MEGAN JINABE (UNIVERSITAS NEGERI YOGYAKARTA)

BRINGING BACK THE TEACHING ENGLISH FOR YOUNG LEARNERS IN INDONESIA: ADDRESSING THE NEEDS : TEACHING YOUNGER LEARNERS

In Indonesia, English is taught as a foreign language. It is being reinstated as a compulsory subject for primary school students, aligning with the implementation of the Indonesian’s current curriculum called Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum) starting in 2025. After nearly a decade of exclusion, the government is now mandating the reintroduction of English as an official part of the curriculum. However, there is currently no foundational needs analysis to guide the development of effective teaching models or instructional materials tailored to primary-level English learners, creating a significant gap that requires immediate attention. To address this gap, this study utilizes a survey method, complemented by in-depth interviews conducted through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) focusing on the students’ needs, including needs, lacks, and wants. The data collected analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative daya analysis. The participants were English teachers in primary schools and parents in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.The findings of this research are vital for informing policymakers and educators about the specific linguistic and pedagogical needs of young learners. This will help shape the development of teaching strategies and instructional materials that are both relevant and effective, ensuring that English education at the primary level meets the needs of students and aligns with national educational goals.

Megan Jinabe is an English Language Teaching practitioner based in Yogyakarta. She is a practitioner lecturer based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, an English tutor in Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta, and a teacher in Pedagogia Labschool, Faculty of Education and Psichology, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Furthermore, she is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Language Education Sciences study program, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta. Her research interests are Teaching English for Young Learners (TEYL), language curriculum and materials development, and ICT integration in teaching.