Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: Factors Contributing to Students' Silence in Transactional Speaking Classes

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENTS‟ SILENCE

Factors Contributing to Students‟ Silence in Transactional Speaking Classes
Maurin Sanju
Satya Wacana Christian University

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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENTS‟ SILENCE

Abstract
This study is carried out to figure out why students become reticent to participate
in classroom activities. This study aims to discover what factors contributing to
students‟ reticence. This paper reports the findings of a study of students‟ silence
factors in Transactional Speaking classes at the Faculty of Language and
Literature in Satya Wacana Christian University. The participants were 15
students of the first academic year enrolled in Transactional Speaking classes.
Using open-ended questionnaires to select the participants and interviews as the
techniques of collecting data, the study revealed four major factors, those are low
English competence, class size, peers, and teachers. The results indicate that more
research needs to be done to help students become more active and proficient in

English. Implications are discussed and some possible changes to teaching
practices proposed, which are hopefully applicable for the teachers and the
students. The study of students‟ silence factors can also be a learning for the
teachers to decrease students‟ unwillingness to participate.
Keywords: reticence, silence, participation, active, contribution, Indonesian EFL
context

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