IMPROVING EFL STUDENTS' ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS THROUGH UTILIZING TRENDING PALESTINE CONTENT: A CONTENT-BASED INSTRUCTION APPROACH AT STAI YDI LUBUK SIKAPING

Abstract

Abstract

EFL students' interest in learning English is declining due to certain aspects of the curriculum, such as IELTS and TOEFL preparation, as many students struggle to understand the concepts and the correct pronunciation used by native speakers.. he habit of using gadgets and watches and playingdigital content in such times may pose a challenge to using some media as learning tools. This research aims at improving the English language skills of students in the major of Islamic Religious Studies and Islamic Broadcasting Communication at STAI YDI through using the trending Palestine-themed content with a Content-Based Instruction (CBI) approach. The research method employed was Classroom Action Research
with 30 students as subjects. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests, observations, interviews, and analysis of students' writing assignments. The results showed a significant improvement and an increase in vocabulary, reading comprehension, and speaking skills used by the student. The analysis of the students' written work revealed their abilities in sentence structure and vocabulary usage. The CBI approach with trending content provided high learning motivation and authentic context. This research recommends using current content as a medium for EFL English language learning to effectively and holistically improve language skills.