STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF INDONESIAN FIRST LANGUAGE SUPPORT IN VOCABULARY LEARNING AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Abstract
The study investigated the role of the Indonesian first language in supporting English vocabulary acquisition among university students. The study purpose was to examine how learners perceived the use of their native language in vocabulary learning, to identify its benefits and disadvantages, and to determine effective applications in classroom pedagogy. The employed method was a survey, with the subject being English Department undergraduate students who provided the data regarding their experience and preference. The findings revealed that the majority of students viewed Indonesian first language (L1) usage as a positive influence, with 83 per cent reporting that it aided comprehension of difficult vocabulary and 93 per cent agreeing that a combination of first language (L1) and second language (L2) use was the most effective approach. However, 33 per cent expressed concern that over-reliance on their first language reduced exposure to English. The study concluded that the most effective approach is the selective application of the first language for complex or abstract vocabulary, while maintaining English as the primary medium of instruction.
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