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Home > HCAS > HCAS_PUBS > HCAS_JOURNALS > TQR Home > TQR > Vol. 31 > No. 3 (2026)

 

Abstract

English as a lingua franca in higher education enables international students to participate in the global academic community. However, for Iraqi students in Indonesia, the use of English is not just a means of communication, but also part of identity negotiation, social adaptation, and cultural integration. This study explores how Iraqi students experience acceptance, resistance, and adaptation in using English in academic and social environments in Indonesia. The three-dimensional narrative inquiry framework (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000) is used as the primary analytical lens to explore how participants' experiences unfold over time, across relational contexts, and within specific physical and institutional settings. The researcher collected data through in-depth interviews to explore Iraqi students' challenges and communication strategies in interacting with lecturers, peers, and the local community. The results show that Iraqi students accept English as an essential academic tool, but they also face resistance in the form of social pressure to understand and use Indonesian and challenges in establishing interactions with local students. Some students showed adaptation through communication strategies such as language simplification, using a combination of English and Indonesian, and adjusting their speaking style. This study addresses the gap in understanding about the experiences of foreign students from Arabic-speaking nations in Indonesian classrooms. The study's results emphasise the value of more inclusive educational strategies in fostering the linguistic integration of international students and raising intercultural awareness in higher education settings.

Keywords

international students, language adaptation, lingua franca, narrative inquiry

Author Bio(s)

Nirwana has been a lecturer in linguistics at the Department of English Language and Literature at an Islamic higher education institution in Eastern Indonesia since 2019. Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree in linguistics at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Her research interests are primarily focused on sociolinguistics and English language teaching. Her recent publications explore the integration of Islamic values in English language teaching and the inequalities in English education within the Indonesian context. She is currently working on her dissertation, which examines ideological inequalities in English language teaching at Islamic higher education institutions. Please direct correspondence to nirwana.nirwana@upi.edu

Yanty Wirza, is an expert in Language in Use, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and English Language Teaching (ELT) research. She holds a bachelor’s degree from IKIP Bandung, a master’s degree from Ohio State University, USA, and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University, USA. Her academic and research interests focus on ESP theoretical foundations, ELT research projects, and ESP-based learning applications. Please direct correspondence to yantywirza@upi.edu

Mutakhirani Mustafa, is a lecturer in English Language at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. She holds a master’s degree in Linguistics from Hasanuddin University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Linguistics at Padjadjaran University, Bandung. Her academic interests focus on linguistics, language teaching, and applied linguistics. She is actively engaged in research and teaching, contributing to the development of English language education in Indonesia. Please direct correspondence to mutakhiranimustafa@syekhnurjati.com

Muhlis, is a lecturer in Communication Studies at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan Sinjai. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Dakwah and Communication from Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar. His academic focus includes Islamic communication, media studies, and da'wah strategies, contributing to the advancement of communication and religious studies in Indonesia. Please direct correspondence to muhlispasca@gmail.com

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all parties who have supported the completion of this research. My deepest appreciation goes to the informants who willingly shared their valuable experiences and insights, as well as to all stakeholders who aided throughout the process. I am also truly grateful to LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan) for providing financial sponsorship that made this research possible. Their contributions were essential in ensuring the success of this study.

Publication Date

3-30-2026

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5401-8175

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