This study aims to describe the implementation of literacy culture programs of elementary school. This study used phenomenology of a qualitative approach. The subjects were the headmaster, teachers, students who were selected by using purposive sampling technique. The validity data test used triangulation techniques by comparing the results of observations, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that: 1) The policy for implementing a literacy culture at elementary school by using the School Literacy Movement program of the government. It is based on Permendikbud No. 23, 2015 focusing on character development. (2) The implementation of literacy culture of elementary school. It is based on the habituation stage that carried out 10 minutes of reading Al Qur’an and storybooks before lessons. The development stage of the activities carried out the respond to the contents of reading books by reading independently, giving appreciation for student literacy achievements, and having a school literacy team. The learning stage is by getting used to reading textbooks and using various strategies that support learning.

This study aims to investigate how students can improve their speech performance by using circumlocution, one of communication strategies. The design used is classroom action research (CAR) implemented into two cycles. At the first cycle, the theme given is informative speech. While the second one, the theme is persuasive speech. The subjects of the study are fifty-three students of two public speaking classes. Both classes have difficulties in performing speeches confidently especially when they lost their mind in the middle of the speech. The students prefer writing and memorizing script to using draft which makes the performance worse. In the treatment, the students were divided into groups and evaluate each other's performance. The result showed that all students could improve their communication skill through circumlocution strategy. Another result shows that the students can also increase their confidence in presenting the speech. Besides, despite delivering the good content of the speech and performed with appropriate gestures, the students could develop their performance without looking at the whole script.

This study investigated the implementation of video recording to improve opening speech which focused on the content delivery. A classroom action research was used to collect the data from three cycles. The result showed all students could meet the minimum requirement after doing the process of recording their performance for three cycles. It improved the content delivery significantly after looking at and evaluating the video of performance. Students could accomplish the clear purpose of the presentation by introducing the topic clearly, tel Finally, video recording also improved the students' performance such as movement of gestures and body language, and the eye contact.

In the aim to engage the volatile future, Kemendikbud considered developing the textbooks with cultural values imbued for the 2013 Curriculum. This study is a content analysis that seeks to examine the cultural elements found in the English textbooks for junior high schoolers, to discover the evidence of global cultural manifestation in the textbooks, as well as to find out the space given to local culture in the textbooks. The data were collected from the latest revision of ‘When English Rings a Bell’ textbook for both 7th & 8th grade, and ‘Think Globally Act Locally’ textbook for 9th grade. The data then analyzed qualitatively. The findings showed that: (1) social group & social identity dictate the cultural dimension, followed by belief & behavior. While another aspect, such as stereotypes & national identity, social interaction, the life-cycle & socialization, national culture heritage, national geography, national history as well as socio-political institution, are not commonly presented. This idea is in line with the curriculum objectives to facilitate the development of students with proper character, behavior and a strong sense of nationality. In terms of proportionality as shown by cultural dimensions, it is inferred that the English textbooks are on their way to perfection; (2) the existence of the target cultures is still dominant, yet the authors had tried to maintain the initial content of the source culture, as well as (3) the students require to realize the importance of learning culture from their English textbooks & develop their cultural competence and a certain degree of respect, as well as tolerance for others.

The author is grateful to write this guide book for English Education Study Program Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo. This book will be used for helping the students how to draft, practice and present speeches effectively in simple ways so students will be easier to present their speeches in front of public. In addition, this book provide the students the opportunity to initiate, conduct, and take part in English communication skill of advanced level by giving some projects. The skill covers all abilities to deliver various kinds of formal and academic presentations and speeches in public.

This study aims to show the influence between reading habits and writing skills among students. This research uses quantitative methods. The population used in this study were seventh grade students of SMP At Tibyan Gempol. The sample used in this study amounted to 70 students. The technique used in data collection is a questionnaire used to measure reading habits and a writing test is used to determine how much students are in writing skills. The results of calculations with SPSS for Windows show that the coefficient of the influence of the variables on reading habits and writing skills is 0.627 and the rtable value at significance = 0.05 with df = 68 is 0.235. So, it can be concluded that the value (0.625) > rtable (0.235). This means that Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected. This means that there is a positive influence between the variable X (Reading Habits) and the variable Y (Writing Skills) in seventh grade students.

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The evaluation of the use of TOEFL as a language assessment is the main concern to be studied on this paper. Using qualitative method, the researchers evaluate some specific questions mainly derived from a set of criteria which are practicality, test reliability, validity, authenticity and washback effect. The results concludes that the TEOFL ITP is practical and reliable. Its reliability lies to all three sections in this TOEFL. It is still noted however, that the TOEFL ITP may also be reliable as it is in TOEFL PBT unless the fact that the ITP test is adapted from previously used TOEFL. Theoretically, the reliability is doubted and further researches are still needed. In relation to the use of TOEFL ITP for a placement test, it is necessary to ask whether the test items can represent this task. The TOEFL ITP is approximately authentic as an English test. Understanding the impact of the TOEFL, test takers are inspired to study English more, as one of the washback of the test. More students want to get the lessons to raise their score to be higher.