of this study on Forestry Study Program students’ views toward the application of JUELT test, and also the preparations before taking the test and the challenges faced in taking JUELT. Researcher chooses students that will be participant
for this study from the Forestry Study Program students’ year 2018 who ever followed JUELT test before.
1.6 Definition of key terms
To define the key terms used in this study, some key terms definition can be seen below.
1. TOEFL
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test which is used in measuring the capability of non-native speakers to know the proficiency level in English language. The test is found and developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS). This test is used for any inquiries such as enrolling in abroad universities, applying job, and et cetera. In general, there are three types of TOEFL, thus are Paper-Based Test (PBT, Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Internet-Based Test (IBT). The most common test type that is used at Jambi University is Computer- Based Test.
2. JUELT
JUELT is the abbreviation of Jambi University English Language Test. It is still the same kind as TOEFL but in different name. JUELT is the test that is held by Jambi University as a graduation requirement. All students from all faculties and study program must take this test as the requirement to graduate before doing the thesis defence.
3. Graduation
Graduation defined as “the act of successfully completing a university degree, or studies at an American High School. It is a ceremony at which degrees in school, colleges, or university when the study has finished
