Indonesia
Master’s Program in English Language Education of Postgraduate Program, Universitas Islam Malang (MPBIng) conducted online thesis defense sessions over two consecutive days, on 15 and 16 June 2020. The examinations were held via video teleconference to prevent crowding, given the considerable number of candidates scheduled across both days.
Seven students sat their online examinations on the first day. Sessions commenced at 08:00 and ran through to 15:00, with each student allocated approximately one hour.
Nur Arqom Eka Fatria was the first candidate to defend, presenting a thesis titled “The Correlation Between Translation Ability and Reading Habit Toward Reading Skill,” followed by Muhammad Rifa’i with “Investigating Interactional Activities Promoting English Learning at Attarbiyatul Islamiyah Islamic Boarding School.”
The third session featured Sulastri, who presented “Improving Speaking Skill of Elementary Students in Fajar English Course Using Mind Mapping Technique,” followed by the fourth candidate, Andi Rizkillah, with a thesis titled “The Analysis of Teacher’s Strategies in Teaching and Students’ Interest in Learning Reading in Class IX at SMPN 5 Camplong.” The session was then adjourned for the Dhuhr prayer before resuming with the remaining three candidates.
Baroroh Rochmah, the fifth candidate, presented her research titled “The Effects of Different Formats of Planning on Students’ Writing Performance Across Learning Styles.” She was followed by Lestari Kasih with “Refusal Strategies Made by Indonesian and International EFL Learners.” Sindy Melinda was given the final slot of the first day, presenting “The Impact of Peer Corrective Feedback Toward Descriptive Writing Quality of Junior High School Students.”
The Head of the Master’s Program in English Language Education, Dr. Hj. Mutmainnah Mustofa, M.Pd., served as both Chair of the examination panel and Examiner 1. The roles of Examiner 2 and Examiner 3 were fulfilled on a rotating basis by Dr. H. Langgeng Budianto, M.Pd., Prof. Hj. Utami Widiati, Ph.D., and Dr. Alfan Zuhairi, M.Pd.
Throughout the examination sessions, the panel raised a range of questions and offered substantive and technical feedback to each candidate. It is hoped that these recommendations will serve to strengthen and refine the written work of all seven students. Keep up the spirit of revision, MPBIng students! (NAD/AL/PPS)
