STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF WORLD ENGLISHES AT UIN SULTAN THAHA SAIFUDDIN JAMBI

Abstract

This study investigated English Education students' perceptions of World Englishes at UIN Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. The study was derived from the author's thesis and used the original findings reported in Chapters IV and V. A mixed-methods design was applied by combining a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were collected through fifteen questionnaire indicators (X1-X15) from English Education students and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were obtained through interviews and analyzed thematically. The quantitative findings show positive perceptions across three constructs: overall comprehension of the World Englishes idea (M = 3.8), attitudes toward different English dialects (M = 3.9), and the implications of World Englishes for students' English language development (M = 3.5). The item-level data indicate that students generally agreed that English is no longer owned only by native-speaking countries and that exposure to different English varieties supports communication in real situations. The interview findings strengthened the questionnaire results by showing that students viewed English as a plural and global language, recognized the career and cultural benefits of learning World Englishes, but still experienced confusion, listening difficulty, and uncertainty about formal academic standards. The study recommends more systematic inclusion of World Englishes in English learning materials, classroom interaction, and assessment practices.