Joining Informal Courses Makes Students Smart

          Joining informal courses has become a trend among the students in learning. They feel the needs to get more time to study because they think that the study time at school is not enough to acquire the lesson. Before we go further, let us examine what is the definition of Informal learning according to Jay Cross, one of the biggest advocates of informal learning, ”Informal learning is the unofficial, unscheduled, impromptu way most of us learn to do our jobs. Informal learning is like riding a bicycle: the rider chooses the destination and the route. The cyclist can take a detour at a moment’s notice to admire the scenery or help a fellow rider.” Based on the definition above, we believe that joining informal courses is one of the ways that can help the students to be brighter and smarter than the ones who only studying in formal institutions.
          Firstly, we are going to discuss how informal courses can offer the students to have more study time. The frequency of studying plays a really significant role to students achievement. One of ways to increase the study frequency is by joining informal courses. As we all know, the informal courses take place out of the school time. It means that instead of studying at school, the students will be able to have a special time to study their lesson more.
          Secondly, let us see the relationship between having more time to study and acquiring better understanding. There is nothing instant to get something what we want, not excluding to be smart. The more we study, the more we understand and the more we acquire the subject that we learnt. In this process, time is the significant factor that determines how far we master the lesson. The additional time that we get from joining informal courses allows students to acquire better understanding.
          Thirdly, the ultimate effect of acquiring better understanding is the smartness of the students. Smartness is not easy to get. It needs a quite long process of acquiring and collecting information. If students join informal courses that make them have more time to study, means that they are able to acquire thorough information about the lesson. They can get better understanding than other students who do not join informal courses. Then, if they know better about the lesson, it will make them smarter and brighter compare to other students who only study at ordinary school time.
          In short, informal courses give a chance to the students to have more time in studying and acquiring the lesson better. As a result, the dream of the parents to have smart children will be accomplished. Therefore, it would be better if parents send their children to join informal courses for the sake of children’s future.

By Ninuk Retna Sumiarsih and Wahyu Kartika Wienanda

Teaching English Using Games

What should a teacher do if their students get bored? Using varietis type of games can be an alternative solution to handle this problem. Games, as a matter of fact, can help and encourage many students to sustain their interest and work. There is a common perception that all learning should be serious and solemn in nature, and that if one is having fun and there is hilarity and laughter, then it is not really learning. This is a misconception. It is possible to learn a language as well as enjoy oneself at the same time. Teaching English using games is fun. There are several  activities we should do when we apply  teaching English using games, three of which are important. These are preparation, teaching process, and evaluation.

            First, we talk about preparation of teaching English using games. Before we start the activity in the class, it is better if we prepare the media. The media must be related to the games that we will use in the class. For example, we can use puppets, cards, or pictures. When we use those kind of media, absolutely we have to prepare puppet, cards or picture. Then, when we go to the class, we ready to use those in front if the students before he main subject begin. Games can be used as warming up before students study in the class. They are highly motivating and entertaining, and they can give shy students more opportunity to express their opinions and feelings (Hansen 1994:118). That is why, we are as the teachers give the games for the students. Furthermore, a good preparation, must be combine with the good teaching and learning process.

Not only preparation, but also we also have the process of teaching and learning. In this step, we must able to manage the class in games session. We can devide the class into several groups, or make it individually. The purpose of the games is create the enjoy atmosphere,  before the students study in the class. In this step, we have to use the media well. We can take the example, when we use puppets, we can ask the studets to make their own puppets. It will help them to be more creative and they can interpret what thaey want to make. On the other hand, we can divide class into several groups. Then, give them several cards with pictures on it. After that, call the name one of the picture. The group which the name called, have to explain the picture well. That is the simple example of games. However, do not forget to give a simple gift to the winner of the games.

The last step is evaluation. After we do the preparation and teaching process, we have the eveluation step. In this step, we can get feedback from the students. In the end of the class, ask students to write their short comments and suggestion about the games session. It is useful for us to know wheather  they love our games or not. If they like it, we can use it in other classes. But, if they do not like it, we can make other games like they suggest. It is important to use the games in the class, because sometimes students get bore in the class. It can be caused by the boring teaching and learning process. Games are fun and children like to play them. Through games children experiment, discover, and interact with their environment (Lewis, 1999).

            Teaching English using games is the effective way to create an enjoy atmosphere in the class. There are several effects of teaching English using games for the students;fun, enjoyable, and easy to understand.

Teaching English using games ia really fun. Besides they are studying, they also can interact with their friends when play the games. It can relax their mind from their assignments that given by their teacher. The useful of games can attract the student to learn English because it is fun and make them want to have experiment, discover and interact with their environment (Lewis,1999). Moreover, students are able to communicate with their friends, even with their teacher.

Besides it is fun, it is also enjoyable for them. Playing the games do not need hard thinking. That is because games always offer the relaxation for the students. They will apreciate our effort to make an interesting games for them. English is difficult for students if they never practice. However, if we give them games, they will enjoy to play it, and an educational games help them to studying English easily. Through the games, they can both study and play. The hope is they can laern something from the games. Not only play it, but also they can think about what thay have done.

The last is teaching English through the games is easy to understand. Students need an easy way to understand the lesson. One of the best ways is using the games. They can understand the games easily. As a teacher, we have to provide the simple games to make them do not boring when they play it. An educational games must be related to their subject. Here, we study English, so we have to give them English games. Then, give them easy vocabulary which can make them memorize it easily.

From my explanation above, we know that the things we should do when we apply teaching English using games are preparation, teaching process, and evaluation. Those things will help us as a teacher to deliver our information to students easily. Beside that, the effects of teaching English using games for the students are fun, enjoyable, and easy to understand. Students need the fresh atmosphere in study English. Here, teaching English using games is one of the best ways to make students enjoy to learn English.

Resources:

http://www.teflgames.com/why.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9639825/Teaching-English-Vocabulary-Using-Games

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/index.cfm

Diska Fatima Virgiyanti             

Teaching English in Elementary School Using Pictures

Nowadays, English language as an International language is not only subject for high schools students, but also for elementary schools students. It is not impossible that the students of Kindergarten have been studied English language although just for the introduction. Thus, in elementary school, teachers should teach as well as they can because elementary schools are the basic and first stage of schooling. It means that elementary schools are the foundation for students to continue their study to the next level. Moreover, people usually judge teachers’ success on the way how they thought. If the teachers want to be successful in their teaching, they should know the characters of their students. The students of elementary schools usually prefer to think about enjoyment rather than serious thing on their study. So, the teachers should have techniques to attract them. There are some techniques that can be applied by the teachers to teach them. One of them is that the teachers can use pictures in teaching students in elementary schools. There are three steps for teachers in elementary school to teach using picture; teacher’s preparation, process of teaching, and student’s evaluation.

The first thing that teachers should do is preparing all of the material to teach the students. It is important for teachers to prepare all of the material because the process of teaching will be influenced by this step. If the teachers’ preparation is good, it will cause the good process of teaching. But, if it is poor or not maximal, the process of teaching will be bad. To prepare the good material, teachers should find pictures that explain their material. They can browse the material in the Internet or draw the pictures by themselves. For example, the teachers can prepare the pictures about scenery or tourism objects. Then, the teachers should prepare what they will explain to their students using this pictures and ask some questions related to the pictures to their students.

After the preparation, the teachers go to process of teaching. This step explains about the process of teaching in the class, how the teachers explain the material and attract the students. For example, the teachers show to the students, picture about tourism objects. The pictures contain people who enjoy their vacation in the beach, then they see to the beach. It can explain about tenses, such as simple present tense. Using this picture, students will easily understand what simple present tense is and the example of it. After explaining the material, the teachers should make sure that the students understand all of the material and all of the teachers’ explanations. If the teachers are sure that their students had understood about the material, ask them to make note about what they learned using their own words. From their note, the teachers can know how far their students understand about their explanations. Understanding the students is important part for the next step.

The last step that teachers should do is evaluating the process of study. This process is important for teachers, because from this activity the teachers can know the ability of their students. It can know whether the students have already understood about the teachers’ explanations or not. Evaluation could be done not only at the end of each chapter but they can do it anytime without acknowledgment. Examination without announcement will be more challenging. This kind of examination is more natural to know how far the students understand the lesson and it will make students study every time, not only when they will have examinations. If the students get good marks, it means that the students understand the teachers’ explanations. But, if the students get bad marks, possibly the students does not understand the teachers’ explanations. It can be as a reflection for the teachers.

As we know, teaching English in elementary schools using pictures will have several effects for the students. There are; improving vocabulary, studying structures easily and improving spoken language of students. The first effect is the students can improve their vocabulary. When they see the pictures, automatically they will curious to know all about the pictures. They will ask everything relates to the pictures to their teachers. If the teachers can explain can explain clearly, it will help the students to increase their vocabulary. The teachers should change the pictures every meeting, in order to increase their students’ vocabulary. Then, every picture has different theme. It means that they will find new vocabularies everyday.

The other effect is the students can learn structures easily using this method. As we know that structures are difficult to understand. But, by using picture students can understand easily. For example, teachers show to the students, picture about people walking in the street. It gives example about present continuous tense. It explains that something happens and still in progress during a particular time. The students will easily get the point of the teachers’ explanation. If the students are interested to the pictures, the teachers can deliver their material more easily than the teachers only explain the material without any media.

The last effect is the student can improve their spoken language. Spoken language is important for students in their future. With this method, it will help the students to train their spoken language. After the teachers explain all of the material using the pictures, the teachers ask the students to describe the pictures or what they want to know about the pictures. Automatically, it will train the students to speak. Therefore, the teachers encourage the students to deliver their opinion. Usually the students are braver to deliver their opinion after they saw the pictures rather than they only listen to the teachers’ explanations. It will help them to improve their spoken language.

Based on the explanation above, the conclusion is teaching English in elementary schools using pictures has three steps; preparing all of the material, the process of teaching in class and evaluating the process of study. If all of the processes are as good as the teachers can do, it will give several effects for the students. The effect is the students can improve their vocabulary. Then, they can study structures easily and the last is they can improve their spoken language. For the teachers, it will make them more creative and always have new ideas for their students. Thus, teaching students in elementary schools by using pictures is more easily and better than without any media.

Sifa Fauziah Permatasari

The Character Building through Character Education in Elementary School

Nowadays, several people need the improvement in intensity and quality of character education implementation in formal educational institutions. This claim is based on the growing social phenomenon, namely the increasing juvenile delinquency in society, such as a mass brawl and various other cases of moral decadence. Even in certain large cities, these symptoms have come to the extent that is very disturbing. As the example, several educated people doing corruption in high institutions such as in attorney. These phenomena are obviously not expected to happen in the society. Therefore, the formal education institutions which are functioned to create the younger generation is expected to increase its role in the formation of personality of students through increased intensity and quality of character education.

Before we continue the discussion about the need of education nowadays, it is better to know the definition of character itself. Character is attributes or features that make up and differentiate one individual from other individuals. It is the most important essence a person can possess, as it defines who a person is and frequently measured to refer to how good a person is. On the other words, a person who shows signs of personal eminences which are suitable to what society expect, might be considered to have a good character. Character building is the way to strengthen one’s character by molds oneself into a productive person within one's sphere of influence. Developing such personal qualities seems as a purpose of education. It is commonly emphasized qualities that include trustworthy, respect, and responsibility. Those pillars of character building should be learned from the early age in order to devote the strong foundation of character. In this essay, we will converge with the concept, the application, and the effect of character building in the schools.

First of all, we deal with the concept of character building in the schools. Character building in school, we call this term as character education, is applied to the national curriculum method that turns around developing “good character” in students by practicing and teaching moral values and decision making. On the other word, character education is an investment system of the character values to the citizens of schools that include components of knowledge, awareness or volition, and actions to implement those values. As Theodore Roosevelt expresses that to educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace society. His statement implies that if we want to make students good at not only cognitive aspect but also have a competent in moral aspect, we should educate them in a pleasurable condition. Character education is not a “quick fix.” It provides long-term solutions that address moral, ethical, and academic issues of growing concern to our society and key to the safety of our schools. Character education presupposes that schools have the responsibility to facilitate students to encourage fundamental moral values to conduct their behavior throughout life other than help them to be smart in the lesson. According to Ramli (2003), character education has the essence and the same meaning as moral education. The goal is to establish the students’ personalities, to become a good human being, society, and citizens. This means that the teacher should facilitate to shape the character of the students in order to achieve the purpose of character education.

Secondly, we cope with the application of character building in schools. Internalizing values through the curriculum in elementary school grades is one of the most workable, most used approaches. It is the most workable because we should internalize the character building from the early education, in the elementary school, in order to give strong foundations. Many schools and school systems begin with a core staff and expand gradually to include all staff. Another approach matches core values or character traits concepts to appropriate disciplines, for instance, freedom of conscience and expression with civics, and conservation with science courses. In most instances these concepts are addressed in segments of time, such as six-week units. Several elementary schools assign some time daily for values or character instructions. Schools should be used as venues to practice value or character traits. Students in all grade levels should have opportunities to practice values and character traits that range from role playing and decision making exercises to actual community service. As schools implement values and character education, the implicit curriculum should not be ignored or underestimated. The manner in which teachers and administrators relate, how teachers relate to parents and communicate with students all provide invaluable opportunities for modeling behavior based on the values and character we seek to develop in students. This modeling process should permeate the total school climate, including the way discipline is administered. Classroom management strategies, such as cooperative learning, can encourage the development of such values as trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility. Furthermore, these values will be explained below.

First of all, we deal with the how to internalize to be trustworthiness. Trustworthiness has four basic values for children which are be honest, be reliable, have the courage, and be a good friend. The teachers teach the students to be honest through class management that they do not allowed to cheat from their friends’ work or their own notes when taking the quiz. In addition, the teachers also give the students chances to be reliable. They are learned to keep their promises such as to collect the assignment on time. To have the courage, the student be taught to do what is right in the society based on norms and laws, even it seems difficult. For instance, when the students take the final examination, the teacher asks them to inform while the other students are cheating. On the other word, the teacher should internalize good condition in the classroom. Moreover, the teachers educate their students to be a good friend. The teachers can conduct the class as a group discussion and each group has a leader. Through this method, the students can learn how to cooperate and do not betray the trust in the group.

Then, we contend with the second value of character building which is respect. This value has three domains which are respect for the environment, respect for others, and respect for self. The teachers educate the students to respect for the natural environment by care for and conservation of land, trees, clean air and pure water, and of all living inhabitants on the earth.  This particular way can be accomplished in school day through voluntary labor service to make the school environment healthier. Furthermore, the teachers raise the students to respect for others. As the example, the students listen to what other students have to say when they are in the discussion. They should appreciate what their friends have done. Not only that, they also should be courteous and polite to all of the people, especially for the teachers in the school. Afterward, the students can respect themselves. They should be taught to have self control of cleanliness. They learn to have good habits of personal hygiene and grooming. As the example, they throw the trash in the dustbin. In addition, the students should respect for their physical, mental and fiscal health. They learn about the awareness of the importance and conscious activity toward maintaining fitness and exercise in the school.

            Lastly, responsibility is the most important value to be taught.  The students are learned to take responsibility for their action. They are not allowed to make excuses or blame others. Evidence demonstrates that mostly, students still do not have enough responsibility in school environment. Students who do not finish their homework usually blame other person that actually does not include in their problem. They make a pretext of their fault because of their parents do not remind to finish the homework. It is the ironical condition. Properly, the students should make their own notes to remind them about their task in school. In this case, the teachers also have contributions to avoid this particular event. After the class ends, the teachers should form the habit of prompting the students about the homework and the next lesson in the class. By doing this method, the students learn to take care of their own business and reach the goal to get the responsibility person.

Afterward, we deal with the effect of character education. Embedded in character education are guidelines for successful living. Trustworthiness, respect and responsibility navigate the students to the journey to better person. The students explore education as life and life as learning positive approaches for setting and achieving the goals. They also learn that living each day to its fullest means more than waiting for moments here and there. Character education presents life with context, inviting them to listen, share, explore, and reflect. Cultivating knowledge for purposeful living, students learn through literature, art, humanities and throughout the existing school curriculum the benefits and consequences of behavior. They learn the power of choice. They learn to appreciate the qualities of being human and to share their appreciation at home, in school, and in the community.

Based on the above explanations, it can be affirmed that the character education efforts designed and implemented systematically to help students understand the values of human behavior associated with the Almighty God, self, fellow human beings, the environment, and nationhood embodied in thoughts, attitudes, feelings, words, and actions based on religious norms, laws, manners, culture, and customs. The students need standards and the skills to achieve them. They need to see themselves as students engaged in a continuing pursuit of excellence. These standards of excellence in school work and behavior will encourage students to develop qualities like perseverance and determination, and those virtues will affect every aspect of the students’ lives as they mature. Hopefully, the values, moral influences, and noteworthy characteristics we model and discuss will outlast academic facts and figures. Thus, we can leave the students a legacy that will remain constant throughout life: to know the good, love the good and do the good.

References:

Gowens, Joyce. 2006. Character Education and its Benefits to our Children. http://www.articlesubmitterpro.com

Scerenko, C Linda. 1997. Values and Character Education. Georgia: State Superintendent of Schools.

_______________.Teaching Guides for Character Education and Life Skills. www.charactercounts.org

Bila Nastiti T 

Comparison and Contrast Between A Computer and A Laptop

            Nowadays, development of technology is raising fast. In the 20^th century, people has been familiar with computers. A computer is a machine that performs tasks, such as calculations or electronic communication, under the control of a set of instructions called a program. Recently, there is a portable computer which is called a laptop. Besides the difference between a computer and a laptop based on their shape, actually they are much similar in terms of the components and programs.

            First, let us think about the physical appearance of the two machines. A computer has a monitor in one square part likes TV, a keyboard in one board, a mouse, and also speaker. All of the parts stand on its own shape. On the other hand, a laptop has all of the parts too , but in two layers. One layer consists of the keyboard, speaker and a small part surface which has the sense of touch as the mouse in a computer. The other layer works as the monitor. Shortly, from this side, computers and laptops have different shape, in which a computer consists of many independet parts and a laptop has a simpler shape consisting of two layers.

Now, let us go further to the components of both machines. Both of them have hardware and software. Computer hardware consists of the components that can be physically handled, which function is typically divided into three main categories: input, output, and storage. Most of the components are in the central processing unit (CPU). CPU of computer usually has a square shape and stands alone but still it is connected to another hardware. A laptop has its CPU in one of the layers. Next, we are talking about the software. A computer has an operating system (OS) which is a software to make the computer works. There are some well-known OSs such as Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, etc. Software is a processor that works as a brain in computer. There are two best processors in the century which are Intel and AMD. Intel has some types such as Atom, Core 2 Duo, Dual Core, Celeron, etc. AMD also has several types like Turion, Venom, Aplon, etc. The processor can influence the work of the computer. Furthermore, there is another important software which is called memory. The physical memory of a computer is random access memory (RAM), which can be read and changed by the user or computer, or read-only memory (ROM), which can be read by the computer but not modified in any way. A computer has tiny computer chips that hold millions of bytes of information. That is RAM. As an additional memory, a computer also has an external memory such as floppy disks (hold about 2 megabytes of information), hard drives  (hold gigabytes of information), compact discs (CDs) (hold about 680 megabytes of information) and digital video discs (DVDs) (hold about 8.5 gigabytes of information). Todays, floppy disks are no longer used because of the limited capacity.

The next is about computer programs. Programs are also the software that you can install in and remove from your computer. When you like to edit some photos, you need to try Adobe Photoshop, Photoscape, and other photo-editing programs. If you want to edit audio, you can use Adobe Audition and Cool Edit Pro. There are some other programs such as Corel Draw, 3D Max, some games, Microsoft Office, Internet Download Manager, Oxford Dictionary, etc. Then, when we are talking about the function of both computer and laptop, both help us very well. We can use them to type, to calculate, to have fun, etc. We can install some programs that can help our work. Also, if we install some games in our computers, we can enjoy the games whenever we want to refresh our mind.

In short, when we set a same adjustment, spesification, and programs in our computer and laptop, we can get the same service from both machines, even though they have different shapes. Thus, we should not think hard about  differences only, but we should consider the similarities between computers and laptops because absolutely they are just the same in function.

by Wahyu Kartika Wienanda

A Method of Teaching English through Stories

English includes four skills which are important for English learners. Those skills are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Unfortunately, many English learners, especially junior high school students, feel that those skills are hard to be accomplished. That makes them dislike English even stop learning English. Therefore, junior high school’s English teachers are trying to find many innovations and interesting methods in teaching English to make students acquire those important skills. One of the ways they found is using stories in the teaching process which can be divided into three main steps: preparation step, class activity, and evaluation step.

            The first step is preparation. In this step, teachers look for two stories that can be children stories or short stories such as Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and so forth. Why do we use stories? It is because people are familiar with stories, including young people. They like listening to stories even read them. After finding stories that will be used in teaching process, teachers should copy one of two stories as many as the number of students in the class. Teachers have to make sure that each student will get a copy of the stories because it will make the teaching process more effective than one copy is used by two or more students.

Then, after the preparation step is conducted, we go to the second step which is class activity. In the class, when all students are ready to learn, teachers will read aloud one of the stories to the whole class and students must listen carefully to what the teachers say. It will train them in listening comprehension that will improve their listening skills. After finishing reading the story, teachers will ask the students’ comments about the story that have been read, about what that they can get from the story. It will make the teachers know the listening and speaking skills of the students. Teachers can also make a correction for the students’ pronunciation. After all the students give their comments, teachers will give the copies of the other story to them, one copy for each. Then, teachers will give them time to read by themselves for the next three minutes and after that, teachers will call their names one by one in turn to read aloud the passages of the story to the class. This activity will improve their reading skills in terms of the time in reading, understanding, and re-reading the text.

When each student has his/her turn in reading the story aloud, we come to the last step that is evaluation step. In this step, teachers will review the whole activity that they have done. Then, as the assignment and their practice, teachers will ask the students to make their own stories in their home. The assignment will be submitted in the next meeting. This assignment will help teachers to know the students ability in writing. In addition, students will practice their writing skill and make some improvements to that.

From the process above, we can conclude that stories teaching method can help the students to acquire the important skills in learning English which are listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Besides, this method is interesting enough to be implemented in class for people who like stories a lot. Hence, as teachers to be, we should try to implement this method to our students to make the learning process more interesting and to make them do not stop learning English.

By Wahyu Kartika Wienanda and Ninuk Retna Sumiarsih

The Comparison and Contrast between Jackets and Jumpers

               Everything in this world which exists in a same class can be compared and contrasted. For an example are jackets and jumpers with clothes as their main class. As we all know, jackets and jumpers are common clothes which are available everywhere. Many Indonesian people love to wear jackets or jumpers, especially when the weather is cold enough to go out. In fact, there is actually similarity between jackets and jumpers in term of their function and contrasts due to the material, the pattern and the model that they have.      

               Firstly, the similarity between the jackets and the jumpers will be explained. The similarity between jackets and jumpers can be seen from the side of their function. Basically, the jackets and the jumpers are clothes which can give us warm, especially when we need to go out in a cold weather. Not just in a cold weather, most Indonesian people wear them at night. They will not go out without jackets or jumpers. Based on my survey, six of eight friends of mine prefer to wear jackets or jumpers every time they go out at night. They believe jackets and jumpers keep them warm. Besides, these clothes also can be used as the teenagers’ styles of clothing. I often see teenagers wear jackets or jumpers in the mall, coffee shop and even in a campus. So, I can conclude that besides keeping us in a warm condition, jackets and jumpers also become the teenagers’ styles of clothing. 

               Secondly, we are going to talk on the contrasts that the jackets and jumpers have. The first contrast comes from the materials used for the jackets and jumpers. Most of jackets are made of thick and rough materials such as leather or jeans but most of jumpers are made of thick and smooth materials such as cotton and wool. From it, we can see that the industries have their preference in choosing the materials. The second contrast is taken from the pattern angle. Jackets have button or zipper with them to connect the front part of the jackets. Otherwise, jumpers do not have any connection part since they are loose just like a sarong. The last contrast is the model. Jackets have more variation in model. They can have a specific and different detail in every single part of jackets. Differently, jumpers cannot have any variation in detail since it is loose clothes. The only variation industries can do for jumpers are the color and an illustration. 

               In conclusion, the jackets and jumpers are two things which have similarity and contrast. These similarity and contrasts can be made since the jackets and jumpers are in the same class. The similarity can be seen from the point of their benefit and several points due to the material, pattern and model that each has can be said as the contrast. We should not differentiate jackets and jumpers too much because they are basically functioned the same. Whether you prefer to wear jackets or jumpers is not really important as long as they can keep you warm.

By Ninuk Retna Sumiarsih

Stimulating Young Learners’ English Writing Ability by Using Descriptive Writing Method

Since English is an International language, all countries in the world have to learn English including Indonesia. Despites English which is regarded as the second language, Indonesian government has a big concern about the development of English. The government has tried many efforts to make good progress in introducing English. One way from the government to improve the students’ ability in English is introducing English from the beginning to the young learners which are considered as elementary schools’ students. The policy about introducing English to the elementary school is according to Depdikbud RI No. 0487/1992, chapter VIII, which stated that elementary school could add the subject lesson in the curriculum, with the requirement that the lesson do not oppose to the aim of national education. Thus, this policy is added by SK Menteri Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan No. 060/U/1993 at 25^th February, 1993 about the possibility of English as the subject lesson and could be started from the fourth grade of elementary school.  

Furthermore, introducing English to the young learners that are the fourth grade of elementary school students are not as easy as the policies which are stated in the previous paragraph. Teachers still face many problems to create an effective way to teach young learners because what the teachers should explain do not clearly stated in the syllabus.  The government is fully believed to the each region to make their own syllabus. Therefore, let me show you a research which is done by Dunn (1983) that said the materials which are given to the young learners have to be suitable with their development. In other words, the teachers can use songs, games, puzzles and interesting pictures as the young learners like them. With those kinds of media, the students could develop their ability in listening, speaking, reading and also writing. Therefore, in this essay, I want to elaborate further one effective way to teach English by introducing writing to the young learners by using descriptive writing method.

Firstly, before we go further to the point that we want to talk about, I want you to know a brief why I choose writing as the basic interesting thing in teaching English to the young learners. As writing is the most difficult aspect of English, it needs a big attention from the teacher. It means that the students have to be accustomed to writing from the beginning. Let us take an example that is faced by almost all students to convince that kind of fact. In many cases, we find that many students from elementary always postpone their writing assignments with the reason that they do not have a good idea to write. They have to wait very good ideas to come up. They said that it is the sense of art to wait the miracle appears. The role is not like that, writing is not about the miracle but about the habit. The feeling to erase writing as the sense of art is very hard. Therefore, since writing is the most difficult aspect of English, I take it as the basic cause to create descriptive writing method.

The next reason is that the students are more difficult to put down their ideas through writing. Then, they prefer speaking to express what they felt rather than to put it down to the written expression. Finally, they will find that speaking is more interesting than writing. As the time goes by, they could develop their speaking ability without realizing that their writing ability is decreasing. If they have found that speaking is a new enjoyment, then that would be a disaster. That fact will lead the students to the generation that very poor of creativity. It is better to put down the ideas through written expression than just saying it then disappeared.

Realizing the cause and effect that have been explained above, here, I have prepared a method that could enhance the young learners’ interest in writing anything in a piece of paper without waiting their miracle to come which is by using descriptive writing method. The sooner they try, the longer their ability will always stick in their mind.

The very beginning thing that should be prepared is the teacher’ preparation. First, the teacher have to prepare what they have to do such as time, media, place and also the object and one more thing; the teacher should consider what the aims of the study are. After the teacher has decided all of those things, then the teacher could ask the students to take an outdoor class and go to the place that the teacher has been prepared. For example, in the first week, the teacher asks the students to go to the school yard, and ask them to find an animal that attracts their own interest. Then, ask them to observe what they see.

The next step is giving the students some time to change what they have observed to the written description. In this step, the students could use their sensory to cultivate what they have seen to a piece of paper because writing needs an imaginary and feeling to express ideas to the written expression. Then, let the students ask you a lot of questions relating to the object that they are observed. If the students have been experienced with their own, they will be easier to memorize new vocabularies.

The last thing which will be the output, the students collect their work at the time that has been scheduled. But, before they collect their work, give them some minutes to compare their work with other students. If they think they still want to mend their writing, give them time again. Moreover, in the end you will the fact that their writing has been increased. That fact was the example of descriptive writing’s result that was observed by Valerie Sax from week to week. Bryden Hamler describes a bee that he has seen in the schoolyard, “A bee flying through the air, it is gathering nectar from flowers.” Nathan Strohm observed a beta fish, “A beta fish is swimming, fluttering its little fins, moving around looking for food”. Those were some examples of the writing description that was done by the young learners. After they accustomed to doing it, they could enlarge their writing ability easily.

In brief, we have to know that writing skill for the young learners is very essential because it could lead them to the better future. As we are aware of this need, the teachers should create an effective way to enhance the students’ interest in writing by using descriptive writing method. With this method the students do not feel under pressure and they will get the enjoyment. To make it succeed, the teachers should hold the guidance of descriptive writing method who asks the students to study outdoor class once a week and ask them to observe some certain things that they curious the most. Then, give them time to cultivate their imaginary to create a written output. The result will be compared with other students, so the teachers know how the progress of their students in writing. This simple method is intended to make the teachers to be easier to create the next effective way by using the other kinds of method not only in writing but also in the three other aspects which are listening, speaking and reading.

Rahayu Sekarini

How to Learn English More Effectively

Many people feel difficult to learn English, yet the problem could be figured out by identifying what the problems and the causes are in order to study English more effectively.  A number of people like to study and improve their speaking skill, some prefer to listening, want to have skill in reading skill, and others tend to learn writing skill. Actually, people wanting to learn a language─ particularly English─ have to become skillful at all basic components of the language.  Those things are speaking, listening, reading, and writing which are supposed to be learnt. By having those kinds of basic skills, the learners could receive some information from others and extend it to others in terms of English. The concept does not match with the reality that most people learn English because they want to gain something. There are people who only want to learn how to be able to speak, listen, read, or write because their ability and need.

All people have the same chances to master language, in this case English, because English is the international way of communication─ or an international language used by most countries in the world. Therefore, people need the language in order to make a great occasion in getting job and passing test. In terms of job, almost all job demands require the employees to have a good English proficiency because all instructions dealing with the job are written in English. Not only that, it is because many investors, general managers, and labors come from other countries. By using English, they could communicate each other in order to manage all their work effectively. In terms of education, all students have to pass English course either daily test or UN (National Examination). Indonesian government determines a high passing grade which has to be passed. If the students fail, they have to study over again. To achieve their own objectives, English learners need to find the way on how to learn English more effectively. To make it clearer, we can have great deal with the problems inquiry, the cause’s analysis, and the problem solving in order to reach the language acquisition.

Many students feel difficult when they practice their English; speaking, listening, reading, or writing. Talking about speaking, the problems which were complained are lack of vocabularies, unable to arrange sentences when they want to speak, and have no confidence to produce sound even to speak. Let us move on listening, the students have several problems, such as: unclear sound, pronunciation, accent, and unknown vocabularies. Those problems make the students difficult to get the point what the speakers said on their conversation. In term of reading, the students get headache and sleepy when they do reading activities. Furthermore, the long text and complicated vocabularies make them got bored. Let us deal with writing, the difficulties are arranging, developing idea, vocabularies and structure. Based on those things, the greatest problems are vocabularies and habit to make it become the part of the students’ culture. Take an example, Arif. S.H., is one of S1 college student of UNISMA, he said that English is very important but complicated. He need much time to improve his English by memorizing vocabularies, listening English sounds, reading English texts, and writing paragraph.

Students are difficult to understand the subjects because they do not like their English course or teacher. If you do not like one or both of them, it will make the course difficult to be learnt. The illustration is when you do not like the course, you are lazy to study. Another illustration is when you do not like the teacher; you are lazy to attend the class. We can have Satria Akbar Sigit, is one of the students of State University of Malang, as an example. He did not like the extensive reading lecture. Therefore, he has attended rarely and has never done the homework at all, up to now. In addition, friends could influence a bad effect to the English learners. They could feel reluctant, have no confidence, and get no motivation to practice their English, if their friends do not support them.

The major problem is students’ preception about English which become the back ground of their study. Many students consider that English is the most difficult and boring course. Actually, the problems which make students’ perception about English bad defeat their unconscious, so that is why they cannot develop their skill in English. The bad perception makes the English learners do not understand all even absolutely they get the point. Deal with an example, Asizah, is one of the students of State University of Malang, said that she basically know what the introduction to literature lecture said but she could not understand the lesson because she did not like the course and the teacher. Consequently, she has got nothing by the time in this semester from this course.

The matter of habit is the most difficult problem for English learners. Furthermore, the learners are difficult to read the information on papers, speak in English, listen English conversation and news, write report in good English strucure. They do not have the right time, place, and media to practice their proficiency on the particular language so it cannot be their habit¾ English. English is just a language so that is why the learners have to make English as their habit by using it every day. Not only that, the learners have to be brave to say something in English even though they make several mistakes. The English learners will be able to master the language if they struggle hard altough they try to say something not clearly and correctly like a baby. It does not matter because the English learners need a long process to have the language. As an example, the English learners¾ in English village, Pare, Kediri, East Java¾ make English language become their habit by using English as everyday language communication. That is why English become difficult because of the low quantity to practice English.

The teachers/lecturers are the imporatant element to make the learners interested in a particular language. If the teachers cannot make the student feel comfortable to learn the language, it can be a great problem. The effects of the cause are that the learners become lazy, hate the language, and get nothing. As teachers, they have to make the learners comfortable everytime they study their native language. In addition, they can make media, such as some games, speeches, small group discussions, etc. For the example, we can have a look on some opinions about a literature course in the third semester of the college students of State University of Malang. Muhammad Khoirul Anwar, is one of the students of State University of Malang, said that the lecture can manage class activities, so the students become lazy. Consequently, they got nothing because of the lecture. Moreover, most of the students say that the course is difficult but the lecturer makes the course more difficult because she cannot make the students easy to get the lesson.

Psychological aspect is the vital element in learning process. In this part, I would like to explain about unconscious thinking and motivation for describing the psychological aspect problem. Unconscious thinking will suggest someone to do something based on the perception of something. If the learners consider that something is difficult to do, in this case English, so they will like what they thing. Let us move to motivation, all people need some motivations in their life in order to get what they want to get. It is that because by having a great motivation, someone can be better person his/her own self. On the other hand, we can say that a motivation word could make someone do something which is out of his/her mind well.

We know that English is just a language. If you make it become your habit, you will master it. The simple theory that you have to use your mouth to speak, your ears to listen, your eyes to read, and your eyes and hands to write. In other words, you need to force those things become your habit. Not only that, you must encourage yourselves to brave and master of yourselves in order improve your English proficiency.

In terms of teacher, your problem can be figured out by respecting your teachers. If you hate your teacher and English it selves, you will not be able to get it. Just try to love your teachers and the subject. Abdul Wavi S.S., is one of the post graduate students, said that no complain in learning even though you do not like the teacher or the course as the strategy to solve the problems. You are supposed to find and choose your appropriate teacher or lecture for yourselves if you do not want to be taught by the teacher.

To solve the problems which are related with psychological aspect, you should try to have many motivations and spirit. Not only that, you have to know who you are by knowing your personal characteristic and your potency. Over and over, there are many motivations in learning English. Based on the origin of the motivation, there are intrinsic and extrinsic. The purpose of motivation is divided into two components: integrative and instrumental motivation. Motivation based on the level of motivation, it is divided into three levels of motivation: growth, relatedness, and existence. From those types of motivations, the English learners could encourage themselves and improve their English. Not only that, you can analyze yourselves by knowing who you are and what characteristic. There are four kinds of people’s characteristics. You are sanguine, choleric, pragmatics, or melancholic. If you are sanguine or choleric people, it means that your potential is improving speaking skill because you like to speak on daily activities. If you are pragmatic or melancholic people, it means that you are better learn English through structure, grammar, or writing, and so forth because the type of these people is to think more or not speak less. In the other words, they do not like to speak more.

In conclusion, you can learn English more effectively through three steps by identifying the problems inquiry, the cause’s analysis, and the problem solving in order to reach the language acquisition. The first step of this process, you can make a list which contains your problems. In this step, it is essential part because it will determine what your causes of getting those problems are.  After that, we can analyze all causes that make you become in trouble in learning. Furthermore, you can find the solution after knowing your problems and your causes. To make learning English more effectively, you have to make it become your habit. Not only that, you need some motivations in learning English to keep your spirit high. After all, your psychological aspects keep in good condition. The last step, you have to pray for your efforts. You have to find and read the other sources on the book and website which are stated in the references.

Restu M

The more we learn, the duller we get: Analyses on the Bad Effect of Full Day School System

In this modern way, education becomes an important thing in living the life. Education is badly needed by everyone for the developing of the technology along with the developing way of living. It is a must for children to have a good education so that they are ready for facing the life. In Indonesia, for example, children have both the right and obligation to get basic education. Basic education here means 6 years in elementary school or other institutions which is equivalent as well as 3 years in Junior high school or other institutions which is equivalent (UU no.20 th.2003-Sisdiknas). As this has been stated in the law, parents have the full responsibility in facilitating their children to get a good education. Moreover, parents are competing in finding the best education for their children. Thus, education institutions do their best to pursue the parents by offering certain kinds of facilities and school systems. Generally, every institution has its own way in the learning process. Ideally, parents should have background knowledge to compare one school to another along with the school system in used and the facilities offered in order to succeed their quest of finding the best and the most suitable school for their children.

Recently, most of people are accustomed to hear about one school system called full day school system. In our education institution, from elementary school level up to senior high school level, most of those school institutions are, now, using full day system. In Surabaya, for example, Kadispendik Surabaya, Suhadi, said that almost 80% of Junior High school as well as Senior High school applied this system. Here, there are some questions which pop up in the parents’ mind. What is full day school system? How it works? Is it an excellent choice for my children?

Full day school system is a school system in which the learning process lasted from minimally 8 hours per day in weekdays so that the school is able to arrange a suitable schedule for the students. The learning process focuses on the material comprehension of the students (Salim, 1998:340). From the definition above, we can infer that the 8 hours learning process should not be all about formal learning. The learning process should be fun, joyful, and interesting enough for the students so that they do not feel bored and the main aim of the process still on board that is the student’s comprehension in material. Yet, sometimes, things do not result in what we have expected to be. In facts, full day school system does not work like it should be. Many schools has mislead in bringing this system into the learning process in the class. They lost in how they should consider the student’s passion in learning. They only focus in how they should fill all the learning time with the learning process. Most of the time, they forget about the joyful learning. For instance, in SMA N 3 Mojokerto, the learning process started at 06.45 a.m. and would be finish at 03.00 p.m. with 2 break times each at 10.00 a.m. for about 15 minutes and at 01.00 p.m. for about an hour. There is no movie, games, or other joyful activities but books during that eight-hours learning process. What a hectic day the students have to face!

Most people may think that full day school system is okay, even great, since the students will use their huge portion of time in studying. The students will have no time to ever think about using their time for something unworthy and being juveniles. Yet, as every single thing has its own pluses and minuses, full day school system came with its own problems. Full day school system suspected causes several negative effects on the students. Here I will explain two negative effects caused by that system.

The first effect of the full day school system is the students will be lack of socialization. Students are human beings who need to socialize with other people and it seems that full day school system does not facilitate the socialization well. When they are in the school, they will hardly find time to socialize with their friends since they only have an hour as break time. Sitting whole day in front of textbooks they have to read and memorize the content of it in 8 hours straight would consume out their energy. So, when they come home in the late afternoon, they would be totally worn out. They will have no intention to do anything else but rest their body and mind. They will be too tired to go out with some friends for sure. Moreover, I believe at that very time, they will think that sitting down with their family and having a heart-to-heart conversation or just sharing their day would not be as interesting as sleeping in their room. In the end, we can see that the full day school system lets the students socialize with nobody but their textbooks.

The other effect of the full day school system is it makes the students depressed. One research indicates that a 10-year-old child has to bear the same level of stress as those people aged 25. The research probably show the real fact since full day school system requires the students to study at least 8 hours per day. Actually, if the teacher can arrange the learning process as fun as what the students expected it to be, then it will be great. However, in the reality, the learning of the full day school system process involved only textbooks. The students are forced to deal with definitions, theories, formulas, and that kind of things the whole day. After spending the whole day at school, the students will find the facts that they are too tired to do some enjoyful activities. Thus, they will attend the class next day in the full tense. This cycle will go on every single day until the students’ tension accumulated and, then, result in the student’s depression. When the students come to this level, then I’m sure there will be no more learning process can be carried out.

As the conclusion, full day school system can bring both positive and negative effects depends on how good the learning process brought by the teacher and the support from all elements required. The school has to provide the facilities in need. The parents of the student have to support their children. They have to know their children capability so that they can decide whether or not their children ready to go to full day school. Forcing their children beyond their capability will bring them nowhere. They should remember and understand one old famous proverb, “All work and no play make Jack dulls”, and mean it.

 Riska Ayu W