Developing Kei Customary-Law-Based ESP Reading Materials for First-Semester Law Students at Uningrat Tual

Abstract

This retrospective report examines the development and initial classroom evaluation of a five-unit, local-wisdom-based English for Specific Purposes (ESP) reading textbook for first-semester law students at Universitas Doktor Husni Ingratubun Tual, Indonesia. A needs questionnaire was administered to 25 students in October 2021; a ten-student small-group trial and a twenty-student classroom trial were completed in March–May 2023. Using the ADDIE model, the textbook organized each Kei customary-law theme around visual prompts, reading, vocabulary and legal terms, pronunciation, discussion, writing, a home project, and reflection. One expert awarded 72/92 points (78.3%); the original small-group summary reported 718/800 (89.75%). Five formative means were 87, 88, 87, 86, and 80, versus 82 on a ten-item, two-option summative test. Interview excerpts illustrate positive responses to visuals and local themes alongside persistent writing difficulties. The findings provide a documented example of contextual ESP material design, but single-expert validation, brief, non-equated tests, an instructor–researcher role, and the data's age limit conclusions about generalizability or learning effectiveness.