This study investigates the relationship between the cognitive demands of task complexity and learners' motivation towards several tasks using task-based instruction during asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) writing tasks. According to Robinson's Cognition Hypotheses (2001a, the production of language would be different when certain manipulation of task complexity was made. The tasks were manipulated following two variables from the Cognition Hypotheses, along resourcedirecting (+/-causal reasoning demand) and resource-dispersing (+/-task structure) dimensions. Eighty-eight undergraduate students from one of the technical universities in Malaysia were divided into four groups and assigned with a writing task. After the participants have completed the writing tasks, they were interviewed and asked to complete a questionnaire to gauge their motivation towards the tasks. Participants' written language production was coded and analyzed using syntactic and lexical complexity measures. Further analysis of the data was conducted using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and correlational analysis. Analyses of the results showed that there is a correlation between task complexity and task motivation among learners. However, the correlation is only evident in lexical complexity production and no correlation was found for any of the syntactic complexity measures. This study is significant as it explores the roles of task complexity and task motivation in mediating the production of language. It also highlights how the manipulation of task complexity would encourage the production of the language in terms of its complexity.

Blended learning has extensively been used in many higher education institutions including Malaysia. Hence, instructors and institutions need to be well-equipped with adequate knowledge and skills, so that blended learning could be implemented successfully. This paper investigates the satisfaction among learners in blended learning environment at one of the universities in Malaysia through a survey study. The participants were 317 undergraduates enrolled in a blended learning course. The questionnaire was adapted from Zhai, Gu, Liu, Liang and Chin-Chung (2017) and Naaj, Nachouki and Ankit (2012). Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the learners' demographic and their satisfaction towards blended learning. The results indicate that the learners' satisfaction towards blended learning employed at their institution was positive. This study also highlights several implications and recommendations that could anchor a greater understanding in the implementation of blended learning at higher institutions.

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Robinson's Cognition Hypothesis (Robinson 2001a(Robinson , 2003a(Robinson , 2003b(Robinson , 2005(Robinson , 2007a(Robinson , 2007b predicts that more cognitively complex tasks along resource-directing dimension will lead to greater complexity of language production while cognitively complex tasks along resource-dispersing dimension will result in less complex language production. Various studies have investigated the effects of manipulating variables on these dimensions (i.e. resource-directing and resource-dispersing) either in oral or written language production. This paper compares and contrasts the results of several studies that were conducted by manipulating these variables in written language production. It also suggests guidelines for future research studies in this area. It concludes that further studies are necessary to investigate how language teachers can integrate and manipulate task-based instruction in their classrooms.

Background and Purpose: Most research on Dual Language Programme (DLP) in Malaysia mainly focused on the teachers’ perceptions or challenges faced in implementing the programme in schools and only a few concentrated on the receiver of this programme – the students. Therefore, this study seeks to address this gap by examining factors which affect students’ satisfaction of DLP programme.   Methodology: In this study, 105 DLP students from secondary schools in Pekan, Pahang, a state in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, answered a four-point Likert scale questionnaire, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The questionnaire was first assessed by experts and after that, went through a pilot test. The Cronbach’s Alpha value recorded was 0.862. The data obtained were then analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).   Findings: Findings indicate that the path coefficient of readiness to interest, readiness to confidence, and interest to student satisfaction are significant. However, the path coefficient for confidence and readiness to student satisfaction were not significant since p-value > 0.05. In testing mediation, interest did mediate the relationship between readiness and student satisfaction with full mediation while confidence did not mediate the relationship between readiness and student satisfaction. Contributions: The contributions of this study lie in its empirical findings in understanding students’ satisfaction towards DLP programme in Malaysia. Additionally, it suggests the need for pragmatic and humanistic pedagogy in teaching Science and Mathematics in English.   Keywords: Dual language programme (DLP), student satisfaction, Structural Equation Modelling, mediation, Science and Mathematics in English, Malaysia.   Cite as: Masrom, U. K., Idris, M., & Jusoh, Z. (2021). Dual Language Programme (DLP):  Mediating effects of readiness, interest and confidence on students’ satisfaction. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp1-20