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May 28, 2025
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November 22, 2025
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November 30, 2025
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Abstract

In the era of globalized education, integrating international perspectives into higher education curricula has become extremely important to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and cultural competencies required in a globally connected world. This study explores the strategic development and implementation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) as a tool to internationalize the curriculum in Language Materials Development classrooms. Drawing on interdisciplinary frameworks from curriculum studies, educational technology, and applied linguistics, the study investigates how MOOCs can serve as content delivery platforms and as pedagogical spaces that foster intercultural competence, digital literacy, and learner autonomy. The research employs a qualitative case study approach, examining the design process, instructional integration, and learner engagement of MOOCs. Findings reveal that MOOCs, when thoughtfully contextualized, promote collaborative learning, expose students to diverse linguistic and cultural resources, and support the development of globally relevant language materials. However, access, localization, and instructional design challenges also emerge, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies in MOOC implementation. The paper concludes by offering practical guidelines for integrating MOOCs into English language education curricula and underscores their potential to transform local classrooms into globally networked learning environments.

Keywords

curriculum internationalization digital pedagogy intercultural competence language materials development massive open online courses

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Copyright (c) 2025 Yuliati Yuliati, Nabila Yumna Istiadi, Lang Buana, Wirawati Ngui Yi Xe

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Author Biographies

Yuliati Yuliati, English Education Study Program, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Yuliati is an Assistant Professor at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Indonesia. She is the Head/ Coordinator of English Education Study Programme, Faculty of Languages and Arts, UNNES. She received a PhD in Education from University of Bristol, UK in 2022 (Supervisors: Dr. Lisa Lucas and Dr. Sue Timmis). Her current research interest focuses on higher education curriculum and policies: decolonial perspectives. She is also interested in researching the conceptualisation of the intersections between the internationalisation and decoloniality of the higher education curriculum that have brought about further debate regarding neoliberal and decolonial views in the production of knowledge (particularly in Global South contexts). She is currently working on developing international academic networking around the issues of curriculum decoloniality in higher education through the Decoloniality Research Centre in the Faculty of Languages and Arts, UNNES. She teaches and supervises bachelor, master, and doctoral degree students in UNNES. She is also a consultant for higher education curriculum and policy development in some universities in Indonesia.

Nabila Yumna Istiadi, English Education Study Program, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Nabila Yumna Istiadi is a Master’s student in the English Education Study Program at Universitas Negeri Semarang. Her academic interests include curriculum development, technology-enhanced language learning, and global education. As a developer of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), she actively integrates digital innovation into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction.

Lang Buana, English Education Study Program, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Lang Buana is an English Education student at Universitas Negeri Semarang (FBS UNNES) with extensive experience in education, translation, and international engagement. He developed the MOOCs featured in this study, designing culturally responsive and interactive modules to support EFL curriculum internationalization and foster students’ global competencies. Currently serves as a Student Ambassador at UNNES International Office, a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Sports Science, and a recipient of the IISMA scholarship at University College Dublin.

Wirawati Ngui Yi Xe, Education with TESL, Faculty of Education and Sports Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

Wirawati Ngui Yi Xe obtained her doctorate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in 2020. Currently, she is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Sports Studies, UMS. Her work experience includes serving as a secondary school teacher in rural Sarawak.

How to Cite
Yuliati, Y., Istiadi, N. Y., Buana, L., & Yi Xe, W. N. (2025). MOOCs in language materials development course: Internationalizing the EFL curriculum and developing students’ global competences. Journal of English and Education (JEE), 11(2), 164–179. https://doi.org/10.20885/jee.v11i2.40605
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