LOCALIZED VARIETIES IN ENGLISH CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION: A CASE STUDY FROM TIO CIU AND KHEK STUDENTS IN PONTIANAK

Abstrak

Localized varieties are one of the English varieties that people speak today due to globalization and great mobility. Localized varieties are not only spoken by people in social circles, but also used by students in academic settings. This study investigates phenomena related to localized varieties used by Pontianak Tiong Hoa students, especially those who speak Tio Ciu and Khek. The results show that students are aware that localized varieties are part of the English varieties. Using local dialects in English helps to make students’ communication more flexible, building a sense of humor, wit, and friendship that makes students laugh that indicate the student enjoyed the lesson and process of learning. A localized variety in the context of an English classroom is also an attempt to build a local English identity as the identity is formed in the process of communication. Furthermore, localized variations enable everyone to communicate in English in their own way, and their use in an English classroom is an effort to create a local English identity, which is created during the communication process.