ACADEMIC WRITING

Fun ways to Improve Listening and Speaking Skill of Junior High School Student

Many students in Indonesia do not like English lesson because of a simple reason : “English is difficult”. That difficulties are caused by some factors. First, the student’s mindset about English itself causes even the simplest thing become complicated. Second, many English teachers in Indonesia still use the classical method in teaching English. In this method, Speaking and listening skill is somewhat being neglected because it is not the goals of this teaching method. Larsen-Freeman(2000:23) says that classical method was not very effective in preparing students to use the target language communicatively. English is learned as a lesson which need hard effort to be mastered rather than a language which is acquired through natural way. The natural way of learning a language is by listening. Guichard (2005) says that the main advantage of the natural method is its easiness. Babies are doing nothing but sitting among their toys; nonetheless they learn.

Babies who learn a language from his environment will first begin the process from listening to the people around him. Later, he will learn the meaning and try to imitate the sound he had listened before. In short time, he will able to communicate with other people. When he grews older, he will go to school and learn to read and write. Finally, he completely master the language. In other word, it is impossible that a learner should master the learning and writing first before mastering listening and speaking skill.

English is different from other lesson such as Mathematics, Phyics and Chemistry. It is a language which should be learned as a language. The main objective of learning a language is to use it for communication. That means, listening and speaking is the primary skill.

There are a lot of way to teach English, especially to improve istening and speaking skill. First of all, we have to get the student enthusiasm. So, we as a teacher should be creative in finding new method that make the students are interested to learn. Some method that can be applied such as : listening to english songs, watching english movies, story telling, simple conversation, and many others.

First way is by listening to English song. When teaching English as a second language, whether to children or adults, teacher have to be very creative in ways to keep their interests. Since the best way to learn a second or foreign language is total immersion, even if we do know the native language of the country where we are teaching, we will still want to minimize its use. So what is left are different tools to teach conversation, vocabulary, English grammar, and concepts. Using music and song is one of the tools you can use to teach English to your class, regardless of the age of the learner. Music is a tie that binds all cultures and languages and therefore, one of the best ways to make learning English fun.

Language teachers can use songs as part of their classroom teaching repertoire. Songs can provide valuable speaking, listening and language practice in and out of the classroom. Some key reasons songs can work exceedingly well in the foreign language classroom are: (1)Songs almost always contain authentic, natural language, (2)A variety of new vocabulary can be introduced to students through songs, (3)Songs are usually very easily obtainable, (4)Songs can be selected to suit the needs and interests of the students, (5)Grammar and cultural aspects can be introduced through songs, (6)Time length is easily controlled, (7)Students can experience a wide range of accents, (8)Song lyrics can be used in relating to situations of the world around us, (9)Students think songs are natural and fun. These are only some of the many reasons songs are useful in the language learning classroom. They contain authentic language, are easily obtainable, provide vocabulary, grammar and cultural aspects and are fun for the students. They provide enjoyable speaking, listening, vocabulary and language practice both in and out of the classroom. So EFL, English as a foreign language, ESL, English as a Second language and foreign language teachers should all consider using songs as a regular part of their classroom activities. Green (2011) says:

“Music in the classroom can grab students' attention and create stimulating lessons. Music is an important tool for students who are just learning English or those who are native speakers. For new English students, music provides new vocabulary, various accents and cultural expressions. For native speakers, music offers a new way to study and grasp a concept. Using music to teach English can be done at all grade levels, but it's important to choose an appropriate song.”

John W. Garvy Elementary School and Edison Park Elementary School, both located on Chicago’s Northwest Side, have scored above statewide level in the 2011 Illinois Standard Achievement Test. Their strategy for success is using music in their curriculum. Matthew Baron, the ESL teacher for both schools, writes curriculum-based rock music that integrates common core learning standards for elementary level students, which he says the kids “go wild for.” Both elementary schools are using music to spice up their ESL (English as a Second Language) and non-ESL classes. The ESL program helps students, whose primary language is not English, understand, speak and write English for everyday use.

The chart below can show that the approach seems to be working. The 2011 Illinois School Report Card shows 89 percent of Garvy students met or exceeded all sections of the ISAT test while Edison Park students show a 92 percent performance score.

Second way is by watching English movie. Scrivener(2011) says that most students enjoy watching a good movie, whether at the cinema or on TV. We can use this ideas for making use of their interest and knowledge to create new method in teaching. But, we should find movies that is easy to follow and proper for the student. However, this method is not as easy as we think. Many people who had watch thousand of English movie still do not speak any words. That is because they just watch it. To make it effective, don't just watch it but we have to watch by learning purpose to create more useful entertainment. Here are some easy steps to make watching movie effective as learning media:

1.       Buy soundtrack movie and watch it with the subtitle on at the first time. Our eyes and ears should work equally at this stage. Try to understand the theme and the main idea of the movie.

2.       Watch it again, still with subtitle on, but now try to minimize the use of our eyes on the subtitle. Listen as much as possible and look at the subtitle only when we really do not understand. Skip all small detail at the first time and slowly increase the amount of learning by decreasing the number of time you stop the movie.

3.       Watch it without subtitle. It sounds tough but after enough practice at the first two steps, we will find it easier to watch the movie in pure English.

We may need to spend sometime to pass the first two steps. Do not reach the last step too early because it can greatly discourage us. However, if we reach it when we are ready, we may never imagine that English is such a piece of cake for us.

Third way is storytelling. Prasetio(2009) says that storytelling culture has evolved since a long time ago. This method is also effective for young learner. Children have an innate love of stories. Stories create magic and a sense of wonder at the world. Stories teach us about life, about ourselves and about others. Storytelling is a unique way for students to develop an understanding, respect and appreciation for other cultures, and can promote a positive attitude to people from different lands, races and religions. There are some benefits of storytelling for children. It can be the media to convey values and ethics, introduced form of emotion, expand vocabulary, strengthen the inner bond, and stimulate imagination. Stoyla (2011) says:

“Young Learners share a remarkable variety of personal experiences, values and ways of understanding. The language they learn in the classroom is the tool they use to shape their thoughts and feelings. It is more than a way of exchanging information and extending ideas, it is their means of reaching out and connecting with other people. Stories can link not only between the world of classroom and home but also between the classroom and beyond. Stories provide a common thread that can help unite cultures and provide a bridge across the cultural gap.”

For a junior high school student, story telling can be developed into story retelling. Story retelling is very useful to improve speaking skill, measure the student’s reading skill, and check how far the student understand the story. This method is also useful to encourage the student to speak in front of the class. However, it should be tolerated when student makes error in retelling the story. Study shows that age differences influence memorization and retelling ability.

Fourth way is simple conversation. According to behaviorist theory, language learning is like any other kind of learning in that it involves habit formation (Ellis 1997:31). As much as possible, the teacher should try to speak to the student  in English. The teacher should help the student to answer in English correctly and encourage them to be brave to speak. At first this can be a problem for the student, but after a while the student will get used to it.

The chart above illustrates percentage of ‘student talk-time’ in class. Anderson (2007) says that the most important thing in treating student to do the conversation is strive for 85% ‘student talk-time’ and only 15% ‘teacher talk-time.  That will give the students as many opportunities to speak to each other & to the class as possible. At the beginning of every class, use warm-ups by gets everyone up, moving, talking and learning about each other. As a teacher, don’t take up classroom time by having the students trying to think of things. There are great ideas in the books in the teacher’s room and on the Internet. To guide the conversation, teacher should present new material by written out on the board. Beginners will have a pattern to follow and advanced students can add to what is on the board. The teacher may write new vocabulary on the board every day and practice pronunciation.  As a class, repeat together several times and then in pairs, and then again in new paired-groups.  Also, ask the student to tell how many syllables are in each word and as a class, clap out the syllables. Teacher must listen carefully to student pronunciation when they are doing group work.  If the teacher hears mispronunciations, do not correct the individual. However, write it on the board and go over these at the end of class with everyone.

It is hoped that by learning in fun ways the student will be more enthusiast in learning. So, learning process will be much more effective. 

Article Source:

Guichard, G. 2005. “Learning Languages - The Natural Method - Advantages and Drawbacks”. Downloaded from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabrielle_Guichard on October 2011

Larsen-Freeman, Diane. 2000.  “Techniques an Principles in Language Teaching”. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Green, E. 2011. “How to Use Music to Teach English“. Downloaded from http://www.ehow.com/how_4966707_use-music-teach-english.html on October 2011

Scrivener, Jim. 2011. “Imaginative materials: using movies to teach English”. Downloaded from http://www.onestopenglish.com/support/teaching-tips/imaginative-materials/imaginative-materials-using-movies-to-teach-english/146603.article on October 2011

Prasetio. 2009. “The Benefit of Storytelling”. Downloaded from http://prasetio30.hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefit-Of-Storytelling-For-Children on October 2011

Ellis, Rod. 1997. “Second Language Acquisition”. Oxford: Oxford Uviversity Press.

Stoyla, Paula. 2011. “Storytelling-Benefits and Tips”. Downloaded from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/storytelling-benefits-tips on November 2011

Anderson, Ann. 2007. “Ideas for ‘Conversation’ Class”. Downloaded from http://journals.worldnomads.com/annanderson/story/13789/India/Ideas-for-Conversation-class on November 2011

 

Discussion

Ini teks discussion,, q blum tau sh nilai teks ini brpa,, soalnya ga dbagiin lagi teksnya,, tp q post aja ya..

Private Vehicle in the Society

Issue:

The private motor vehicle has greatly improved individual freedom of movement, moreover the automobile has become a status symbol.  In that way, private vehicle takes important role in our daily life. On the other hand, it also causes many serious problems.

Arguments for:

Private motor vehicle saves driving time. People can move flexibly from one place to other place by private motor vehicle. They don’t need to wait for bus or other public transportation whenever they want to go to other place. 

Private motor vehicle also gives economy benefit to the society, such as in job and wealth creation. For example in automobile production and maintenance, transportation provision, society wellbeing derived from leisure and travel opportunities, and revenue generation from the tax opportunities. If there aren’t private vehicle, people who work in the car and motorcycle factory will lost their job. Many workshops will be closed because they don’t get any customer that want to repair their vehicle. From that, the number of jobless people will be increased and so will the criminalities rates. Moreover, if there isn’t private motor vehicle, the amount of government revenue from private vehicle taxes will be decreased extremely.

Argument against:

On the other hand, private vehicle is the main reason of the traffic jam. In the big city like Jakarta, traffic jam is becoming a serious problem. There are so many cars crowded on the road and cause the traffic jam. A lot of time is wasted in the road because of traffic jam. People have to spend 1 to 2 hour to get to a place that actually can be reached in 15 minutes only.

Moreover, Private vehicle also causes air pollution. The rates of pollution in the big city have reached a worrying degree. In many big cities, the private vehicle, especially private automobile is the greatest polluter. Driving a private car is a typical citizen's most air polluting activity. The air pollution is one of the causes of global warming. The gas emission that produced by motor vehicle will form glass house effect. This phenomenon of glass house effect causes our earth become warmer from time to time. It has been reported that the ice in north and south poles are starting to melt. Imagine what will happen if all the ice in north and south poles are melting. We should think about this problem seriously.

The other problem is motor vehicle needs fuel. As we know, fossil fuel is one of natural resource that can’t be renewed. As can as possible we have to use it wisely and reduce the unimportant use of fossil fuel. Today, there are new inventions of automobile that use solar energy. But this technology is very expensive and hasn’t been produced in great number. It is only used in some places like in the golf field. Moreover, it can’t be used at night.

Recommendation:

Private motor vehicle and automobile has become part of our life. It makes our life easier but also causes a lot of problem. Reducing the use of motor vehicle can be one alternative to minimize the problem. We use private motor vehicle only for long distances. For the short distances, we can go on foot or use bicycle. In that way, we not only save fossil fuel and against global warming but also keep our body healthy.

Narrative text2

Ini ada lagi, cerita cinderella versi aku.. blm dikoreksi dosen sh.. tp q post aja ya.. klo ada salah2 tolong dibetulkan,,

CINDERELLA

ORIENTATION:

Many years ago, there lived a rich family. The family was so happy after the born of a beautiful daughter. They named her Cinderella.

EVALUATION:

Years later, Cinderella had grown to be a beautiful and smart girl. Although she was the only child in the family, she wasn’t pampered and spoiled. She was smart, independent, and critical woman. Many handsome guys had come to propose her, but no one was succeeding to marry her. Cinderella was looking for a husband that could support her hassle in woman emancipation. She demanded that woman could study as high as they wanted.

COMPLICATION:

One awful day, Cinderella’s parent went to other city to do some business. On the way, their coach was being robbed. The robber took all the precious thing and killed all people in the coach, included Cinderella’s parents. Cinderella was hysteric to hear the tragedy. She didn’t stop crying until she fell asleep.

COMPLICATION:

 A week later, the bad day of Cinderella’s live was coming. Her aunt and two cousins were come to stay with Cinderella. They were the only family Cinderella had. At first, they were very nice to her. But the next day, they were totally changed into her most terrible nightmare. Her aunt, Isabella, was a thin, cruel, vicious woman. She made Cinderella do all the housework like cooking, washing their clothes, washing dishes, cleaning the house, etc. Both her cousin, Anastasia and Drusilla, although they are older than Cinderella, were spoiled, bully, egoistic, childish, and vicious. They fight almost everyday and make the house always messy. They made Cinderella have to clean the house again and again. Anastasia, the older, was an extra thin girl with red long hair. She got a big nose and big mouth, very contrasted with her small eyes. How matter she dressed up, she always look like a zombie. Drusilla, her sister, was the opposite. She was very fat and short, with a short blonde hair. She got small eyes and a tiny mouth. Her nose almost disappeared between her full cheeks. From distant, she really looked like a beach ball, or a fatty pig wearing a blonde wig.

RESOLUTION:

Cinderella did all the house work without complain. She tried to look everything positively. She had promised herself not to cry again. She didn’t want to make her parents sad.

COMPLICATION:

One day, there was a ball invitation in the kingdom. The prince was looking for a wife. At first, Cinderella wasn’t interested. Beside of the fact that she wouldn’t be allowed to attend the ball, she wasn’t interested to come. Knowing that the prince was his old friend, the only man who supports Cinderella’s idea of woman emancipation, Cinderella became so enthusiastic to attend the ball.

COMPLICATION:

When the ball day was coming, Cinderella prepared everything to go to the kingdom secretly. She also set a trick to make her aunt and cousins went earlier. She told them that they will have more time with the prince if they come earlier. They trusted her. Cinderella helped Anastasia and Drusilla dressed up until they were all ready to go to the ball in thirty minutes.

Soon after they left, Cinderella wore the gown that she had prepared, her mother’s bridal gown. She had hidden the gown from her cousin in her secret chest under her bed. The gown was very beautiful and perfectly fit to Cinderella. She looks like a princess in the fairy tale. She also wore her mother shoes, unique shoes made from glass. Just like the gown, the shoes looked like they were made only for Cinderella. Now she was ready to go to the ball, just one more thing, a mask. She had to wear a mask to hide her face from her aunt and cousins.

 RESOLUTION:

Cinderella came to the kingdom by the help of her father’s friend, Roberto. Roberto had considered Cinderella his own daughter. He rent an expensive coach and accompanied her to the ball. While Cinderella was in the ball, he was waiting outside loyally.

COMPLICATION:

Everybody in the room looked at Cinderella as she came, so did the prince, Andromeda. He fell in love with Cinderella at the first sight. He came and asked her to dance with him. As they dancing, Andromeda asked Cinderella,

“Who are you?”

“Cindy”

“Cindy? Nice name. Did we ever meet before? I don’t know. You are just so familiar.”

“No, it is impossible. I’m new in this country.”

“Really? Then, why are you wearing a mask?”

“I’m shy.”

“Shy? Why? You’re beautiful.”

“I just can’t show my face in front of many people.”

“Well, that’s strange. But it’s ok. Where do you live by the way?”

MAJOR COMPLICATION:

Suddenly, Cinderella saw her aunt and cousins came closer. She got panic and decided to go.

“Prince Andromeda, I’m sorry, I’ve got to go.”

“What? Why? You have just come. Please stay for a moment.”

“I’m sorry I can’t. It’s almost midnight. I have to go home. My father will get mad if he knows I’m not in my room.”

“I will explain to your father. Don’t worry. Hey, Cindy, wait!!”

Cinderella ran away before the prince finished his word. The prince tried to chase after her, but he was interrupted by a woman, Cinderella’s aunt, who tried to introduce her daughter to him.

RESOLUTION:

When he reached the door and got outside, there was nobody. As he turned back to the castle in frustrate, he saw something in the stairs, something made from glass, a shoe. He took a look at it and realized that it was Cindy’s.

COMPLICATION:

The next day, the prince, who by now was suffering, came to every house in the country to found Cindy.. Many girls he found named Cindy, but nobody fit the shoes. He brought the shoe to match it with their foot.

COMPLICATION:

In the seventh day, the prince arrived in Cinderella’s house. He felt so familiar with the house, the house of her old friend, Cinderella. He knocked the door and called Cinderella, but he got surprised when Cinderella’s aunt opened the door. She was the woman in the ball who had made him lose Cindy.

“The prince! You must be here to propose one of my daughters, right? Welcome. Anastasiaaa!!! Drusillaaa!!! Come here, the price is coming to propose one of you!!”

“No, Ma’am. I think it was my friends’ house, Cinderella. Where is she?”

“Ah, ya.. She is my niece. But she can’t be the woman you were looking for. She didn’t come to the ball with us.”

“It’s Ok, I just want to meet her. Where is she?”

“She’s not here now. She went to the river to get some water. Now, where is the shoe my prince? I think you have to try them to my daughter.”

RESOLUTION:

Anastasia and Drusilla tried the shoe, but no one fit. Anastasia’s foot was too small, and Drusilla’s foot was too big.

COMPLICATION:

As the prince stand up to leave, Cinderella came. The prince realized her at the first sight and got surprise.

“Cinderella? My old friend? Are you Cindy, the woman I was looking for?”

“Prince Andromeda? Uhm.. what are you talking about? I don’t understand?”

“I’m sure you are Cindy, I never forgotten your voice. This! This is your shoe, try this!”

RESOLUTION:

Cinderella wore the shoe, and.. voila!! Undoubtedly, it was perfectly fit to her. Cinderella told the real story. She apologized to make the prince confused. The prince proposed her at that time, and she was brought to the castle. Their marriage was attended by all people in the country. Cinderella’s aunt and cousins begged her to forgive them. Cinderella forgave them and let them to live in the castle. They lived happily ever after.

REORIENTATION:

Although her aunt and cousins has treated them badly, Cinderella can forgive them. Her sincerity and independency had brought her to find her happiness.

CODA:

Revenge is not the best way in solving problem. Revenge will only hurt ourselves. By forgiving, we let the pain in our heart healing. Forgiving maybe is the hardest thing to do. We have to fight our ego to forgive someone that had been hurting us. By forgiving, doesn’t mean we are weak. We are even stronger.

Narrative text

Ini teks udah lumayan bagus.. cuma bodohnya q salah masang generic structurenya,, yah cuma dpt nilai 82. harusnya bs 90 tu.. laen kali kudu lebih hati2 lagi..

ini dia, narrative text ceritanya sangkuriang ala wilda.. diubah dikit ceritanya,,

THE LEGEND OF TANGKUBAN PERAHU

Orientation:

A long time ago, the ancient land of Sunda was ruled by a king and queen who had but a single daughter. Her name was Dayang Sumbi. She was beautiful but also pampered and spoiled.

COMPLICATION:

One day as she was weaving in her pavilion, she became moody and distracted, which caused her to keep dropping her shuttle on the floor. Once when it fell she exclaimed she would marry the one who gave it back to her. At that  moment her dog Tumang, a demigod possessing magic powers, came up to her with the shuttle in his mouth. Dayang Sumbi had to marry him.

RESOLUTION:

They lived happily together and Dayang Sumbi gave birth to twin baby, boy and girl. The boy was human in appearance but endowed with his father magic powers. She named him Sangkuriang. And the girl was an ordinary human like her mother. She named her Mahesa. As the children grew up, they were always guarded by the faithful dog Tumang, whom they knew only as a companion and not as their father, Sangkuriang became handsome and brave, and Mahesa become smart and beautiful.

MAJOR COMPLICATION:

One day his mother asked Sangkuriang to go hunting with the dog and bring her venison for a feast. After hunting all day without success, Sangkuriang worried about facing his mother empty-handed. Desperate, he took an arrow and shot the dog. He returned home and handed over the meat to his pleased mother.

 COMPLICATION:

Soon after the feast, however, Dayang Sumbi questioned her son about the absence of Tumang. At first, he evaded her queries but finally told her what had happened. In anger Dayang Sumbi told him that Tumang was his father. Sangkuriang got surprise and ask for apology. Dayang Sumbi was too angry and struck her son so hard on the temple that he collapsed.

RESOLUTION:

Sangkuriang ran away to save himself from his mother anger. He ran to the forest and never came back. Dayang Sumbi kept crying in angry, until she fell in unconsciousness. Mahesa who was watching and listening from her room, keep standing in silent, too surprise to do anything.

COMPLICATION:

Years later, Sangkuriang who had recovered with a large scar on his temple, met a beautiful woman and instantly fell in love with her. She was his own sister, Mahesa—they did not recognize each other because they had changed their name. Sangkuriang became Jaka, and Mahesa became Ayu. Sangkuriang, now Jaka, proposed to her and she agreed to marry him.

COMPICATION:

On the day before the wedding, as Ayu was caressing her fiancée’s hair, she detected the scar on the temple. She asked about the scar, and got surprised when Jaka told her about his past. Horror struck her, for she was about to marry her own brother, Sangkuriang.

RESOLUTION:

Without revealing the whole truth to him, she tried unsuccessfully to dissuade him. Desperate to avoid the marriage, she set conditions she tought impossible to meet: Jaka had to make a lake that filled the whole valley and build a boat for the couple to sail in, all before dawn. Jaka started to work. His love gave him extraordinary strength, and he uses his magic powers to summon the spirits to help him. With boulders and mud they dammed the river in the valley and the water rose and began to form a lake. In the early morning hours he chopped down a huge tree in the forest and began hollowing it out to make a boat.

MAJOR COMPLICATION:

When Ayu saw that he was about to accomplish what she had thought impossible, she called on the gods to bring the sun up early and thwart Jaka.

COMPLICATION:

The cock crowed, the sun rose much earlier than usual, and Jaka realized he had been deceived. In a fit of fury he cursed Ayu and kicked the half-finished boat back into the forest.

RESOLUTION:

 There it lies upside down today, forming the mountain Tangkuban Perahu (Upturned Boat). Not far away is the stump of the tree Sangkuriang or Jaka had felled, now called Bukit Tunggul. The dam Sangkuriang had built caused the valley to become a lake, where both Sangkuriang and Mahesa drowned themselves. They were never heard of again.

REORIENTAION:

Dayang sumbi was the cause of the tragedy in her life and her children life. The carelessness of Dayang Sumbi to say her silly promise to marry the one who gave her shuttle back to her, made her have to marry Tumang, her dog. Her dishonesty caused the little Sangkuriang who didn’t know anything, killed her father to please his mother. If he knew Tumang was his father, he would never do that. Mahesa who didn’t know anything also got the effect. She almost married her own brother. Finally, both of them killed themselves in the lake.

CODA:

From that story we can learn that we have to be careful of our word because our word is our wish and our word is our promise. We also learn never to make decision in anger, because when we are angry, our mind doesn’t work well.