In English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) context, critical literacy as an alternative approach to teaching language and literature may be considered as something new, compared to its origin in some English-speaking countries such as Australia or the USA. Teachers wishing to adopt critical literacy stance in their class are often left with little knowledge or experience on what critical literacy is and how to develop this approach in their class. This article discusses the result of a survey involving twenty one English teachers in a teacher education university in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, related to their knowledge on critical literacy as an approach to teaching English language. Result of questionnaires followed up by a focus group discussion reveals that although these teachers have been teaching English for approximately five to seven years in different levels of schools, some teachers show lack of knowledge on critical literacy as a methodological approach to teaching English. Finally, this article concludes with suggestions for English teachers to develop a critical literacy-oriented classroom.

Abstract:This study investigates how cooperative learning facilitates students in learning critical thinking in reading and to find out the benefits and challenges during the implementation of cooperative learning in one vocational school in Cimahi. A case study is utilized by using instruments of classroom observations, questionnaires, semi structured interview and students' written tests. The findings show that the implementation of cooperative learning facilitates students develop their critical thinking and enhance critical thinking dispositions in reading. Three features which contribute to the development of students' critical thinking in reading are: the encouragement of student-student interaction; the provision of group purposes; and the provision of stimulus to the students' development of thought and ideas. The aforementioned features promote benefits which involved higher motivation and involvement, increased opportunity for language use, and developed interpersonal relationship. Nevertheless, these benefits are constrained by the availability of time, students' English proficiency, and students' contribution to the groupwork. It is recommended that further researchers conduct the similar study in a longer period to make sure that the key elements of cooperative learning are well-structured.

Abstract:The integration of technology in education and the need to meet the requirements of the 21 st century learning lead educators to use online learning platforms. Edmodo is offered as one of learning platforms that could be used in EFL classroom. This research aims to investigate perception of undergraduate students on the use of Edmodo as an educational social network which has been implemented in the classroom. This study employed mix method design by involving 50 undergraduate students from a university in Bandung, Indonesia. The data were collected through closed-ended and open-ended questionnaires. As results, it was found that undergraduate students showed positive response and attitudes towards the use of Edmodo in their learning process. Besides, some obstacles of using Edmodo were also revealed, such as lack of experiences in using technology and how to manage the time allocation. Finally, it is suggested that Edmodo should be implemented in undergraduate EFL classroom.

This article reports a study investigating the English teacher’s strategies for assisting secondary school students of English to be critically literate through an analysis of narrative texts. In this study, Luke and Freebody’s (1999) four resources model of critical literacy was used as a framework for English instruction situated in an Indonesian secondary school. Data were collected from classroom observations, students’ reflective journals, and an interview with secondary school students. The findings showed that the four resources model of critical literacy, to some extent, helped students to become critically literate especially at the stage of meaning-making-of and criticizing the text. The implication of the study is that there is the possibility of implementing critical literacy-oriented English classrooms in Indonesian and Asian secondary schools.

The role of teaching practicum for pre-service teachers in significant and an integral part in many teacher education programs. Against this backdrop, the challenges and expectations from pre-service English teachers during the online teaching practicum, as the result of Covid-19 physical and social distancing, have not been explored well. This qualitative case study research is expected to shed lights on the expectations and challenges faced by pre-service English teachers who conducted their teaching practicum online during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data were generated from individual and focus group interview with nine pre-service English teachers who were all conducting their online teaching practicum period from February-July 2020. Result showed that the challenges pre-service English teachers faced were lack of pedagogical knowledge in how to teach in online class environment and lack of knowledge in online assessment. To solve these problems, pre-service teachers expect a strong support and assistance from both school teachers and university supervisors in terms of improving their knowledge and skills in using appropriate Information Communication Technology in the class.