Enhancing English Vocabulary through the Moral Values in Roro Jonggrang Folklore
Abstract
Vocabulary development has a critical position in English language learning; however, numerous instructing practices need the connection between culture and ethical integration. Whereas folklore, particularly the story of Roro Jonggrang, offers ethical insights and cultural richness, its potential in vocabulary learning remains underexplored. This consideration points to examining how ethical values from the Indonesian stories of Roro Jonggrang can be coordinated into writing activities to upgrade students' English vocabulary acquisition. Applying qualitative descriptive methods, this study analysed the folklore content utilising content analysis to discover the ethical values and related vocabularies. The findings uncovered eight dominant ethical subjects, like honesty, hard work, humility, responsibility, respect, courage, justice, and wisdom. These topics give important vocabulary when consolidated into reflective writing tasks. The study concludes that writing activities based on the folklore of Roro Jonggrang upgrade vocabulary development and fortify character education, supporting a more relevant and values-driven approach to English learning.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Adam, S. H., Ali, S. U., Muahmmad, H. H., Marasabessy, F., & Soleha, L. K. (2024). The Practice of Local Wisdom-Based Literary Literacy in Language and Literature Learning at Junior High School of Ternate City. English Education and Literature Journal (E-Jou), 4(02), 107–119. https://doi.org/10.53863/ejou.v4i02.1129
Agbenyega, J. S., Tamakloe, D. E., & Klibthong, S. (2017). Folklore epistemology: how does traditional folklore contribute to children’s thinking and concept development? International Journal of Early Years Education, 25(2), 112–126. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2017.1287062
Aningsih, Zulela, M. S., Neolaka, A., Iasha, V., & Setiawan, B. (2022). How is the Education Character Implemented? The Case Study in Indonesian Elementary School. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 12(1), 371–380. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2022-0029
Borman, R. I., Putra, Y. P., Fernando, Y., Kurniawan, D. E., Prasetyawan, P., & Ahmad, I. (2018). Designing an Android-based Space Travel Application Trough Virtual Reality for Teaching Media. Proceedings of the 2018 International Conference on Applied Engineering, ICAE 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/INCAE.2018.8579394
Byram, M. (1997). ‘Cultural awareness’ as vocabulary learning. The Language Learning Journal, 16(1), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571739785200291
Dahanayake, S. S. (2023). Incorporating Core Values into Character Education in the Current Scenario: Evidence from Literature. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, VII(IX), 1201–1209. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.71000
Feri, Ikhtiar, M., & Afrianty Gobel, F. (2020). Penyalahgunaan Obat Terlarang Tramadol ( Studi Kasus Pada Siswa Mts-Ma . Al-Falah Rade ) Kec . Madapangga Kab . Bima. Journal of Muslim Community Health (JMCH), 130–150.
Gasong, D., Rajuati, S., & Rumpa, L. D. (2015). Kearifan lokal dalam cerita rakyat Toraja Tulangdidi’ tinjauah hemeutik. JKIP (Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan), 4(3), 941–945. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47178/jkip.v4i3.51
Glueck, M. B. (2020). ‘HARD WORKERS’: Subjectivities And Social Class In Collegiate Cross Country. British Journal of Educational Studies, 68(6), 733–751. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2020.1720593
Hamsiah, A., Asdar, Hamid, S., Muhammadiah, M., & Rampeng. (2023). Politeness in Language Interaction in Student Linguistics Primary School Teacher Education Study Program Academic Year 2021/2022 Bosowa University. British Journal of Applied Linguistics, 3(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.32996/bjal.2023.3.1.3
Huda, K., & Masfufah, I. (2022). An Analysis Of The Readability Level Of Reading Texts In Bahasa Dan Sastra Inggris Untuk Sma/Ma Xi Textbook By Using Cloze Test (A Case Study At The Eleventh Class Students Of Sma Negeri 1 Sekaran Academic Year 2021/2022). Edulitics Journal, 6(2), 96–106. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=id&user=_2cygz8AAAAJ&citation_for_view=_2cygz8AAAAJ:ufrVoPGSRksC
Kemendikbud. (2021). Buku Panduan Pendidikan Karakter di Sekolah Dasar.
Kemendikbud. (2022). Kurikulum Merdeka: Modul Ajar Pendidikan Karakter.
Kramsch, C. (2013). Culture in Foreign Language Teaching. Iriana Journal of Language Teaching Research, 1(1), 57–78. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1127430.pdf
Krippendorff, K. (2022). The Reliability of Generating Data. Chapman and Hall/CRC. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003112020
Krumrei-Mancuso, E. J., Haggard, M. C., LaBouff, J. P., & Rowatt, W. C. (2020). Links between intellectual humility and acquiring knowledge. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(2), 155–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1579359
MacIntyre, P. D., & Gardner, R. C. (1989). Anxiety and Second‐Language Learning: Toward a Theoretical Clarification*. Language Learning, 39(2), 251–275. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1989.tb00423.x
Marlina, N. (2018). Cerita Rakyat Indragiri Sebagai Bahan Pengajaran Sastra Di Sekolah Dasar Dalam Upaya Pembentukan Karakter Anak. Suar Betang, 12(2), 137. https://doi.org/10.26499/surbet.v12i2.25
Min, Z. (2021). The Integration and Innovation of Shandong Folktales in Animation Teaching in Higher Education. E3S Web of Conferences, 275, 0–3. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202127503063
Nanda, D. D., Simbolon, B., Damanik, F. A., & Sembiring, Y. B. (2021). Moral Value and Character Building Education in Folklore From Central Java “Timun Mas.” Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 9(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v9i1.3319
Nurisma, R. A., Rohmana, W. I. M., Widyaningsih, T. L., & Cahyono, B. Y. (2024). Implementing double-entry journal assisted with Instagram to foster engagement in EFL writing. Studies in English Language and Education, 11(1), 76–94. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v11i1.30425
Othman, A. A.-A. M. A.-. (2025). Expanding English Learning Beyond Classroom Boundaries: Investigating EFL Students’Perceptions of the Effects of Listening to Online Stories on Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 16(1), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1601.28
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., Hoagwood, K., Angeles, L., & Northwest, K. P. (1968). "Dentists face added drug regulation. Dental Survey, 44(12), 73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y.Purposeful
Pikoli, M., & Lukum, A. (2021). Development of audio-visual learning media integrating character education in chemistry learning to facilitate conceptual change and character strengthening of high school students. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1968(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1968/1/012007
Prayogi, P., Husnita, L., & Kaksim, K. (2021). Peran Guru Sejarah Dalam Menguatkan Nasionalisme Pada Peserta Didik Kelas Xi Ips Di Sman 2 Sungai Limau. Puteri Hijau : Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah, 6(2), 84. https://doi.org/10.24114/ph.v6i2.29021
Puspita, O. W., Andayani, Waluyo, H. J., & Rohmadi, M. (2019). The effectiveness of poetry appreciation textbook for character education implementation at Higher Education. International Journal of Instruction, 12(1), 685–700. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.12144a
Putri, S. A. C., Ayriza, Y., Khumalo, J., & Joitun, F. A. (2024). The Impact of Folklore-Based Storytelling on Empathy Behavior in Kindergarten Children. International Journal of Islamic Educational Psychology, 5(1), 142–160. https://doi.org/10.18196/ijiep.v5i1.22589
Rahayu, S., Andayani, E. D. P., Chrisyarani, D. D., & Ladamay, I. (2021). The development of thematic modules based on Strengthening Character Education (PPK) and Quick Response (QR) code. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1869(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1869/1/012075
Sanjaya, D. B., Suartama, I. K., Suastika, I. N., Sukadi, & Mas Dewantara, I. P. (2021). The implementation of balinese folflore-based civic education for strengthening character education. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 16(1), 303–316. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v16i1.5529
Sejati, A. K., Yuniawatika, & Sutansi. (2021). Development of Pop-up Book Based on QR Code Solid Figure Material with Character Strengthening Curiosity in 5th-Grade Elementary School. 2021 7th International Conference on Education and Technology (ICET), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICET53279.2021.9575086
Setya, D. S., Maslia, N., Sasmitha, H. M., Rusda, R., & Erika, F. (2024). Literature Review: Growing Student Character Education Based on Local Wisdom in Science Learning. Progres Pendidikan, 5(1), 26–31. https://doi.org/10.29303/prospek.v5i1.401
Shen, W. (2003). Current trends of vocabulary teaching and learning strategies for EFL settings. Fen Chia Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 7, 187–224. http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&btnG=Search&q=intitle:Current+Trends+of+Vocabulary+Teaching+and+Learning+Strategies+for+EFL+Settings#0
Stonehouse, P. (2021). Character Through Outdoor Adventure Education? The (Delimiting) Hope of Modern Virtue Ethics. Journal of Experiential Education, 44(3), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825920967034
Sudibyo, A. (2011). Roro Jonggrang : Kembalinya Pewaris Tahta Kraton Boko. Galang Press. https://bukukita.com/Buku-Novel/Sejarah-Fiksi/96665-Roro-Jonggrang-:-Kembalinya-Pewaris-Tahta-Kraton-Boko.html
Supeni, S., Hakim, L., & Jumintono. (2019). Strengthening character education of early childhood through javanese traditional game dakon. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 7(6), 243–249.
Tiara Ramadhani, Danar Widiyanta, Yena Sumayana, Rengga Yudha Santoso, Puspita Dian Agustin, & Al-Amin. (2024). The Role Of Character Education In Forming Ethical And Responsible Students. IJGIE (International Journal of Graduate of Islamic Education), 5(2), 110–124. https://doi.org/10.37567/ijgie.v5i2.3064
Ula, M., Irmayani, & Sofeny, D. (2025). Cultural Content Analysis in The Textbook “Bahasa Inggris Life Today” for Senior High School Grade XII. Bliss Journal : Broadening Linguistics, Literature, Education, and Study of Learning Media, 01(01), 37–45. https://e-jurnal.unisda.ac.id/index.php/BlissJournal/article/view/9359/3754
Wagner, L., Pindeus, L., & Ruch, W. (2021). Character Strengths in the Life Domains of Work, Education, Leisure, and Relationships and Their Associations With Flourishing. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(April). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.597534
Walsh, R., & Walsh, R. (2015). Is Wisdom ? Cross-Cultural and Cross-Disciplinary Syntheses. Review of General Psychology, 19(3), 278–293. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000045
Wang, L., Lai, M., & Lo, L. N. K. (2016). Teachers’ Interpretations of the Ethical Dimensions of Teaching on the Chinese Mainland: A Case Study of Two Secondary Schools in Shanghai. Frontiers of Education in China, 11(2), 165–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03397113
Widiyanto, A., Suyitno, & Supana. (2022). Five Main Values of Character Education in Jaka Tingkir Folklore. Journal of Positive School Psychology , 2022(6), 298 – 312–298 – 312. http://mail.journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/6912
Zahro, S. K., Khulel, B., & Vionisa, E. (2023). Students’ Perception and Practices of Screencast Feedback in Academic Writing Class During Blended Learning. In Asiatefl (pp. 708–718). Atlantis Press SARL. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-054-1_61
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v10i4.855
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vita Tri Kurniawati Hidayah, Irmayani

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.