What benefits that students can take? Portraying the implementation of EFL curriculum in Indonesia through phenomenological lens

Abstract

t. In response to the latest curriculum implementation in Indonesia, this research examines theimplementation of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) 2013 curriculum through a phenomenologicallens. It draws the data from interviews with two experienced English teachers teaching in two pioneerschools that have implemented the 2013 curriculum since 2014 in Jambi city, Sumatera, Indonesia. Thefindings of this research show that there are two major benefits that students can take from theimplementation of the 2013 curriculum. First, it is promoting independent learning. Through theimplementation of the 2013 curriculum, students become active constructors for new knowledge inwhich the learning activities are planned and facilitated by the teachers. Second, the implementation ofthe 2013 curriculum stimulates students to be creative learners. Students may be able to do their worksor projects better than the teachers expect. The findings suggest that EFL teachers need to improve theirability to design classroom activities that allow students to be active and creative learners. The teachersneed to be able to create a good atmosphere and think a step ahead from the students to make a goodclassroom engagement and to trigger students’ independent learning and creativity for the lessonfacilitated by the teachers.