English Learning Motivation and Learning Practices
in Indonesian Primary School Context: Parent and
Teacher Perspectives
Sahiruddin
1
, Yana Shanti Manipuspika
2
{shrdn@ub.ac.id
1
, yana_shanti@ub.ac.id
2
}
Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
1, 2
Abstract. This present study explores parents’ motivation in having their children enrolled
at international school or bilingual school and teachers or educators’ motivation in
providing English as the medium of instruction in the school. In addition, this study also
examines the ecology that parents (n=14) and teachers (n=26) provide for children to
develop their L2 proficiency (both at home and at school). This study is rooted in the
framework of qualitative research. Moreover, the data were taken from online asynchronous
computed mediated interview using structured-interview. Interview items for parents and
teachers is adapted from Gardner’s [1] Attitude Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) and from
Dewi [2]. Interview data were analyzed based thematic analysis, looking at the emerging
themes from data. This study revealed that parents’ motivations for enrolling children in
bilingual or international school were more integrative than instrumental. English as a
lingua franca within the context of multicultural world has motivated parents and teachers
to introduce English at the early education. Bilingual approach was found effective in
English delivery system for social and cultural consideration. As part of the efforts of
responding to the digital era, both parents and teachers bring multimodal sources
(technology-based sources) in enhancing English learning.
Keywords: Multicultural, Bilingual, English as Medium of Instruction (EMI), L2
Proficiency, Motivation
1 Introduction
English has been widely acknowledged as an international language or lingua franca that
majority of people around the world use to communicate across countries. Within multilingual
and multicultural realities nowadays, English mediates people across the globe to communicate
each other. In Indonesian context, the fundamental importance of English mastery has driven
Indonesian government to issue educational policy where English is the first main foreign
language taught as a compulsory subject in school since Indonesia’s independence in 1945 [3].
To respond to global competitiveness, Indonesian government in 2003 issued the frameworks
and guideline through National Education System Law No. 20 of 2003 as to encourage top
schools to upgrade its status for international standard school (ISS) where English was a medium
of instruction for all subjects taught in classroom. People appreciated the regulation designated
along with the demand of learning English, although the regulation was ceased in 2013 due to
the decision of Constitutional Court with the consideration that international standard school
brought threat to national identities. Although the new 2013 curriculum to some degree reduce
ISCS 2020, November 04, Malang, Indonesia
Copyright © 2021 EAI
DOI 10.4108/eai.4-11-2020.2308901