Exploring NNests Instructional Competency in Teaching Writing Skills for Middle School Students

Authors

  • Suryanti Suryanti Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton, Kota Bau-Bau, Sulawesi Tenggara 93724, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7243-2046
  • Hafni Hafsah Institut Az Zuhra, Kota Pekanbaru, Riau 28292, Indonesia
  • Ahmad Munawir Tadris Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Islam As’adiyah Sengkang, Sulawesi Selatan 90914, Indonesia
  • Petrus Jacob Pattiasina Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, Universitas Pattimura, Kota Ambon, Maluku 97233, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4042-8226
  • Damon Wicaksi Universitas Bondowoso, Jawa Timur 68219, Indonesia
  • Muta’allim Muta’allim IAI Togo Ambarsari Bondowoso, Jawa Timur 68282, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0374-8632

Keywords:

Instructional Competence, Kolb’s Experience Learning Cycles, NNESTS, Writing Skill

Abstract

Writing instruction remains a major challenge in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts because students tend to prioritize speaking over writing, while limited research has examined the instructional competency of Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers (NNESTs) in teaching writing. This study aims to identify the instructional competence of NNESTs in an English language institution, LPBA Nurul Jadid. This study was a qualitative study with a learning style inventory approach. The focus of this study was on the components of NNESTS competencies in institutional units and NNESTS experiences which was obtained through questionnaires, structured interviews, classroom observations, institutional curriculum documents, and supporting language proficiency certificates. The experiences of NNESTS are based on Kolb's learning cycle, as NNESTS were active learners who have learned English language skills and taught Writing skills. The results of this study proved that NNESTS still encountered problems in technical, managerial and conceptual competencies. Some of them were still unable to mediate the conflicting concepts found during the class and find new models, methods, and current issues around writing that they could develop for the following year. The findings also indicate that instructional competency develops through continuous experiential learning, reflection, and professional practice. Therefore, English language institutions should strengthen curriculum design and provide continuous professional development to improve NNESTs' instructional competency in writing instruction.

References

Alghofaili, N. M., & Elyas, T. (2017). Decoding the Myths of the Native and Non-Native English Speakers Teachers (NESTs & NNESTs) on Saudi EFL Tertiary Students. English Language Teaching, 10(6), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n6p1

Dewi, R. S., Kultsum, U., & Armadi, A. (2017). Using communicative games in improving students' speaking skills. English Language Teaching, 10(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n1p63

Dharmanegara, I. B. A. (2019). Pengembangan kompetensi sumber daya manusia pada Universitas Warmadewa dalam rangka penguatan daya saing perguruan tinggi di masa depan. WICAKSANA: Jurnal Lingkungan dan Pembangunan, 3(2), 61–70. https://doi.org/10.22225/wicaksana.3.2.2019.61-70

Garton, S., Copland, F., & Mann, S. (2025). “Native English speakers, I cannot say them as a teacher”: NEST schemes and teacher identity. Journal of Language, Identity & Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2025.2537421

Harsanti, H. G. R., & Manara, C. (2021). “I have to teach the ‘English’ English”: Native-speakerism ideology among the English teachers. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 330–340. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v11i2.26379

Hsieh, J. K.-T., Gao, X., & Bell, S. (2022). The multilayered nature of becoming nonnative-English-speaking teacher. TESOL Quarterly, 56(1), 178–200. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3057

Hyland, K. (2022). Teaching and researching writing (4th ed.). Routledge.

Irsyadi, A. N., & Muta’allim. (2023). Teaching English for tertiary students in Pesantren: A narrative using hybrid learning. Journal of English Teaching Adi Buana, 8(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v8.n02.2023.7241

Ismiyani, N. (2021). The future of nonnative teachers of English. Edukatif: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 3(6), 4532–4540. https://doi.org/10.31004/edukatif.v3i6.1243

Jaya, H. P., Petrus, I., & Pitaloka, N. L. (2022). Speaking performance and problems faced by English major students at a university in South Sumatera. Indonesian EFL Journal, 8(1), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.25134/ieflj.v8i1.5603

Karuru, P., Muta’allim, Suparjo, Fatwa Setiawan, A., & Junaida, S. (2023). Improving students’ higher order thinking skills through a question and answer method. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 9(3), 340–349. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.9.3.2023.340-349

Kuntjojo. (2021). Psikologi pendidikan (Buku 1). Guepedia.

Liu, C., & Chen, M. (2022). A genre-based approach in the secondary school English writing class: Voices from student-teachers in the teaching practicum. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 992360. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.992360

Merizawati, H., Munawir, A., Sulita, I., Arifin, S., & Muta’allim. (2023). Enhancing students’ speaking proficiency through storytelling method at Education College of Togo Ambarsari Bondowoso. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 9(3), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.9.3.2023.321-330

Nigar, N., Kostogriz, A., & Hossain, I. (2025). Hybrid professional identities: Exploring non-native English-speaking teachers’ lived experiences through the Cyborg Manifesto. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 33(5), 1745–1767. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2024.2409731

Nosratinia, M., & Razavi, F. (2016). Writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency among EFL learners: Inspecting their interaction with learners’ degree of creativity. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 6(5), 1043–1052. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0605.19

Oktavia, D., & Lestari, R. (2022). Students’ perception on learning speaking English by using English domino games: The case of a private university. Indonesian Research Journal in Education, 6(1), 28–42. https://doi.org/10.22437/irje.v6i1.15327

Rusydiana, D. R. (2021). Pengaruh usia guru, pengalaman mengajar, dan tingkat pendidikan guru terhadap profesionalitas kinerja guru di MTS Al Urwatul Wustqo Bulurejo Diwek Jombang. The 2nd ICO EDUSHA 2021: Proceedings of International Conference on Education Management and Sharia Economics, 2(1), 13–30.

Sariono, A., Wibisono, B., Salikin, H., Haryono, A., & Muta’allim. (2025). Minority language maintenance: A case study of Mandaran language in Kampung Mandar Village, Banyuwangi. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 15(12), 4067–4076. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1512.26

Scheirlinckx, J., Teixeira, K., Alves, G., Primi, R., De Clercq, B., De Fruyt, F., & John, O. P. (2025). More than just experience? Effects of years of teaching, age, and gender on teachers' social-emotional and instructional characteristics. Teaching and Teacher Education, 167, 105203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.105203

Selvi, A. F., Yazan, B., & Mahboob, A. (2024). Research on “native” and “non-native” English-speaking teachers: Past developments, current status, and future directions. Language Teaching, 57(1), 1–41. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444823000137

Silalahi, R. M. P., & Widianingtyas, N. (2022). “Hello, I’m a native speaker”: Nonnative tutors’ perspectives on native-speakerism ideology. Language Literacy: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Teaching, 6(1), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.30743/ll.v6i1.5237

Sofyan, A., Firmansyah, M. B., Muta’allim, Solissa, E. M., & Rosikh, F. (2022). Islamic boarding school linguistic landscape in the development of Arabic language skills and Islamic knowledge. International Journal of Educational Research & Social Sciences, 3(6), 2178–2185. https://doi.org/10.51601/ijersc.v3i6.563

Sofyan, A., Muta’allim, Saepulloh, Sulalah, A. A., & Qeisiyeh, S. (2024). Exploring expressive language disorders in children with autism in Banyuwangi: A psycholinguistic review. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 10(3), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.10.3.2024.839-848

Spencer, L. M., Jr., & Spencer, S. M. (1993). Competence at work: Models for superior performance. John Wiley & Sons.

Suryanti, Saud, J., Rachman, A., Muta’allim, & Amiruddin. (2023). Semantic language skills in 2-year-old children: A case study of universal substantive acquisition at Kampung Baru. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 9(2), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.9.2.2023.203-210

Suryanti, Agusniatih, A., Hafsah, H., Saputra, E., & Munawir, A. (2024). The influence of cartoon films on linguistic growth in early childhood: A psycholinguistic study. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 10(3), 1020–1036. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.10.3.2024.1020-1036

Suryanti, Saud, J., Izomi, M. S., Saepulloh, & Hariyadi, A. (2024). Enhancing students’ reading comprehension quality using the Jigsaw method: A case study of students in universities. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 10(1), 260–273. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.10.1.2024.260-273

Vaishnav, P. (2025). Teaching English as a non-native speaker: Identity, challenges, and strengths. International Journal of English and Studies, 7(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.47311/IJOES.2025.7.03.292

Wright, N. (2022). (Re)production of symbolic boundaries between native and non-native teachers in the TESOL profession. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 7(1), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-022-00153-4

Yudistira, R., Rafiek, M., Herdiani, R., Saputra, N., Muta’allim, Irmayani, I., & Asfar, D. A. (2024). A bibliometric analysis of sociolinguistic research in the past decade: Trends, challenges, and opportunities. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3065, 030026. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0225229

Downloads

Published

2026-08-06

How to Cite

Exploring NNests Instructional Competency in Teaching Writing Skills for Middle School Students. (2026). Austronesian: Journal of Language Science & Literature, 5(2), 402-414. https://www.ojs.wahanapublikasi.com/index.php/austronesian/article/view/349

Similar Articles

11-20 of 26

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.