Expectations vs. Reality: Experiences of Indonesian Undergraduate ELT Students with Thesis Supervisors

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-333-7_4How to use a DOI?

Keywords

AI tools; expectations; reality; supervisor-student relationship; thesis supervision

Abstract

This study investigates the expectations and actual experiences of Indonesian undergraduate students pursuing English Language Teaching (ELT) degrees regarding thesis supervision. Utilizing qualitative methodologies, the research addresses a gap in understanding the alignment between students’ expectations and their real-life interactions with supervisors, focusing on academic support, communication, and technology use. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of four Indonesian female undergraduate ELT students from diverse regions at a private institution in Indonesia. The thematic analysis revealed a wide range of experiences among students. Some reported highly supportive supervisors who met or exceeded their expectations, while others faced challenges due to less involved supervision and limited support. Key themes identified include the expectations of thesis supervisors in terms of expertise, personal qualities, and guidance; the varying levels of support and involvement in the supervision process; the use of technology and AI tools in thesis writing; and the significance of positive relationship dynamics characterized by open communication, mutual respect, and support. The study underscores the importance of knowledgeable and supportive supervisors, effective communication, comprehensive feedback, and ongoing mentorship to enhance the thesis supervision process. It also highlights students’ challenges and reliance on various support systems. The findings emphasize the complexities of thesis supervision and the factors influencing students’ experiences, offering insights and implications for improving supervisory practices and student outcomes in the Indonesian ELT context. The study suggests that creating supportive environments that align with students’ expectations can promote better academic success and satisfaction.

Copyright

© 2024 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Endah Yulia Rahayu
AU  - Lutfi Rahman Ashuri
AU  - Ferra Dian Andanty
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/12/26
TI  - Expectations vs. Reality: Experiences of Indonesian Undergraduate ELT Students with Thesis Supervisors
BT  - Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on English Language Teaching (ICON-ELT 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 36
EP  - 49
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-333-7_4
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-333-7_4
ID  - Rahayu2024
ER  -