Teaching Intonation of Parenthetical Clauses to ESL Learners

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This study explores the challenges and strategies involved in teaching the intonation of parenthetical clauses to ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. Parenthetical clauses, often used to add commentary or clarification within discourse, rely heavily on prosodic cues such as pitch change, pause, and rhythmic variation for proper identification and comprehension. Many ESL learners struggle to perceive or reproduce these features, leading to communication breakdowns and reduced fluency. The research involves a classroom-based intervention where participants underwent targeted pronunciation training focused on intonational features of parentheticals. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, recorded speech samples, and learner feedback. The results show a significant improvement in learners’ ability to both recognize and produce correct intonation patterns. These findings suggest that explicit instruction on intonation can enhance learners’ spoken discourse competence and listening comprehension. The study concludes with pedagogical recommendations for integrating intonation training into ESL curricula.

A Review of MnSi₁.₇: Synthesis, Properties, and Emerging

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Being a non-stoichiometric silicon-metal compound, MnSi₁.₇ has generated significant research interest on account of its promising thermoelectric properties, structural stability, and compatibility with silicon-based technologies. Being a complex tetragonal structure and semimetallic in nature, MnSi₁.₇ provides the ideal medium of moderate electrical conductivity-high Seebeck coefficient-low intrinsic thermal conductivity. This review deals with the current understanding of MnSi₁.₇ with respect to the crystal structure, synthesis methods, and basic physical properties. Strategies of doping, nanostructuring, and making composites are discussed for improving its thermoelectric performance. Challenges in phase control and efficiency enhancement are presented along with the review; future avenues on device integration and energy-harvesting applications are pinpointed.

A Review of AI-powered Diagnosis of Rare Diseases

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The diagnosis of rare diseases presents significant challenges due to their low prevalence, complex symptomatology, and the scarcity of specialized knowledge. However, advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer promising solutions to these challenges. This review explores the current state of AI-powered diagnostic tools for rare diseases, focusing on the methodologies, algorithms, and platforms utilized in this emerging field. We examine how AI technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing, are being integrated into clinical practice to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed. The research also provides the examples that highlight the successes and limitations of AI in this domain, providing insights into how AI can be harnessed to improve patient outcomes in rare disease diagnosis and management.

Strategy to Enhance Organizational Performance Through A New Functional Management Initiative at Bor Penunjang Migas

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Bor Penunjang Migas (BPM) is a rig contractor that operates about 47 drilling rigs across Indonesia. Besides rigs, BPM has a small number of associated drilling services (non‐rig), such as directional drilling, cementing, drilling fluid, casing running, coring services, etc. Historically, BPM has rented out rig and non-rig equipment separately. However, the market for non-rig services is less mature than rig services. Despite accounting for less than 10% of BPM’s productive assets, non-rig services contribute over 20% of the company’s revenue and consistently achieve a net profit margin (NPM) exceeding 15%, in contrast to the approximately 5% NPM from rigs.

Currently, there is massive ramping up of drilling activities in Indonesia; therefore, BPM expects significant growth in both revenue and profit. Given the operational and financial performance, asset structure, and organizational capabilities, BPM is redefining its business strategy to emphasize enhancing non-rig services alongside its core rig offerings. To improve marketing and asset productivity, the company plans to offer end-to-end integrated drilling services by bundling rig and non-rig offerings. This marks BPM’s strategic transformation from a conventional rig contractor to an integrated drilling service provider.

This paper discusses the change process behind this new strategic direction, including the applied change model, key behaviours required for successful transformation, core elements to be addressed, and the expected benefits of implementing the new initiative.

Relationship Between Training Pedagogy and Students’ Acquisition of Employable Skills at Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions

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Effective teaching pedagogy is critical for acquiring employable skills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. A good pedagogy fosters innovation and transforms lessons into trainee-centered activities, thereby enhancing skill acquisition. This study examines the relationship between training pedagogy and acquiring employable skills among students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. It highlights how various pedagogical approaches, including competency-based education and dual training systems, contribute to the development of practical and technical skills necessary for the labor market. The findings reveal that trainers’ qualifications, including industrial attachments, positively influence skill transfer, although limited participation in professional development programs and gaps in infrastructure hinder optimal outcomes. The study highlights the importance of aligning training methodologies with industry requirements through enhanced collaboration between stakeholders. It also emphasizes the need for increased investment in infrastructure and teaching resources, alongside integrating soft skills into training curricula to ensure holistic employability. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to improve TVET systems and prepare graduates for dynamic work environments.

Tender Competition: Business Strategy to Increase Sales (Study Case: PT CSR)

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This study examines the business issue that PT Cuindo Sadiya Rizky (PT CSR), a small Indonesian company that provides railway spare parts, is facing, the business relies on a single state-owned company’s project tenders, as a result, there are risks like inconsistent revenue, operational delays, and a lack of long-term planning, due to PT CSR’s lack of a set system, single primary client, and restricted capacity to fulfill tender requirements, these issues frequently arise, helping PT CSR develop a well-defined and organized B2B business plan is the aim of this study, the backdrop stems from the need for small suppliers in public projects to be more prepared, particularly as market demands and governmental regulations change frequently, the issue in this instance is evidently that there is no increase in the source of income and that no solid foundation for long-term growth has yet been established, the primary presumption is that the business needs a better plan but wishes to continue operating in this tender-based market and by taking more steady, transparent, and expert actions, the study hopes to support PT CSR’s survival.

This study employs a thematic qualitative approach using documents, company reviews, and interviews to achieve its objective, the analysis is aided by a number of tools: Porter’s Five Forces helps determine how difficult the competition is, the Marketing Mix (4P) is used to evaluate the company’s offer to the client, SWOT analysis is used to determine the company’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and VRIO determines whether the company has anything unique to offer, several important points emerge from the findings, PT CSR excels at pricing and networks, but struggles with systems and planning, the business must improve its SOPs, diversify its clientele, enhance its tender documents, and form vendor groups in order to participate in larger tenders, all of the recommendations are reasonable and doable within a year, it demonstrates how they can lower risks, stabilize, and continue to expand, the research also adds value to the study of business strategy by showing how theory can be used in real small business cases in developing countries.

Development of Problem Solving-Based Student Worksheets to Improve Students’ Science Process Skills on Reaction Rate Material

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The development of the education system encourages curriculum updates in Indonesia, one of which is through the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum which emphasizes strengthening 21st century skills, including science process skills. Reaction rate material in chemistry subjects is abstract and requires an experimental approach to support concept understanding. This study aims to develop a problem solving-based Learner Worksheet  that is feasible to use in improving students’ science process skills on reaction rate material. The research method used is Research and Development (R&D) with the 4D model (Define, Design, Develop, Disseminate), limited to the Develop stage. The limited trial was conducted on 30 students of class XI SMA IPIEMS Surabaya. The instruments used included review sheets, expert validation, learner response questionnaires, activity observations, and science process skills tests (pretest and posttest). The validation results show that the LKPD has a high level of validity in the aspects of content, language, presentation, and graphics. Students’ responses to the LKPD were very positive with an average score of 98%, which indicated the practicality of the Worksheet. The effectiveness of LKPD is also supported by an increase in science process skills scores based on pretest and posttest results. The effectiveness of LKPD is also supported by an increase in science process skills scores based on pretest and posttest results.

Using Marketplace for MSMEs: A Look at Capability and Ecosystem Perspective

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This article discusses the requirements for MSMEs to adapt to a marketplace. MSMEs must use the marketplace to increase their performance by reaching out to more significant markets. However, with limited resources, MSMEs need to build their capability to maximize their adoption. To understand MSMEs and their relation to marketplace adoption, a survey was conducted on 100 MSMEs in Bandung, Indonesia. This study hypothesizes capability and ecosystem perspectives are the requirements for adapting to the marketplace. This study’s results indicate that marketplaces’ use is significantly and positively influenced by capability and ecosystem perspectives. The study provides practical and academic implications, including the importance for MSME owners, especially in Bandung City, to see and review the capabilities and ecosystems of both MSMEs and marketplaces that will be used.

Teaching Speaking Skills to Grade 4 Students at A Primary School in HCMC

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This study investigates the teaching strategies and challenges related to developing English speaking skills among fourth-grade students at a Primary School in HCMC. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through questionnaires with 15 English teachers to evaluate the application of five pedagogical models: the Consideration Model, the Cognitive Development Model, the Value Classification Technique, the Rational Formation Model, and the Non-directive Model. Results indicated that the Non-directive and Consideration Models were most frequently used, promoting student-centered learning and interactive language practice. However, aspects like peer feedback, creative storytelling, and visual support were underutilized. Teachers reported several persistent obstacles, including large class sizes, low student motivation, limited English proficiency, and insufficient learning resources. The study highlights the importance of communicative language teaching strategies that are developmentally appropriate and adaptable to classroom constraints. Based on these findings, the study recommends a more balanced integration of all five models, improved teacher training, resource allocation, and class size reduction. These changes aim to foster an engaging, supportive environment where students can actively participate and build confidence in using English for real-life communication.

Enhancing English Grammar as A Part of Capacity Development to Grade 4 Students at A Primary School in HCMC

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This study investigates the effectiveness of enhancing English grammar instruction as a component of capacity development for Grade 4 students at a Primary School in HCMC. Grounded in a quasi-experimental design, the research combines both pretest, post-test methods and a teacher perception survey to explore the impact of targeted grammar instruction. Drawing from theories by Hudson (2004), Alexander (2004), Myhill, Jones, & Watson (2012), Cameron (2001), Elley (1991), and Hall (2011), the study emphasizes contextual, communicative, and student-centered approaches to grammar teaching. Findings revealed that teachers value grammar as a critical tool for sentence construction, clear communication, and language capacity development (Mean = 3.8). They reported using interactive strategies such as storytelling, group writing, and grammar games (Mean = 3.76). The intervention showed significant improvement in students’ grammar proficiency, with post-test scores notably higher than pretest scores (p < 0.05). The study concludes that capacity-oriented grammar instruction significantly benefits young learners’ linguistic competence and recommends its broader application in primary education. This research contributes to English language pedagogy by offering practical methods to integrate grammar into meaningful and engaging learning contexts for Vietnamese EFL student.