HOW ENGLISH INTENSIVE COURSE PROGRAM AFFECTS the ENGLISH PROFICIENCY of TEACHERS COLLEGES in INDONESIA

Abstract

This article reports the implementation of the English Intensive Course (IC) program and examines its effectiveness in improving the English proficiency of the students of the English departments in eight teachers’ colleges. IC program is a onesemester course with 18 credits. The instructional materials of this program were specifically-organized and used in an integrated manner. Although some weaknesses were noted in the implementation, the IC program was likely to have a positive effect on the students’ English proficiency. Comparisons of pretest and posttest scores of IC students in each of the teachers’ colleges and in all eight teachers’ colleges indicated significant differences. However, because of the absence of a control group in the implementation of the IC program, the findings should be interpreted with care. Additional data concerning students’ responses on the IC program showed that various aspects of the program were implemented well.