INDONESIAN LANGUAGE RETENTION AS A RESPONSE TO FOREIGN STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

Abstract

The mastery of the target language is the goal of learning the Indonesian Language for
Foreign Speakers (BIPA). In this process, various forms of communication strategies are needed,
both in terms of learners and teacher or tutor. During the tutorial activities, international students
will often face communication gaps due to various factors, one of which is the lack of language
mastery. To face the communication gaps, learners will use various verbal communication
strategies. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of language retention
strategies by tutor in the tutorial activities of Universitas Sebelas Maret students in the
Darmasiswa Program as a response to international students‘ communication strategies and
describe the impacts and challenges that tutors must face while using these strategies. This study
was a case study research with a natural background and qualitative approaches. The tutorial
activities‘ observations of language retention strategies were carried out at the Technical
Implementation Unit of Language Universitas Sebelas Maret (UPT Bahasa UNS). The data
analysis techniques employed interactive patterns. The study result found that language retention
could accustom learners to using Indonesian. However, in practice, the tutor also often faced
various challenges, such as consistency problems, slower learning achievement in the early stages,
and different learners' perceptions.