Do Maritime Students See English as A Career Asset or A Burden? A Perception Study

Abstract

This study looks at how maritime cadets view English in their professional lives. It addresses a gap in understanding what vocational students think about language skills. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research collected data from 60 final-year cadets through questionnaires and 5 through in-depth interviews at a maritime polytechnic in Makassar. The investigation uncovered important insights. The quantitative findings showed a significant difference: cadets rated the importance of English highly (mean = 4.52). About 78.3% strongly agreed that it is essential for maritime jobs. However, their attitudes toward learning it were low (mean = 2.48), with only 8.3% expressing strong positivity. The qualitative findings revealed a change in perception. Cadets see English as an "academic burden" in classrooms but view it as a "professional asset" after gaining sea experience. The study suggests changing how English is taught in maritime schools. It recommends including context-specific content earlier and simulating professional communication situations. These adjustments could help close the gap between attitudes and the importance of English and frame it as a crucial skill for global maritime careers instead of an academic hurdle.

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Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): ELLITE: May

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Copyright (c) 2026 Aqzhariady Khartha, Muhammad Fathur Rahman Khalik, Muthmainnah Bahri A. Bohang, St. Hartina

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