Artha Wacana Christian University

Background Multicultural education plays a crucial role in the era of globalization; however, the influence of gender and certification status on teachers’ online multicultural teaching competency (OMTC) remain underexplored. This study aims to analyze the impact of gender and certification status on teachers’ OMTC, focusing on skills, knowledge, and overall multicultural competence. Method A mixed method approach (explanatory sequential design) was employed, involving 106 elementary school teachers from West Java Province, Indonesia (M±SD age = 37.44±9.17; teaching experience = 10.17±9.18), including 41 males (38.68%) and 65 females (61.32%), selected through a simple random sampling. Quantitative data were collected using the Multicultural Teaching Competency Scale (MTCS), and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. The quantitative were analyzed using an independent samples-test, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results The quantitative results indicate that gender had no significant effect on OMTC. However, certification status significantly influenced multicultural teaching skills, though it not affect multicultural teaching knowledge or the overall OMTC score. The qualitative findings identified key thematic factors contributing to these differences, including conceptual understanding, lesson planning, integration of minority cultures, empathy and reflection, and community collaboration. Certified teachers were found to be more proficient in designing inclusive learning experience and fostering empathy. However, conceptual understanding remained varied, and community collaboration was limited. Conclusions The study concludes that certification is more effective in enhancing technical competencies, rather than conceptual or affective aspects. These finding suggest that teacher training should adopt a transformative, reflective, and contextually grounded approach to comprehensively enhance teachers’ OMTC.

Effective guest complaint handling in hospitality requires the integration of linguistic competence, emotional awareness, politeness, and professional service behavior. However, these competencies are often examined separately, resulting in a fragmented understanding of hospitality communication. This study explores Tourism English Manner (TEM) as an integrative framework comprising three dimensions: Reflective, Utter, and Serve. Using a mixed-method case study, the research involved 79 hospitality students from Institut Pariwisata dan Bisnis Internasional (IPBI) Bali who had completed On-the-Job Training (OJT). Data were collected through questionnaires and focus group interviews, with qualitative data analyzed thematically and survey results used to support interpretation. The findings reveal that students demonstrated three interconnected communication practices when handling guest complaints. First, they showed awareness of guest dissatisfaction but limited engagement in deeper reflective processes such as emotional regulation and critical self-evaluation. Second, they frequently employed polite English expressions, empathy, and negotiation strategies to maintain positive interactions. Third, they demonstrated strong service recovery skills through problem-solving actions and professional responses. The study positions TEM as a holistic communication model and highlights the need to strengthen reflective learning in hospitality English education.

The economic empowerment of women weavers in the village of Boti is one of the efforts of the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor Boti to overcome the problem of poverty. However, these efforts face challenges in capital, technological innovation, product variety, and marketing strategy. Nevertheless, both the church and the weavers have remained steadfast in their business. One of the contributing factors is the strong spiritual values they hold dear. These values have been passed down from generation to generation by their ancestors and combined with the Christian values to which they adhere. This study, which uses a qualitative descriptive approach, shows that the weavers' spirituality is always unified in their relationship with God, fellow human beings, and the universe, expressed in the form of work. Work's interconnectedness, sustainability, and sacredness suggest that work is not merely a transactional activity aimed at economic gain, but is closely related to community well-being and ecological balance.

Particle size is a critical parameter influencing the quality of biomass briquettes, particularly in char-based systems where bonding mechanisms differ from raw biomass briquetting. This study investigates the effect of particle size on the physical, mechanical, and proximate properties of hazelnut shell (Corylus avellana) char briquettes produced under controlled compaction conditions. Briquettes were prepared from three particle size fractions (0.84, 0.42, and 0.25 mm) using a constant binder content, moisture level, compaction pressure, and dwell time. The results show that reducing particle size led to improved bulk density and compressive strength, with finer briquettes exhibiting higher mechanical stability. Proximate analysis revealed a decrease in ash and volatile matter contents and an increase in fixed carbon as particle size decreased, indicating enhanced fuel quality for finer particles. Empirical relationships between particle size and briquette properties exhibited strong goodness-of-fit, with coefficients of determination (R²) exceeding 0.95 within the tested range. These findings demonstrate that particle size significantly influences both the mechanical integrity and fuel characteristics of hazelnut shell char briquettes. The results provide feedstock-specific experimental insights that can support process optimization in char-based briquetting systems, while emphasizing that the derived relationships are valid only within the investigated particle size range.