Using Webtoon Comic as Media to Improve Cultural Understanding of Advanced Indonesian as Foreign Language (IFL) Students

Abstract

In Indonesia as a Foreign Language (IFL) learning, it is necessary to have strategies and media that support the understanding of the Indonesian language and culture for foreign students from various cultural backgrounds. This study aims to develop and determine the effectiveness of culture-based webtoon comics as a learning media to increase advanced IFL students' cultural understanding. The research method used in this study is the ADDIE method (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) and used one group pre-test-post-test design on IFL academic class at Sebelas Maret University, Indonesia. This research used the Wilcoxon test with a 5% significance level and N-gain score to analyse the data. The validation results from IFL material and learning media experts indicate that "Belajar Budaya bersama Joko dan Fred" webtoon is a feasible product to use. The results showed the Wilcoxon Asymp test. Sig. (2-tailed) is 0.026 < 0.05 and the N-gain score is 71.67%. From these results, it can be concluded that there was a significant difference between IFL students' average results before and after using this webtoon. The use of culture-based webtoons as a IFL learning medium is quite effective to improve the cultural understanding of advanced IFL students compared to the use of conventional texts with illustrations.