ALIYAH, NUR, 2017. Students’ Perception of Native and Nonnative English Teachers: Personal and Instructional Competence(s) at Junior High School Raffles Independent School Balikpapan (under supervisors of Dr. Phil. Maria Theodora Ping and Desy Rusmawaty, MA)

In order to attain students’ competence in target language, that refers to the ability to make and produce text both oral and written based on cultural and situation context, several schools in Indonesia hired native English teachers. It is common belief that having native English speakers as teachers makes the teaching
program more attractive and of better quality. Therefore, students’ perception of their teachers is an important thing in teaching and learning process. It can provide directions for teachers’ improvement. This study was aimed to know students’ perception of their native and nonnative English teachers with regard to their personal competence contains of competence in target language, personalities, and cultural aspects, and instructional competence, contains of competence in teaching language skill, teaching style, and creating classroom atmosphere. Questionnaire, interview, and semantic differential were used in
order to answer the questions. Eight nonnative English students of eight grade of Raffles Independent School Balikpapan were given questionnaire and semantic differential. The interview was conducted to the three of nonnative English students representing high, medium and low levels of proficiency. The result showed that generally, students perceived positively toward both NETs and NETs. They had capability in personal and instructional competence. However, in personal competence, NETs showed more competent in target language and cultural aspect than NNETs. In term of personality aspects, students perceived that NNETs was more competence than NETs. Regarding instructional competence in teaching language skill, students agreed that their NETs and NNETs had equal competence. However, in teaching language style, students perceived differently toward their NETs and NNETs. Students agreed that NETs was competent in this area, while NNETs was less competence. In term of creating classroom atmosphere, this study showed that NETs’ classroom was more flexible than classroom of NNETs. However, students still agreed that both NETs and NNETs were competent in creating classroom atmosphere.

Keywords: Native English Teacher, Nonnative English teacher, students’ perception.