Indonesian EFL Students' Perceptions of American vs. Indian English Accents on YouTube

Abstract

English as an International Language (EIL) has spread throughout the world, thus learners must be exposed to a variety of accent variants. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to incorporate these types into official school environments. Within the framework of Teaching English as an International Language (TEIL), this study explores how Indonesian EFL students perceive using YouTube to learn English accent variations. A mixed-methods strategy was used to gather data from 25 English Education students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires after they were carefully exposed to YouTube videos in both American and Indian English. The results demonstrate a definite hierarchical perception: American English (Inner Circle) was rated significantly higher in comprehensibility, pleasantness, prestige, and acceptability as a learning model compared to Indian English (Outer Circle). Concurrently, a substantial majority of participants acknowledged the authenticity and legitimacy of the Indian accent as a representation of global English use. This duality in learner awareness an entrenched preference for native-speaker norms coexisting with emerging recognition of linguistic plurality indicates that while biases are persistent, they are not impermeable. The study concludes that targeted digital exposure can initiate critical awareness of World Englishes. Consequently, TEIL-aligned pedagogy should systematically integrate diverse accent models through platforms like YouTube, coupled with guided critical reflection, to better prepare learners as adaptable and linguistically aware global communicators.

Keywords: accent perception, American English, Indian English, YouTube, TEIL, Indonesian EFL students