“SAWADEE KHA.”: PICTURING AN INDONESIAN EFL LEARNER ON STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO THAILAND

CHALIFATUN, NAFI’AH RS (2026) “SAWADEE KHA.”: PICTURING AN INDONESIAN EFL LEARNER ON STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO THAILAND. Diploma thesis, UIN RADEN INTAN LAMPUNG.

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Abstract

ABSTRACT This research explores the experiences of an Indonesian EFL learner who participated in a student exchange program at Krirk University, Thailand. The research focuses on understanding the challenges faced, strategies employed, and changes experienced during Mawar intercultural learning journey. The research was grounded in Dörnyei’s Taxonomy of Communication Strategy and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory, which explain how learners manage communication barriers and build confidence through mastery experiences. The participant encountered multiple difficulties, including language issues, academic issues, communication anxiety, and culture shock related to religious practices, which shaped her adaptation process as an international student. This research employed a qualitative narrative inquiry approach to capture the participant’s lived experience. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, a narrative frame, a narrative empty box, and supporting documents such as reflection journals. The data were analyzed thematically through repeated reading, coding and categorization, and rearranging narratives into key themes: challenges, strategies, and changes. These methods allowed the researcher to interpret how the participant constructed meaning from her experiences in a new cultural and academic environment. The findings revealed that the participant faced four main challenges language issues, academic difficulties, communication anxiety, and culture shock with religious adaptation yet successfully overcame them through Dörnyei’s communication strategies (avoidance strategies, compensatory strategies, and speech acts) and self-management strategies such as emotional regulation and time organization. Over time, she experienced a significant increase in self confidence, transforming from a hesitant communicator to an active English user. The research concludes that student exchange programs can serve as transformative learning experiences that foster linguistic competence, intercultural awareness, and personal growth among EFL learners through the strategic use of communication and self regulation strategies. Keywords : Challenges, EFL learner, Experience, Narrative inquiry, Self-confident, Strategies.

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