Pronunciation Difficulties in English Learning: A Contrastive Analysis of MTs Students' Performance in East Kalimantan

Rostanti Toba; Anis Komariah

Article Details

Pronunciation Difficulties in English Learning: A Contrastive Analysis of MTs Students' Performance in East Kalimantan

Authors:

Rostanti Toba | Anis Komariah

Publisher:

Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (Center for Research and Community Services), Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda

Main Topics:

Religion | Arts | Humanities | Chemistry | Computer Science & IT | Earth & Planetary Sciences | Economics, Econometrics & Finance | Education | Energy | Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media | Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice | Mathematics | Neuroscience | Physics | Social Sciences | Other

Journal:

el-Buhuth: Borneo Journal of Islamic Studies , pp.0-0

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2026

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001880141

pISSN:

2621-9972

Abstract:

 This study investigates the pronunciation difficulties encountered by MTs students in East Kalimantan when learning English as a foreign language. Using a comparative qualitative research method combining contrastive analysis between regional languages (as the first language or L1) and English (as a foreign language), this research examines the types of mispronunciations and underlying causal factors affecting 40 students from MTs Negeri 3 Paser and MTs Negeri 1 Penajam Paser Utara. Data collection involved students’ pronunciation recordings, in-depth interviews, and classroom observations. Findings reveal nine primary categories of pronunciation errors: (1) /gh/ endings pronounced as /f/, (2) silent /gh/ in word-medial positions, (3) silent /l/, (4) word-final /-d/, (5) word-initial /t/, (6) word-medial /ʒ/, (7) /ʃ/ substitution, (8) /θ/ substitution, and (9) word-final /-t/. Three main causal factors emerged: regional accent interference, phonological differences between the first language or L1/L2 (second language) and English, and unsupportive language environments. The study contributes to understanding multilingual students' English pronunciation challenges in Indonesian contexts and provides pedagogical implications for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) instruction.

Article Details

Pronunciation Difficulties in English Learning: A Contrastive Analysis of MTs Students' Performance in East Kalimantan

Authors: Rostanti Toba | Anis Komariah

Publisher: Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (Center for Research and Community Services), Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda

Journal: el-Buhuth: Borneo Journal of Islamic Studies , pp.0-0

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2026

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001880141

pISSN: 2621-9972

Issues

Authors:

Rostanti Toba | Anis Komariah

Publisher:

Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (Center for Research and Community Services), Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda

Journal:

el-Buhuth: Borneo Journal of Islamic Studies , pp.0-0

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2026

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001880141

pISSN:

2621-9972