The research tried to shed light on the relation of prior learning experience and motivation in shaping the learners’ proficiency. It investigated the importance of prior learning experience and the role of motivation in learning development. This needed to investigate further to find out how positive and negative prior learning experience with intrinsic and extrinsic motivation determined the way the students, value their phase of learning, and the relation with their present proficiency. From the empirical study of the Balinese EFL learners, there were threetypes of learners based on the prior learning experience and the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The first type consisted of the learners who had positive prior learning experience, had high intrinsic motivation, and gained high proficiency in their present study; the second type was those who had low intrinsic motivation but changed into high intrinsic motivation due to the extrinsic motivation; the third type was the learners who had negative prior learning experience, low intrinsic motivation, and resulted in low proficiency. In total, 15 students ranging from 19–23 years old (4 males and 11 females) voluntarily participated in the test and interview. Through the in-depth interview, it is found that the positive prior learning experience and high intrinsic motivation motivate the students and lead them to higher proficiency. However, demotivation and a low level of proficiency can occur from the negative prior learning experience and low intrinsic motivation.

This study is entitled “Characterization and Three Dimensions of the Main Character in Looking For Alaska”. This study is concerned with the method of the characterization based on the three dimensions of the main character and intrinsic elements in the novel. The main purpose of this study is to find out how the author presents the main character in terms of the physiological, psychological, and sociological dimensions. This study was based on library research and used documentation method in collecting data. Then the data obtained were analyzed descriptively using descriptive qualitative method. Some theories of characterization were used such as the theory of characterization proposed by Kenney (1966), the theory of character dimensions by Egri (1960). The data source of this study is a novel entitled Looking For Alaska by John Green (2011). The analysis started with the overview of the biography of John Green and that was followed by the synopsis of the novel, and the data was categorized based on the theories. Based on Kenney’s theory, the main character is shaped through the mixing method of the characterization. In addition, based on Egri’s theory, there are three character dimensions (physiological, psychological, and sociological) involved in the shaping and presentation of the main character.

Scientific work in law field has its own characteristics, including the legal English terminology. Legal English is actually slightly different with general English. Nowadays, there are lots of inappropriate process of language transfer from Bahasa to English can be found especially in abstract, as part of the scientific work related to law field. Thus, such issue will affect the abstract validity as a representation of the contents of the scientific work as a whole. This study used an empirical juridical approach which employed non-probability sampling technique and qualitative descriptive analyses. The results show that the misuse of legal English terminology towards abstract of legal, scientific works may occur due to word-for-word translation, free translation, and literal translation. Based on empirical research, such misuse occurred due to the use of online translation engine which mostly caused by the ignorance of abstract’s authors on the structure of standard academic writing (S- P-O)in the source language and asking help from colleagues who mostly do not have legal background and has minimum knowledge of legal English terminology.

Figurative language is a part of semantics study. Through studying semantics, meanings of words can be learnt. This study entitled “Figurative Language in Barack Obama’s Speech at The United Nations General Assembly” is aimed at identifying the types and analyzing the meanings of Figurative Language used by Barack Obama in his first speech at The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The theory stated by Wren & Martin (2000) and Leech (1981) were used in analyzing the data. The data was presented and explained descriptively in the third chapter of this research. Any sentences containing figurative language were differentiated by a code created by the researcher. A speech delivered by Barack Obama at United Nations General Assembly was used as the data source of this research. As a result, there are seventeen data were found containing seven types of figurative language, one data contains a metaphor, three data contain personification, two data contain a symbol, four data contain an apostrophe, four data contain verbal irony, one data contains antithesis, one data contain euphemism, and one data contains epigram. There were five theories of meaning by Leech (1981) implied in the speech, including conceptual, connotative, social, affective, and reflected meaning. As this study is focusing on the theory of figurative language, it is expected that the results will be valuable to students of English Literature or others. The figurative language and meanings applied in this research can be used to provide a clearer and better understanding of the meanings of figurative language.

The language and cultural barriers in the multilingual population have risen in Japan and  resulted in the importance of public service translators and interpreters. Understanding thepublic service translators and interpreters’ roles and perspectives in intercultural communication in Japan is interesting and important to be investigated to explore the emotional and psychological impact on their work. Despite several research on translating, interpreting, or intercultural communication do exist, however the public service translators and interpreters’ emotional and psychological impact on their work has generally not been much researched. Therefore, it is necessary and meaningful to study the perspective and role of the public service translator and interpreters in the context of translation and intercultural communication.This research is based on the longitudinal observation and interview with ten public service translators and interpreters in Yamaguchi City, Japan. It was found that their preferences toward their work and other psychological aspects such as willingness to communicate, anxiety, and empathy also influence their role and perspective.