Elevating Skills: Twelfth-Grade Students’ Proficiency in Writing Application Letters in an ESP Context

Sep 11, 2026

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The study investigates the competence of twelfth-grade students at the Senior High School of Islamic Boarding School Warasatul Anbiya in writing application letters in an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) context. Using a descriptive quantitative design, student performance is evaluated through a classroom task, assessed with a standardized scoring rubric covering structure, content, and language accuracy. Results show 8 students scored excellent (80–100), 5 good (68–79), 1 fair (56–65), and 2 weak (46–55), with no poor scores (0–45). Findings indicate strong mastery of salutation, main content, and closing, while suggesting pedagogical enhancement opportunities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

Importance of Application Letters

Components of Application Letter Writing

Elevating Skills: Twelfth-Grade Students’ Proficiency in Writing Application Letters in an ESP Context Nesi Ramadani1 ,Widya syafitri2 | *Corespondence :
[Email : nesidani6@gmail.com](Email : nesidani6@gmail.com) | Abstract
This study investigates the competence of twelfth-grade students at the Senior High School of Islamic Boarding School Warasatul Anbiya in writing application letters, a critical skill for preparing students for professional opportunities. Adopting a descriptive quantitative approach, the research evaluates student performance based on key criteria, including structure, content, and language accuracy. Data were collected through a classroom task in which students composed application letters, assessed using a standardized scoring rubric. The findings reveal that 8 students achieved excellent scores (80-100), 5 students attained good scores (68-79), 1 student received a fair score (56-65), and 2 students scored in the weak range (46-55), with no students in the poor category (0-45). These results indicate that most students possess the essential skills required to write effective application letters, demonstrating proficiency in critical components such as salutation, main content, and closing. The study underscores the effectiveness of current instructional methods in developing students' writing abilities while highlighting areas for pedagogical enhancement. These findings offer valuable insights for educators striving to improve students' readiness for professional and academic communication.
Abstrak
Penelitian ini menyelidiki kompetensi siswa kelas dua belas di Sekolah Menengah Atas Pondok Pesantren Warasatul Anbiya dalam menulis surat lamaran kerja, sebuah keterampilan yang sangat penting dalam mempersiapkan siswa untuk mendapatkan kesempatan kerja. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif deskriptif, penelitian ini mengevaluasi kinerja siswaberdasarkan kriteria utama, termasuk struktur, konten, dan akurasi bahasa. Data dikumpulkanmelalui tugas kelas di mana siswa membuat surat lamaran, yang dinilai menggunakan rubrik penilaian standar. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa 8 siswa meraih nilai sangat baik (80-100), 5 siswa meraih nilai baik (68-79), 1 siswa mendapat nilai cukup (56-65), dan 2 siswa mendapat nilai di kisaran lemah (46-55), tanpa ada siswa yang berada di kategori buruk (0-45). Hasil in menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar siswa memiliki keterampilan penting yang diperlukanuntuk menulis surat lamaran yang efektif, menunjukkan kemahiran dalam komponenkomponen penting seperti salam pembuka, isi utama, dan penutup. Studi ini menggarisbawahiefektivitas metode pembelajaran saat ini dalam mengembangkan kemampuan menulis siswasambil menyoroti bidang-bidang yang perlu ditingkatkan secara pedagogis. Temuan ini menawarkan wawasan yang berharga bagi para pendidik yang berusaha untuk meningkatkan kesiapan siswa untuk komunikasi profesional dan akademis | | --- | --- | | Authors Affiliation:
1Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi, Indonesia | | | Article History:
Penyerahan : 18-11-2024
Direvisi : 22-11-2024
Diterima : 24-12-2024 Diterbitkan | | | Keyword : application letter, writing skills, twelfth-grade students, Islamic boarding school, descriptive quantitative
Kata Kunci : surat lamaran, kemampuan menulis, twelfth grade student, islamic boarding school, descruptve quantitative | | INTRODUCTION English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is a field within applied linguistics that focuses on teaching English tailored to the needs of particular professions or areas of study. Brown (2003)(Lina and Salatiga n.d.)notes that ESP is defined by its emphasis on practical language learning, where lessons are designed around the specific vocabulary and communication styles relevant to fields such as business, law, or healthcare. This approach typically involves assessing learners’ needs to identify the specific language skills they require, ensuring that the curriculum mee

FAQs

What skill does the study focus on for twelfth-grade students?

The study focuses on students’ proficiency in writing application letters in an ESP context.

How is student performance assessed?

Students complete a classroom task composing application letters, which are scored using a standardized rubric covering structure, content, and language accuracy.

What do the results show about students’ writing proficiency?

Most students achieve essential competence, with the majority scoring excellent or good, and no students in the poor category (0–45).

Sep 11, 2026

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