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Sulawesi— Indonesian Multilingual Students Carry Mother-Tongue Thinking Patterns into English Academic Writing. Research conducted by Darwin from Madako Tolitoli University together with Jaya and Pandu Prasodjo from Batam International University, published in January 2026 in the International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS).

A 2026 study by Darwin of Universitas Madako Tolitoli, together with Jaya and Pandu Prasodjo from Universitas Internasional Batam, shows that students’ critical reasoning is deeply rooted in their mother tongues and local cultures, then transferred into English academic writing.

Published in the International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), the research positions the first language not as a barrier but as a cognitive foundation for building academic arguments. Indonesian, the national language, often acts as a bridge between regional languages and English when students process complex ideas.

Key Findings

1.      The first language as a thinking medium
Most students develop critical ideas first in their local language or in Indonesian before expressing them in English. This helps preserve depth of meaning and originality of thought.

2.      Transfer is not mechanical
Students do not merely translate; they “re-imagine” ideas to align with English academic logic. Narrative or implicit reasoning patterns are reorganized into more explicit, structured arguments.

3.       The role of metalinguistic awareness
Students who understand differences in rhetorical styles between languages adapt more easily. They know when to be direct, how to present evidence, and how to structure academic paragraphs.

4.      Major obstacles
Limited academic vocabulary, grammatical concerns, and language anxiety often restrict how fully students can express critical ideas. Attention to linguistic form sometimes disrupts the flow of reasoning.

5.       Student adaptation strategies
Participants reported using outlines, mind maps, peer discussions, academic reading, and digital tools such as Grammarly. Some intentionally practice thinking directly in English to become familiar with international academic patterns.

Implications for Higher Education

The authors argue that teaching academic writing should go beyond essay structure and grammar. Instructors need to recognize students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds as intellectual resources. Culturally responsive pedagogy allows students to adapt to global academic norms without losing their cognitive identity.

Darwin of Universitas Madako Tolitoli describes students’ experience as an “epistemological negotiation” between local values and global academic expectations. With adequate pedagogical support, this negotiation enriches academic discourse by introducing diverse cultural perspectives. Jaya and Pandu Prasodjo from Universitas Internasional Batam add that cross-linguistic awareness strengthens students’ academic agency and confidence in international contexts.

Why This Matters

The study offers practical insights for multiple stakeholders:

  • Universities can design culturally inclusive academic writing curricula.
  • English instructors can view local rhetorical styles as developmental starting points rather than deficiencies.
  • Multilingual students can see their mother-tongue thinking patterns as academic assets.
  • Education policymakers can promote learning approaches that value Indonesia’s linguistic diversity.

Author Profiles

  • Darwin, M.Pd. –  Universitas Madako Tolitoli
  • Jaya, M.Pd. – Universitas Internasional Batam
  • Pandu Prasodjo, M.Pd. –  Universitas Internasional Batam

Research Source

Darwin, Jaya, & Pandu Prasodjo. 2026. “Transfer of Critical Thinking Skills from Mother Tongue to English Academic Writing: Exploring the Perspectives of Multilingual Students in Indonesia.” International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), Vol. 4 No. 1, hlm. 33–50.  

 DOI:https://doi.org/10.59890/ijels.v4i1.259                                                                             

Official URL: https://ntlmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijels