MARITIME ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: COMPARING MARLINS TEST SCORES OF INDONESIAN CADETS AND SEAFARERS
Keywords:
Maritime English, Marlins Test, Indonesian Cadets, Seafarers, Communicative CompetenceAbstract
This study examines Maritime English proficiency among Indonesian maritime personnel by comparing standardized Marlins English Test scores of two distinct groups: cadets who completed one year of international sea practice and general public seafarers occupying various onboard positions. Employing a quantitative comparative design with purposive sampling, the research analysed secondary data from 52 cadets and 52 general public test-takers. Descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to assess group differences, while the Kruskal–Wallis test was used for subgroup analysis across academic programmes (Nautika, Teknika, ETO) and onboard roles. Findings show that both groups achieved high overall proficiency, with cadet mean scores (M = 87.52) marginally exceeding those of general public seafarers (M = 86.06), though the difference was not statistically significant (U = 1237.0, p = .931). Subgroup comparisons similarly revealed no significant variation across academic programmes (p = .134) or onboard departments (p = .066). These results suggest that formal maritime education and practical sea experience are equally effective pathways to communicative competence. Framed within the Bandung Spirit values of equity and South–South solidarity, the study advocates for differentiated, role-sensitive language training in Indonesian maritime institutions.
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