Wide-angle perfect absorber/thermal emitter in the THz regime

We show that a perfect absorber/thermal emitter exhibiting an absorption peak of 99.9% can be achieved in metallic nanostructures that can be easily fabricated. The very high absorption is maintained for large angles with a minimal shift in the center frequency and can be tuned throughout the visible and near-infrared regime by scaling the nanostructure dimensions. The stability of the spectral features at high temperatures is tested by simulations using a range of material parameters.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

The Learning Styles and Language Learning Strategies of the EFL Students at Tertiary Level

The purpose of this study are to discover the learning styles, and the language learning strategies most preferred, correlation among the variables exists, and the degree of influence each independent variable exerts on the dependent variables. For data collection, the Barsch Learning Styles Inventory and the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning were distributed to 156 students of English at the University of Sriwijaya, Palembang. The results showed that: (1) visual is the most preferred learning style, whereas metacognitive ang effective are the most preferred language learning strategies; (2) certain independent variables have a significant correlation with certain dependent variables, for example, visual with memory, auditory with cognitive, tactile with affective, and semester with compensation; (3) females use a greater variety of language learning strategies than males; and (4) semester has a significant correlation with compensation but not with other strategie

INVESTIGATING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ GRAMMAR MASTERY AND READING COMPREHENSION ACHIEVEMENT

Abstract: The objectives of the study were to find out whether or not there were a significant correlation between students’ grammar mastery and reading comprehension achievement and a significant contribution of the students’ grammar mastery to their reading comprehension achievement. There were 120 eighth graders of one junior high school got involved as participants of this study. The data were collected by using grammar and reading comprehension tests and analyzed statistically by applying Pearson product moment correlation analysis and linear regression. The findings showed that there was a strong positive correlation between the students’ grammar mastery and their reading comprehension in which r-obtained (0.739) was higher than r-table (0.1793). The regression analysis also showed that there was significant contribution of the students’ grammar mastery (54.7%) to their reading comprehension achievement.Keywords: grammar mastery, reading comprehension, eighth grader

Influence of Literature Circles Strategy and Cultural Literacy on Students’ English Achievement

Abstract: This study investigated the influence of Literature Circles Stratey (LCS) and cultural literacy (CL) on 7th and 8th grade students’ English as a foreign language (EFL) achievement of one private junior high school in Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia. The students’ EFL achievement was measured by using English tests before and after the three-month intervention using LCS. The results of descriptive statistics showed that although based on paired sample t-test, the students’ EFL achievement increased significantly (mean difference =19.46; p<.000), it was still on below average level. Then, regression analysis also indicated that students’ EFL achievement was inluenced by their CL for 98.00% with reading has the highest percentage. The implication of these results should encourage the eagerness of the in-service teachers of English to apply the strategy appropriately and proportionally to enhance students’ all English skills and researchers to do similar study by involving students of all grade levels of both private and state public schools.  Keywords: EFL learning, literature circles strategy, cultural literacy, junior high school students Abstrak: Penelitian ini meneliti pengaruh Strategi Lingkar Sastra (Literature Circles Strategy – LCS) dan Literasi Budaya (Cultural Literacy – CL) (LCS) pada kemampuan Bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing (EFL) pada siswa kelas 7 dan 8 di sebuah sekolah menengah pertama (SMP) swasta di kota Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia. Hasil kemampuan Bahasa Inggris sebagai Bahasa Asing (EFL) diukur dengan menggunakan test Bahasa Inggris sebelum dan sesudah intervensi selama 3 bulan menggunakan LCS.  Hasil dari gambaran statistika menunjukkan bahwa meskipun berdasarkan uji paired sample t-test, hasil kemampuan siswa meningkat secara signifikan (perbedaan nilai rata-rata =19.46; p<.000) masih di bawah angka rata-rata. Kemudian analisis regresi juga menunjukkan bahwa hasil kemampuan Bahasa Inggris sebagai bahwa asing masih dipengaruhi oleh Literasi Budaya 98% dengan presentase tertinggi dalam membaca. Implikasi dari hasil ini seharusnya mendorong kemauan para guru untuk mengaplikasikan strategi ini secara benar dan proporsional untuk meningkatkan semua keterampilan Bahasa Inggris, dan bagi peneliti agar dapat melakukan penelitian serupa dengan melibatkan siswa dari semua tingkat baik sekolah negeri maupun sekolah swasta. Kata-kata kunci: pembelajaran EFL, strategi lingkar sastra, keaksaraan budaya, siswa SM

Role Play and Speaking Achievement of the Tenth Graders Based on Self Concept, Gender, and Grammar Mastery

Abstract: Role Play is an interesting strategy which gives a great benefit for many students.  It can be used to encourage general oral fluency or to train students’ speaking for specific situation. The objectives of this study were to find out whether or not there were significant interaction effects of Role Play and self-concept, gender, and grammar mastery on the tenth graders’ speaking achievement. Factorial design was used in this study which involved two groups (experimental and control groups). Forty students were selected as the sample of this study and equally divided into experimental and control groups. The result showed that the experimental group had better improvement in speaking achievement than the control group which did not get any treatment using Role Play. However, there were no interaction effects between Role Play Technique and Self Concept, Gender, Grammar Mastery on the students’ speaking achievement.Keywords: role play, speaking achievement, gender, self-concept, grammar masteryAbstrak: Role play adalah strategi yang menarik yang memberikan manfaat besar bagi banyak siswa. Role Play dapat digunakan untuk mendorong kefasihan secara umum atau untuk melatih siswa berkomunikasi dalam situasi yang lebih spesifik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui ada atau tidaknya pengaruh interaksi yang signifikan antara role play dan konsep diri, gender, dan penguasaan tata bahasa terhadap pencapaian berbicara siswa kelas sepuluh. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain faktorial yang melibatkan empat puluh siswa dan dibagi ke dalam kelompok eksperimen dan kontrol. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa kelompok eksperimen mengalami peningkatan yang lebih baik dalam hal berbicara dari pada kelompok kontrol. Na- mun tidak ada efek interaksi antara tekhnik role play dan konsep diri, gender, dan penguasaan tata bahasa terhadap pencapaian berbicara siswa. Kata-kata Kunci: bermain peran, pencapaian berbicara, jenis kelamin, konsep diri, pengua- saam tata bahas

What Could the Big6 Strategy Do to Students’ English and Information Literacies?

This study was aimed to investigate what the Big6 strategy could do to the development of both students’ proficiency in English literacy and information literacy. To achieve the purpose, an experimental study with time series design was conducted. Forty-five students of a private secondary school in Palembang were randomly selected for intervention based on their levels of reading. To collect the data, both English literacy and information literacy tests were given to the students. The results of paired-sample-t test analysis show that both students’ English and information literacies improved significantly. However, the students’ level of English Literacy was only a little bit above average and their information literacy was proficient. When regression analysis was used, only students’ speaking skill of English Literacy and the ethics aspect of information literacy contributed the least to the total achievement of each variable. These imply that the Big6 strategy is able to make a difference in students’ English and information literacies. It also deserves to be used in ELT classrooms in the future for students to enhance their English literacy including their oral expression skill and to familiarize themselves with ethical aspect of information literacy from their puberty

School Accreditation, Teachers’ Competence, and Students’ English Performance in South Sumatra

Abstract: This study examined school accreditation, English teachers’ competence, and stu- dents’ English performance and the correlations among them. The samples of this study were 101 junior high schools and 280 English teachers in 16 regencies and cities in South Sumatra Province. This study analyzed the school accreditation as measured by 8 National Education Standards, English teachers’ competence by UKG (Teacher Competence Test), and students’ English performance by English National Examination results. The findings revealed that the schools accredited B dominated the results of accreditation (84.55) in which the standard of teachers and educational personnel had the lowest score, English teachers’ competence was barely average (51.96), and the students’ English performance (ENE results) was in the poor level (43.57). In general, there was no significant correlation between students’ English per- formance and the school accreditation as well as between students’ English performance and teachers’ competence in South Sumatra Province. However, a positive significant correlation was found between students’ English performance and school accreditation in Empat Lawang Regency and Palembang City. A positive significant correlation also existed between students’ English performance and teachers’ pedagogical competence in Banyuasin, Musi Banyuasin, and OKU Regencies.Keywords: students’ English performance, school accreditation, teachers’ competenceAbstrak: Studi ini meneliti akreditasi sekolah, kompetensi guru Bahasa Inggris, dan prestasi bahasa Inggris siswa dan korelasi di antara mereka. Sampel penelitian ini adalah 101 sekolah menengah pertama dan 280 guru bahasa Inggris di 16 kabupaten dan kota di Provinsi Sumatera Selatan. Studi ini menganalisis akreditasi sekolah yang diukur dengan 8 Standar Pendidikan Nasional, kompetensi guru bahasa Inggris dengan UKG, dan prestasi bahasa Inggris siswa melalui hasil Ujian Nasional Bahasa Inggris. Hasil studi ini mengungkapkan bahwa sekolah yang terakreditasi B mendominasi hasil akreditasi (84,55) dengan skor terendah untuk standar guru dan tenaga kependidikan, kompetensi guru bahasa Inggris hampir rata-rata (51,96), dan prestasi Bahasa Inggris siswa (UN) di tingkat rendah (43.57). Secara umum, tidak ada korelasi signifikan antara prestasi Bahasa Inggris siswa dan akreditasi sekolah serta antara prestasi Ba- hasa Inggris siswa dan kompetensi guru di Provinsi Sumatera Selatan. Namun, korelasi positif signifikan ditemukan antara prestasi Bahasa Inggris dan akreditasi sekolah di Kabupaten Em- pat Lawang dan Kota Palembang. Korelasi positif signifikan juga ditemukan antara prestasi Ba- hasa Inggris siswa dan kompetensi pedagogik guru di Kabupaten Banyuasin, Musi Banyuasin, dan OKU.Kata-kata Kunci: prestasi Bahasa Inggris siswa, akreditasi sekolah, kompetensi gur

Students’ Literacy Quality in Bahasa Indonesia: Attitude, Interest, and Functional Reading

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to find out the literacy quality of junior high school (JHS) students in Palembang. To achieve the goal, a survey on students’ reading literacy achievement in relation to their attitude towards and interest in reading bahasa Indonesia (BI) as National Language was conducted. To collect the data, the Functional Reading Achievement Test (FRAT) and the questionnaire of Attitude Towards and Interest in Reading Literacy (ATIReaL) were distributed to 191 students. Then to know about the perception of the stakeholders on literacy education, a set of Literacy Education Questionnaire (LEQ) was also filled in by 136 parents, 132 teachers, 31 principals, 32 librarians, and 44 superintendants. In addition, some representatives of the stakeholders were also interviewed to see what they have done and would like to do in terms of students’ literacy education enhancement. The results showed that (1) students’ functional reading achievement (FRA) is on average level, 57.20; (2) there are some aspects of ATIReaL correlated significantly with students’ FRA; and (3) most of the stakeholderss agree that literacy education of JHS students need to be developed and enhanced by having appropriate programs and facilities based on national standards of education. Key words: bahasa Indonesia, functional reading, junior high school students, literacy education, reading attitude, reading interest   Abstrak:  Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kwalitas literasi dari peserta didik Sekolah Menegah Pertama (SMP) di Palembang. Untuk menemukan jawabannya, dilakukan survey pada kemampuan literasi membaca para siswa yang berhubungan dengan sikap terhadap membaca dan minat mereka dalam Bahasa Indonesia sebagai bahasa nasional. Functional Reading Achievement Test (FRAT) dan angket Attitude Towards and Interest in Reading Literacy (ATIReaL) diberikan kepada 191 siswa. Kemudian, untuk mengetahui persepsi para pimpinan mengenai pendidikan literasi, angket Literacy Education Questionnaire (LEQ) diberikan kepada 136 wali murid, 132 guru, 31 kepala sekolah, 32 pustakawan, dan 44 pengawas. Wawancara juga dilakukan kepada perwakilan pimpinan untuk mengetahuai apa yang telah and akan mereka lakukan untuk meningkatkan pendidikan literasi peserta didik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahawa (1) pencapaian membaca fungsional para peserta didik berada pada tingkat menengah, 57.2; (2) ada beberapa aspek dari ATIReaL yang berhubungan secara signifikan terhdap FRA para peserta didik: (3) dan pada umumnya para pemimpin menyetujui bahwa pendidikan literasi siswa SMP perlu dikembangkan dan ditingkatkan melalui program dan fasilitas yang sesuai berdasarkan standar nasional pendidikan.  Kata-kata kunci:  bahasa Indonesia, membaca fungsional, siswa SMP, pendidikan literasi, sikap baca, minat bac

Tropical and subtropical actinorhizal plants

A maioria dos países tropicais enfrenta dois grandes problemas: o aumento constante da exploração das reservas florestais para extração de madeira ou lenha e a diminuição da fertilidade do solo para produção agrícola. O conceito geral é o de que plantas fixadoras de N2 podem evitar a propalada crise de madeira e alimentos. Juntas com um grande número de leguminosas fixadoras de N2, plantas actinorrízicas podem ter um papel importante na produção de madeira e recuperação de solos. As plantas actinorrízicas compreendem oito famílias de dicotiledôneas, todas elas representadas nos trópicos. Neste trabalho, as mais promissoras plantas actinorrízicas tropicais são brevemente apresentadas e a ênfase é dada principalmente à família Casuarinaceae. Esta família compreende quatro gêneros (Casuarina, Allocasuarina, Gymnostoma e gênero C), com 82 espécies, incluindo muitas árvores que podem produzir madeira de boa qualidade. As estirpes de Frankia que têm sido isoladas das Casuarinaceae crescem lentamente e são capazes de reduzir acetileno in vitro sob ar, o que indica uma capacidade de proteção contra o O2 muito mais eficiente do que no Rhizobium. Apenas as espécies do gênero Casuarina podem ser noduladas pela estirpe ORS 021001, isolada de Casuarina junghuhniana, o que sugere a existência de grupos de inoculação dentro da família Casuarinaceae. A fixação de N2 de Casuarina equisetifolia, crescida em microparcelas de 1 m2, na estação experimental de ORSTM, em Dakar, foi estimada através da comparação do N total em plantas não-inoculadas e plantas inoculadas com a estirpe ORS 021001. Extrapolando para um hectare, a fixação de N2 foi de 131 kg/N em um período de 6,5 meses. Usando o método de equivalência com adubo nitrogenado, a inoculação parece ser equivalente à aplicação de 288 kg de N/ha-1.Most tropical countries face two major problems: increasing overexploitation of wood reserves for timber or fuel wood and diminishing soil fertility for agricultural production. The present consensus is that N2 -fixing plants can help prevent the forthcoming wood and food crisis. Together with the vast group of N2 -fixing Leguminoseae, actinorhizal plants (AP) can play a major role in wood production and land regeneration. AP comprise eight families of dicotyledonous plants all of which are represented in the tropics. In this paper the most promising tropical AP are briefly presented and the emphasis is put mainly on Casuarinaceae. This family forms a group of four genera (Casuarina, Allocasuarina, Gymnostoma and genus C) with 82 species, including many trees that can yield wood of good quality. The Frankia strains that have been isolated from Casuarinaceae grow slowly and are able to reduce acetylene in vitro under air, which indicates that the protection against O2 is much more efficient in Frankia than in rhizobia. Only the species belonging to the Casuarina genus could be nodulated by strain ORS 021001, isolated from Casuarina junghuhniana, suggesting the existence of crossinoculation groups within the family Casuarinaceae. N2 fixation of Casuarina equisetifolia, grown in 1 m2 microplots at the ORSTOM experimental station of Dakar, was estimated by comparing total N in non-inoculated plants and plants inoculated with Frankia strain ORS 021001. Extrapolating to 1 hectare, N2 fixation was 131 kg for a 6.5-month period. Using the N fertilizer equivalence method, inoculation appeared to be equivalent to the application of 288 kg of N fertilizer per hectare

Implementation of school-based curriculum as perceived by secondary school teachers of English

Information about Curriculum 2013 has seemed to make many EFL teachers feel anxious. This anxiety is assumed to happen due to the unwillingness of the teachers to implement the new curriculum because they have not yet even implemented the previous curriculum (KTSP) in their classrooms optimally. This study was aimed primarily at investigating the implementation of KTSP covering three important components: preparation, application, and evaluation by 107 secondary school teachers of English. To collect the data, “KTSP Implementation Questionnaire” was used. The data collected based on the teachers’ own perceptions were analyzed in relation to their education level, teaching experience, certification status, and KTSP socialization involvement. The results showed that (1) 62% teachers confessed that they had not yet optimally implemented KTSP although all of them had been involved in its dissemination program done by the government; (2) there was no correlation between either education level or teaching experience and the implementation of KTSP. However, (3) there was a significant correlation between teachers’ certification status and their (i) KTSP preparation, (ii) teaching experience, and (iii) involvement in dissemination program activities