Year: 2026 | Month: September | Volume: 13 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 507-523
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260948
Disclosing the Challenges Faced by the Deck Cadets During Onboard Training in Oral Communication Through a Qualitative Survey
Corry Hastiwi1, Sri Wahyuni2
1,2Master’s Program of English Language Education,
Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: Corry Hastiwi
ABSTRACT
Miscommunication became one of the main obstacles in the maritime industry, which uses English as its lingua Franca among multinational work environment. This research aims to disclose the challenges the deck cadets faced in oral communication during onboard training. In more detail, this article also revealed the factors that influenced the cadets’ oral communication issues, situational challenges that occurred, strategies that are used by the cadets to overcome the challenges, and the learning results they achieved. This study used a qualitative approach, with thematic analysis and coding to analyze the data. The data were gathered from 25 deck cadets from the Marine Higher Education Institute with various global and national companies as their internship place through a qualitative survey. A questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions was distributed using Google Form to get qualitative data related to the deck cadets’ difficulties in oral communication during onboard training. The findings showed that the challenges faced by the deck cadets in oral communication are divided into three dimensions: linguistic issues, psychological factors, and interlocutor English competence. Moreover, the cadets testified that their oral communication issues were influenced by linguistic factors, phonological competence, maritime English competence, psychological factors, and exposure. These challenges mainly occurred in high-pressure situations, which require fast and accurate communication. To overcome this, the cadets applied active practice, continuous learning, and encouragement for self-confidence, which contributed to the development of the cadets’ speaking skills gradually.
Keywords: Deck Cadets, Onboard Training, Qualitative Survey, Oral Communication, Challenges
[PDF Full Text]