Writing at the university level presents significant challenges for EFL students. Although many studies have investigated EFL students’ academic writing challenges, few have focused specifically on paragraph writing, the foundational stage of academic writing development among first-year university students, particularly those transitioning from high school to university writing. Addressing this gap, this present study investigates students’ writing challenges, strategies, and their perceptions of differences and feedback. A total of 315 first-year Indonesian EFL students enrolled in the English study programs were selected through convenience sampling to complete a Likert-scale questionnaire adapted from the ESLP 82 Questionnaire. The findings reveal idea organization as the most prominent difficulty (M = 4.4; 83.5% agree), followed by issues of grammar and sentence structures (M = 4.3; 78.9% agree). Whereas, 85,7% students answered that university writing is more complex than high school writing activities, because it is needed a higher level of critical thinking, as 88,2% students acknowledged. As many as 80.8% students like to discuss with their teachers about their writing difficulties, and 89.5% prefer to use digital tools such as Grammarly and ChatGPT. At about 89,4% students stated that teacher feedback on grammar was considered helpful, but students rarely got peer feedback. These findings emphasize the urgent need for structured writing support that focuses on idea organization, grammar, vocabulary enhancement, and opportunities for peer interaction. To explore effective pedagogical interventions and the evolving role of digital tools in supporting academic writing development, further studies are highly recommended.

This study evaluates the applicability of Classical Translation Models (CTMs) specifically Newmark’s (1988) procedures and Vinay and Darbelnet’s (1995) direct and oblique models within Audiovisual Translation (AVT). By analyzing 50 metaphorical expressions from the Chinese documentary A Bite of China, the research identifies a systemic inadequacy in CTMs. Their monosemiotic focus on textual equivalence fails to account for multimodal cues, intersemiotic coherence, and technical subtitling constraints. The findings reveal that 64% of metaphors were simplified or neutralized, driven by "visual anchoring" and "constraint-driven demetaphorization". While CTMs successfully describe linguistic shifts, they fail to explain the cognitive and multimodal drivers behind them. To address these gaps, the study proposes a Hybrid Analytical Model integrating Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), classical procedures, and Pedersen’s (2011) ECR framework. This multidimensional approach demonstrates that metaphor translation in subtitling is an act of cross-cultural reconstruction necessitated by the interplay of verbal, visual, and auditory channels. The study offers theoretical interventions for translation pedagogy and practical insights for subtitling culturally dense multimodal content.

This study aims to explore the use of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies using technologies among students at selected Malaysian universities when they are learning language. Utilising quantitative method, this study examines the influence of demographic factors and digital readiness in shaping students’ engagement with technology. 121 students from several public universities in Malaysia answered the Survey of Self-regulated Learning with Technology at the University (SRLTU) and the findings revealed that students are most inclined to metacognitive and resource management strategies when using technology for language learning. There were also variabilities found in terms of gender, age and device use in influencing students’ use of SRL. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on technology use in higher education by illuminating the critical role of self-regulated learning strategies and digital readiness in affecting students’ language learning. It also highlights the variability among students in various factors which can help inform instructors and institutions in taking the appropriate measures to ensure effective learning experience for all students.

It is important to recognize that globalization has had a significant impact on the world of work. In this context, many companies recognize that cross-cultural communication skills are key to facilitating effective interactions between workers who come from heterogeneous cultural backgrounds. In addition, the phenomenon of an increasing number of individuals migrating from one country to another further strengthens the urgency of developing cross-cultural communication skills in the educational realm. The topic raised in this community service activity is in accordance with the needs of Sabilul Rahmah International Islamic Boarding School (Sabira-IIBS). Located in Sumberam, Sajen, Pacet, Mojokerto, East Java, Sabira IIBS is a pesantren education institution and Madrasah Aliyah (MA) level school with a learning system that combines traditional pesantren Islamic values with modern learning. The curriculum used is based on the national curriculum & international curriculum (Al Azhar University for diniyah & Cambridge for Math, Science & English). The school aims to prepare its graduates to become agents of change in accordance with the purpose of the graduation designation. Most santri are encouraged to continue their studies to favorite universities both domestically and abroad. This community service activity was carried out through collaboration between the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya and UniMap Malaysia Perlis. Based on the activities that have been carried out, it can be concluded that after the activity takes place there is an increase in the knowledge and understanding of the participants related to cross-cultural communication from an average understanding of 1.1 on a scale of 4 to 3.7 on a scale of 4. This indicates that the joint community service activities carried out by the academics of FIB Untag Surabaya in collaboration with the academics of Universiti Malaysia Perlis completed successfully and can achieve the goals or targets of this activity. As a result, this activity had a positive impact on increasing the knowledge and understanding of students of partners’ institution.

Humanizing digital learning emphasizes personalized learning and the incorporation of empathetic design to enhance students' adaptability, particularly in social science field. This study investigates how integrating human-centre elements into digital platforms affects students' learning experiences and adaptability in higher education. The issue arises from traditional digital learning methods, which often lack the personalized support necessary for students to thrive. By focusing on the unique needs and learning styles of social science students, this research explores the potential of adaptive learning technologies and empathetic interfaces to create more engaging and supportive digital environments. Conceptually, the methodology will employ a mixed approach, analyzing both quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights diverse studies. Preliminary findings suggest that personalized digital experiences foster greater adaptability and engagement. The study concludes by underscoring the importance of designing digital platforms that not only deliver content but also address students' emotional and cognitive needs. Keywords: Adaptability, empathetic design, higher education, humanizing digital learning, personalized learning

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) polymers have been used in biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, durability, toughness and high wear resistance. To enhance the mechanical properties, various types of minerals are commonly utilized as fillers in UHMWPE. One of the minerals is dolomite, which has been recognized as a valuable mineral with versatile applications, particularly in the field of biomedical applications. This paper presents the tensile properties of UHMWPE composites that filled with dolomite and treated-dolomite at various filler loading (i.e., 1-5 wt.%). Nitric acid and diammonium phosphate were used to treat the dolomite. From the results, the peaks of the FTIR spectrum displays carbonate (CO3–2), phosphate (PO4–3) and hydroxyl (OH–) groups in the ct-dolomite powder sample while the XRD pattern reveals that using dolomite treated with 1M nitric acid resulted in the presence of calcium hydroxide phosphate (Ca10(PO4)5(OH)) and MgO. For tensile strength, UHMWPE/ct-dolomite composites show better tensile strength than the pure UHMWPE composites. Treated improve the dolomite filler and resulted in significantly better matrix-filler interfacial interactions and improve the properties.

Secara umumnya, proses menyelaraskan penilaian bahasa Inggeris kepada piawaian antarabangsa, seperti Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) dapat mengukuhkan kesahihan ujian yang dibangunkan. Kertas kerja ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengkaji bagaimana skala CEFR dapat dioperasikan dalam pembangunan ujian penulisan kepada pelajar antarabangsa bagi saringan tahap penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris pelajar antarabangsa untuk kemasukan ke universiti. Pada beberapa peringkat pembangunan ujian berasaskan CEFR ini, proses untuk menghubungkan ujian penulisan dengan CEFR telah dikaji. Di awal pembangunan item ujian, penggubal item ujian mengenalpasti tahap keperluan minimum penguasaan pelajar berdasarkan skala CEFR yang ingin diukur. Seterusnya proses pembinaan item ujian dan proses semakan aras kesukaran item dijalankan. Skala pemarkahan kemudiaannya disemak untuk mengenalpasti kriteria yang dinilai dan julat markah bagi setiap skala CEFR ditentukan. Setelah ujian dijalankan kepada pelajar antarabangsa, sampel markah pelajar dinilai dan markah bagi sampel diselaraskan berdasarkan rubrik skala CEFR. Akhirnya, nilai tahap persetujuan yang tinggi di antara pemeriksa ujian penulisan digunakan untuk meningkatkan kesahihan pelaporan markah pelajar berdasarkan kepada skala CEFR. Kajian masa hadapan dapat dilaksanakan kepada proses penyelarasan ujian berasaskan CEFR kepada kemahiran mendengar, bercakap dan juga membaca bagi mendapatkan keputusan tahap penguasaaan bahasa Inggeris pelajar yang lebih menyeluruh.

This groundbreaking book, 'Navigating Workplace Challenges and Strategies for Future Success: A Comprehensive Research Framework across Diverse Industries gives a comprehensive research framework exploring complexities in the modern workplace. Nine thought-provoking chapters shed light on crucial issues confronting businesses and employees in the digital age in various industries such as education, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive and electronics. This collection provides vital insights for talent management, employee well-being and strategic decision-making in the digital age to foster long-term growth. At the same time, this book can be used as a reference by researchers to fine-tune the relevant theories for each of the offered research frameworks and variables in each chapter. It also focuses on the available instruments for all of the chosen variables for the investigation.

This study investigates the metaphors’ translation from English to Arabic in political speeches, with the aim of identifying the metaphor translation procedures employed. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the research analyzed the translation of 82 English source language (SL) metaphors into Arabic target language (TL), employing Newmark's Metaphor Translation Procedures as a framework. The findings reveal that while certain SL metaphors have direct equivalents in Arabic, the Arabic translator introduced two new variants or procedures (H1 and H2). Appropriate metaphors’ selection in the TL is found to be affected by all of cultural as well as linguistic factors, in addition to text type and metaphor class. The study sheds light on how translators in the TL effectively address linguistic and cultural challenges during metaphor translation, offering valuable insights into the process of English-Arabic translation. Accordingly, Future studies are is recommended to comprehensively analyze metaphor translation in the political discourse context.

This research is based on gaps in previous research findings (research gaps) and compares discussion priorities and purchasing decisions on product reviews, price, and transaction convenience. Furthermore, the research issue in this study is the lack of incentives acquired by customers to shop on Bukalapak e-commerce, as customers sometimes receive items that do not match their orders, deliveries do not arrive on time, as well as customers often encounter problems with shopping online on Bukalapak e-commerce. This study focused on Bukalapak e-commerce customers in Gelgel Village, Bali. The 82 respondents were obtained using a purposive random sampling method. All information obtained from the questionnaire distribution was suitable for use and then analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis and hypothetical tests (t-Test and f-Test). The research proved that product reviews positively and significantly affected purchasing decisions. Prices had a partially positive and significant impact on purchasing decisions. Also, ease of transaction positively and significantly affected purchasing decisions. Subsequently, product reviews, price and transaction ease simultaneously had positive and significant effects on the purchase decisions of Bukalapak customers of Gelgel Village, Bali. The critical analysis presented in this paper holds the potential to contribute to the academic community in the field of marketing. Specifically, it offers valuable insights for researchers exploring the utilization of online commerce, shedding light on untapped research opportunities and uncovering previously undiscovered signals. Furthermore, it paves the way for developing diverse and innovative studies to enrich this domain’s scholarly discourse.

Purchase intention is one of the aspects that ensures the success of the company's revenue goals. Customers' online purchase intention is confirmed by various aspects, including online customer reviews and online customer ratings. Likewise, for Shopee customers in Gianyar Regency, online customer reviews and online customer ratings are two variables that can influence purchase intention. This study also aims to identify the positive and significant influence between online customer reviews and online customer ratings simultaneously and partially on the purchase intention of Shopee customers in Gianyar Regency. Information collection methods used in this study were observation, interviews and questionnaires. The number of respondents used in this study are 96 people with the method of determining the sample using purposive random sampling. Furthermore, the information was analyzed using quantitative analysis consisting of Research Instrument Test, Classical Assumption Test, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, Determination Analysis, F-Test and t-Test, using the IBM SPSS Statistic 25 software. The results of the analysis prove that there is a positive and significant influence simultaneously and partially between online customer reviews and online customer ratings on Shopee customer purchase intention in Gianyar Regency. The critical review in this paper can contribute to researchers in the field of marketing, making use of online commerce to explore opportunities for future research gaps, explore various other signals that have not been revealed and develop more diverse future studies.

Metaphor comprises unique linguistic characteristics and cultural elements that belong to the Source Language (SL). In the engineering writing landscape, metaphors are used in the recontextualization of complex and abstract concepts as a tool to disseminate the content to the non-engineering audience. This study examines the metaphor translation of an engineering text from English to Malay. The “Metaphor Identification Procedure” (MIP) by the Pragglejaz Group is applied in the process of gathering examples while a combination of Newmark„s (1988), Deignan„s (2005) and Lakoff and Johnson„s (1980) classifications of metaphor are used to categorize the SL and TL metaphorical expressions. Metaphor translation procedures identified were benchmarked to those proposed by Newmark (1988). Analysis of the 154 ST and 83 TT engineering metaphors in the TL discloses that the ease of translation and the identification of suitable engineering metaphors are also partially dependent on cultural and linguistic factors. Metaphor translation procedures as outlined by Newmark are found to be unable to account for all the examples, which results in the creation of the two variants of one of his translation procedures, the proposal of three new ones that are identified and the abandonment of two of his procedures. The selection of translation procedure appears to be dependent not only on the metaphor type but also on whether the translator simply decides to use equivalent SL metaphors or non-metaphorical expressions in the TL. It is also highly likely that the type of text being translated plays a role.

Hybridization of filler in polymer composites is one technique of combining different properties of filler for making unique composites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be used as filler to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer composites. However, CNTs are difficult to disperse in a polymer matrix. The hybridization of CNTs and inorganic fillers can combine their properties and improve the dispersion in polymer composites. This research was focused on the fabrication and characterization of CNTs-dolomite filled with epoxy composites. The CNTs-dolomite hybrid fillers were prepared by physically mixing method and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method. The CNTs-dolomite hybrid compound filled epoxy composites with different filler loading were characterized by tensile test, Rockwell hardness test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Epoxy/CVD composites showed higher mechanical properties than the Epoxy/PHY composites. This increase was associated with the homogenous dispersion of CNTs-dolomite hybrid compound as observed using SEM. It was demonstrated that the Epoxy/5CVD composites are capable of increasing tensile strength by up to 67 %, and tensile modulus of 28 %, when compared to a pure epoxy composite.

The present study explores the correlation between Meta-cognitive Self Regulated Learning strategies used by English language learners and how these strategies influence their language performances. This correlation study was carried out with 170 participants who enrolled in an English language proficiency course. The results of Pearson correlation test revealed a positive relationship between the use of Meta-cognitive strategies and the participants’ level of English language proficiency. This study has yielded findings that make an original contribution to both the theory and the practice of Self-Regulated learning especially in the context of language teaching and learning. The pedagogical implications of this study will further lead to a systematic teaching of Meta-cognitive self regulated learning strategies in the L2 classrooms which hope to increase the proficiency level of L2 learners.

Writing clear and informative abstracts is critical. Abstracts are the first thing audience sees before they read the research. This is true for both thesis and research. Therefore, this paper draws attention to the rhetorical moves found in engineering Master and PhD best thesis abstracts. The sample of the study is six thesis abstracts, three PhD and three Master selected from the best thesis award recipients of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP). All the thesis are from the engineering discipline and are written in English. The corpus size is 2706 words. The study uses Move analysis guided by CARS Model (2004). It also utilizes three type of analysis namely, frequency count (presence of Move), word count (percentage representation of Move) and Move and step list structure. The findings of the study show that Move 3 is the most utilized Move in these abstracts. Move 3 is present in all of the theses and it represents 81% of the abstract word count in PhD abstracts and 79% of Master abstract. The Move step analysis indicates that PhD thesis abstracts shows a longer and more iterative step list compared to Master thesis abstracts. The finding can be used by instructors for teaching abstracts writing based on best practice and from a more personalized perspective taking into account the discipline and cultural variation of the abstracts.

One of the fundamental goals of learning English as a foreign language is helping to communicate with people speaking English effectively. The focus on the teaching and learning of English as a Second Language (L2) and as a foreign language, is justified by the fact that English is considered as a lingua franca and the first language used overseas. In this context, the learners of the English language are given little time to practice the language, especially the speaking skill in authentic situations in classrooms or outside of them. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) emphasizes both meaning and communication in language learning. Hence, the ultimate objective of CLT is to improve the learners’ “Communicative Competence”. However, implementing CLT in EFL classrooms is somehow challengeable. Consequently, the purpose of this pilot study is to particularly investigate the extent to which an Omani English teacher is aware of some CLT features and its implementation level of such characteristics in EFL classrooms. Moreover, the study at hand explores how the learning activities can help students to improve their ‘communicative competence’.

Teaching a foreign language, particularly English as a second/foreign language, to young- aged learners, has become more popular around the world, especially in the Arabian Gulf region. Moreover, a foreign language teaching has the potential to make significant contributions to the economic as well as the political development of the middle east countries and beyond. This article reviews the literature on English education among young learners in the Gulf region. We begin by reviewing the most critical literature for each gulf country separately to emphasize the importance of the English education socially and politically, highlighting main policy worries. Then, we focus on some empirical studies about teaching and learning the English language, putting them according to their relevance to the aforementioned policy concerns.

Effect of solid-to-liquid ratios (S/L) and sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide (Na2SiO3/NaOH) were studied in this paper. Fly ash was used as the raw material for making the geopolymers paste. The geopolymers were cured at room temperature (24 hours) and 60 degrees C (24 hours), respectively. Strength development, total porosity and microstructural analysis were investigated to reveal the results of this study. Furthermore, SEM micrographs disclose that the fly ash dissolve more readily in the alkaline activator. The correlation between microstructures of the both ratios and their strength development are discussed. The microstructure shows that the matrix denser compared to other ratios. It is revealed that solid-to-liquid (S/L) and sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide (Na2SiO3/NaOH) ratios of 2.0 and 2.5 results in the decreases in porosity of the fly ash geopolymers while the compressive strength achieves the highest value.