TOLERANCE OF AMBIGUITY IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OF EFL LEARNERS AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF FKIP UNIVERSITAS HKBP NOMMENSEN

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the tolerance of ambiguity in English proficiency of the EFL learners at English department of FKIP Universitas HKBP Nommensen. The subjects of this research are 166 learners at the sixth semester at academic year 2021/2022. Data was gained by using questionnaires of ISLTAS (Instrument Second Language Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale) and English proficiency test by using TOEFL. Those data was analyzed by applying qualitative research approach. The result of analyzing data elaborates findings; they are (1) the level of TOA of the research subjects which is high. The subjects with high of TOA are able integrate new information with existing schemata, restricting the latter. With TOA they try to adapt themselves according to new situation of English to have good proficiency and (2) the correlation between TOA and the subjects’ English proficiency is moderate. The moderate correlation indicates weak relation of the subjects’ TOA and their English Proficiency. Even though the correlation is weak (moderate) but it is relevant into the theory of TOA which indicates those learners who have high level of TOA are those who succeed in English. It is proved based on the number of subjects who are at high level of TOA is 115 (69.88%) and the number of subjects at very high level of TOEFL is 108 (65.06%).