Development of Social and Professional Skills during Educational Practice through Work and Enterprise-Based Learning in VET: An Empirical Study

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This article investigates the development of social and professional skills in students through work and enterprise-based learning within vocational education and training (VET). It underscores the foundational role of social skills in effective communication, relationship building, decision-making, and conflict resolution, which substantially influence various aspects of students’ lives, including academic performance and social interactions. The study emphasizes the significance of the workplace environments in shaping these skills, asserting that effective social skills contribute not only to successful personal relationships but also to professional achievements and broader societal contributions. The article outlines the importance of integrating formal instruction in social skills into educational curricula and extracurricular activities, highlighting various pedagogical approaches that enhance skill acquisition. Through empirical research involving qualitative and quantitative methods, the paper advocates for targeted, interdisciplinary training to engender competencies such as teamwork, negotiation, and client relations, essential for success in contemporary economic environments. Furthermore, the study calls for ongoing evaluation of educational strategies to refine methods for effectively cultivating social skills among students, preparing them for future challenges in a rapidly evolving world.

The Role of Korean Syntax in Sentence Structure and Affixation Errors in Indonesian: A Study on Negative Transfer

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This study investigates the syntactic and morphological errors made by Korean learners of Indonesian, focusing on word order, passive sentence construction, affixation, and subject omission errors. The findings indicate that these errors primarily result from negative transfer, where learners apply Korean grammatical structures to Indonesian, leading to systematic mistakes. A major challenge is word order errors, as Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) or Subject-Adverbial-Object-Verb (S-Adv-O-V) structure, whereas Indonesian adheres to a fixed Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. This difference leads learners to misplace objects and adverbial phrases, producing unnatural sentences. Another frequent issue is passive sentence construction errors. Korean learners often place the agent before the passive verb, mirroring Korean syntax, resulting in incorrect structures like “Surat ini dia dikirimkan kepada guru” instead of “Surat ini dikirimkan kepada guru oleh dia.” Affixation errors also arise due to differences in morphological structure. Korean learners incorrectly apply “-kan” to intransitive verbs or overuse repetition, influenced by Korean verb formation patterns. Subject omission is another common mistake. Korean frequently omits pronouns when understood from context, while Indonesian requires explicit subject pronouns. This results in incomplete sentences like “Pergi ke sekolah” instead of “Saya pergi ke sekolah.” These findings align with Selinker’s (1972) Interlanguage Theory, which explains how second-language learners create a transitional linguistic system influenced by their first language. To minimize these errors, Indonesian language instruction for Korean learners should emphasize contrastive grammar analysis, focusing on sentence structure, passive voice usage, affixation rules, and subject placement. Explicit instruction and targeted exercises can help learners develop greater grammatical accuracy and fluency in Indonesian.

Revisiting EPS TOPIK: Addressing Linguistic and Cultural Challenges for Migrant Workers in South Korea

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International labor migration has become a global phenomenon driven by the demand for better job opportunities and interconnected labor markets. South Korea, as a major destination for migrant workers, requires proficiency in the Korean language as part of its Employment Permit System Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS TOPIK). While the program aims to ensure effective workplace communication, the study reveals significant gaps in the relevance of online learning materials to the actual needs of migrant workers. Many materials lack contextual and cultural elements essential for navigating workplace interactions and social integration in Korea. This research focuses on analyzing the relevance of EPS TOPIK’s online materials to the specific communication needs of migrant workers and assessing the integration of Korean cultural elements in the learning process. Using a qualitative approach through case studies and in-depth interviews, the study examines the experiences of migrant workers and evaluates the adequacy of online materials. The findings aim to provide recommendations for developing more contextual and culturally embedded learning resources to enhance the linguistic and cultural competence of migrant workers. This is expected to improve their workplace adaptability and support their integration into South Korean work environments.

Exploring English-majored Students’ Academic Stress and Coping Strategies: A Mixed Method Research at a Private University

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Academic stress has long been a subject of interest among researchers. University students often face significant levels of stress due to a variety of stressors. This study aims to (1) examine the prevalence of stress and the factors contributing to it, and (2) explore students’ views on stress and their coping strategies among undergraduate English studies students. A survey was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 125 students from a private university, using a questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed both academic and non-academic factors, revealing an average stress level of 2.72. Female English studies students reported a slightly higher stress level compared to their male counterparts. The findings revealed that, among academic stressors, fear of failure was the primary contributor, while limited time for recreation and homesickness were identified as the main non-academic stressors. The second data is derived from a case study design with semi-structured interview with 12 English-majored university students at the private university. The results identify 3 main coping strategies used by students when facing school stress: (1) evasion, (2) diversion, and (3) resolution. These findings highlight the critical importance of teaching about stress and coping strategies in health and life skills education.

A Comparative Study of Friendship in The Poetry of Du Fu (China) and Tu Xuong (Vietnam)

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Du Fu is one of the greatest poets of Chinese literature, while Tu Xuong is one of the representative poets of Vietnamese literature. Besides the similarities, the lives and literary careers of the two authors still have differences that create distinctive characteristics in the writing style of each poet. Researching the influence of Du Fu on Tu Xuong not only opens up a view of the cultural exchange between the two literary traditions but also reflects the process of absorbing and creating Vietnamese poetry from the cultural and artistic values ​​of China. Our research focuses on comparing the content of friendship in the poems of Du Fu and Tu Xuong to see the exchange and difference in content in the writings of the two poets.

Morphological Characteristics of Jackfruit at Pasar Manna District of South Bengkulu, Indonesia

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Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk) is a plant species with high potential to develop. This species is commonly found in home gardens and adaptive to various environmental conditions. The use of jackfruit as a table fruit, vegetable, and medicine has remained limited. This study aims to assess the genetic diversity of local jackfruit in Pasar Manna District, South Bengkulu Regency, Indonesia, based on morphological traits and soluble solids concentration. Field observations and purposive sampling were employed, and plant morphology was identified using both qualitative and quantitative data based on the descriptors published by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI, 2000). Morphological analysis of 10 jackfruit trees from five sub-districts in Pasar Manna District revealed 35 distinct traits, highlighting both differences and similarities among genotypes. The identified accessions—Tanjung Mulia1 (TM1), Tanjung Mulia2 (TM2), Ketapang Besar1 (KB1), Ketapang Besar2 (KB2), Padang Sialang1 (PS1), Padang Sialang2 (PS2), Pasar Bawah1 (PB1), Pasar Bawah2 (PB2), Pasar Mulia1 (PM1), and Pasar Mulia2 (PM2)—exhibited variations in plant morphology. TM1, TM2, and PS1 produced fruits with spheroid and ellipsoid shapes, weighing between 5.8 kg and 8.9 kg, with sugar content ranging from 11 Brix to 17 Brix. These findings indicate significant variation in fruit, stem, and seed morphology, suggesting adaptation to the local environment. This study contributes to the advancement of enhanced jackfruit germplasm in South Bengkulu, Indonesia.

Life History of Retired Staff at Inifap, Veracruz, Mexico

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This research is focused on knowing the life histories of retired personnel of the general base-field tabulator who worked at INIFAP for the regulatory period, which is more than 30 years of service. The premise of the study is that there are specific cases where sometimes there are people who retire and enjoy their pension very little time because they die in the short time after that stage of retirement. The study was conducted with a naturalistic paradigm through a descriptive case study approach, and the prioritization of qualitative data focused on the life stories of people already retired from INIFAP. In this case, two people already retired some years ago from INIFAP and who were assigned to the Cotaxtla Experimental Field and identified in the document as Participant 1 and 2, respectively, participated. A script for the interviews, as well as an interview recorded with a high-end cell phone were used as instruments in the collection of life histories, in which the information was systematized by means of the aforementioned instrument and thus have the complete chronicle. With this research, it is intended that the approaches expressed in this article serve as support to those who have in their daily life will have similar situations to the one exposed and, specifically, so it is concluded that it was possible to identify several factors that motivated and at the same time satisfied the INIFAP field personnel who retired in previous years.

Comparative Analysis of Selected Heavy Metals and Trace Elements Content in Hair Dyes Products at Sudanese Market and Their Health Implications

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Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight.  They have been included in many industrial, domestic, medical and agricultural applications. This raised concerns over their health implications and the environment. The present study was conducted in Khartoum state for females utilizing commercial hair dye, aimed to study health implications of selected heavy metals and trace elements in commercially available hair dyes. The main aim of the present research work refers to the high degree of toxicity of some heavy metals, such as cadmium, mercury, lead and others, that are of public health significance. These health implications depend on various factors such as, type of chemical materials, route of exposure, age, gender, nutritional status, etc. In this context, the researcher compared the findings related to the present studied trace elements and heavy metals with other studies in the literature. 313 participants participating in this study, ages between less than 20 years and more than 40 years. Most of them of university education level. Many of participants have gray hair. The results of this study showed the presence of lead, copper, chromium, nickel and cadmium in all of the analyzed hair dye samples. The pure mineral dyes have higher concentrations of the heavy metals than the synthetic dyes studied. Long term and frequent use of these products polluted with such heavy metals should be avoided. They may cause slow release of metals into the human body and may pose serious health risksto their users. Regulatory agencies saddled with maintaining standard of products should regularly monitor these products for long-term health benefits of the users. Heavy metals of Cd, Pb, Cu,, Hg Cr and Ni, were found in all hair dye samples tested. Heavy metals in blood samples of participants cause many symptoms and disease after using hair dyes.  The most concentrated   heavy metals and trace elements (i.e. Pb, Cd, Mn, Hg, Cu and Ni) in blood samples of participants were tested. Results clarified that the high concentration represented for LEAD in blood samples by FLAME AAS and GF AAS. The results also showed the socio demographic factors for using hair dyes, and factors behind using synthetic hair dyes instead of natural hair dyes. Many studies and researches that focused on the topic of the current study confirmed the presence of heavy metals in the cosmetics of poetry of hair dyes and different types of henna. Some women differ in the presence of heavy metals in their vital components, such as hair and blood, depending on their use of cosmetics and the number of times used.

AI Chatbot: A Teaching Tool to Support the Development of Self-learning capacity in Chemistry for High School Students

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In the context of digital transformation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), the use of AI technology in general and AI Chatbot in particular in education has become a significant trend. There is an increasing number of studies and practical applications of AI Chatbot in teaching and learning. Research indicates that AI Chatbot bring numerous benefits to the teaching process of subjects such as foreign languages, mathematics, science, chemistry, and more. This paper analyzes the potential of AI Chatbot in supporting the self-learning process of high school students in Chemistry. By integrating artificial intelligence technology, AI Chatbot not only provide instant information but also personalize the learning process, helping students enhance their self-learning capacity more effectively. Specifically, the study focuses on identifying the relationship between AI Chatbot and the self-learning process in Chemistry, while also proposing methods to implement AI Chatbot in Chemistry education to improve self-learning capacity for high school students in particular and for other subjects and levels of education in general.

Influence of Teachers’ Assessment Procedures on Student Achievements in Public Junior Schools in Langata Sub County Nairobi, Kenya

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This study investigated the influence of teachers’ assessment procedures on student learning achievements in public junior schools in Langata Sub County, Nairobi City County, Kenya. It was guided by the hypothesis H01: There is no significant relationship between teachers’ assessment procedures and student achievements in these schools. The research employed Howard Gardner’s (1983) Multiple Intelligences Theory, which posits that intelligence consists of various dimensions and educators can enhance learning by addressing these diverse intelligences. A descriptive survey research design targeted 159 public junior secondary schools, 159 head teachers, 480 teachers, and 2 Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs). The sampling included 32 schools, 32 head teachers, 2 CSOs, and 96 teachers. Data was collected using interview schedules and questionnaires and analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation, while qualitative data was processed using content analysis. Findings revealed a significant relationship between teachers’ assessment procedures and students’ learning achievement (Chi-square = 106.222, p = 0.000). The study concluded that assessment procedures significantly influenced student achievement and recommended that teachers adopt assessments that evaluate core competencies like creativity and problem-solving. The Ministry of Education, KICD, and school leaders should review and track the effectiveness of assessment practices to ensure alignment with national education goals.