CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
- A. Background of study
Language is the basic skill is needed for real communication among people. By using language, we will be able to express our ideas and feeling.[1] In Indonesia, English is learnt by students as a foreign language and taught formally from elementary school up to the university level.
Moreover, English is used throughout the world and it is used in many fields of life such as: in politics, economics, social, entertainment and education. Therefore, In Indonesia, English has an important role especially in education. Thus, English is taught as a compulsory subject and become one of subjects testing in National Examination.
English teaching involves four language skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). Speaking as part of four language skills is important to be learned and mastered by every individual. It is an activity used by someone to communicate with others. It takes place everywhere and has become part of our daily activities. When someone speaks, he or she interacts and uses the language to express his or her ideas, feeling and thought.[2] He or she also shares information to others through communication.
Nowadays, speaking is very important. It is as a measurement of language learners whether someone is successful in learning language or not.[3] Noyes underlines, “Our communication skill determines how successfully we interact with others, whether one-on-one or in large group”.[4] Besides, having speaking skill could be an extra value in getting higher level job.
However, speaking is not an easy learning activity. Many factors can affect students’ success in speaking. In general, these factors can be identified such as teacher, students, environmental conditions and techniques to learn the lesson material.
Based on the writer’s experience, most of the students still can not speak fluently and automatically. The writer assumes that they have learnt speaking by focusing on grammar rules and textbook. They learn speaking by eyes not by mouth, meaning that they learn speaking by reading a lot not talking a lot. So, it makes them difficult in improving their speaking ability. Moreover, the limited lecture’s teaching technique and material makes the students bored and less motivated. Shortly, a lecture is expected to have right teaching techniques to give students with proper teaching materials so that the goal of speaking will be achieved.
In general, the goal of teaching speaking skills is communicative efficiency. Learners should be able to make themselves understood, using their current proficiency to the fullest. They should try to avoid confusion in the message due to faulty pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, and to observe the social and cultural rules that apply in each communication situation.[5] More specifically, the syllabus of speaking at English Department of IAIN Ar-Raniry also says that after completing the speaking subject, students are able to do verbal communication accurately (based on structure rules of English language), correctly (according to context), and efficiently ( according to function) in English language.
Therefore, to achieve these goals, the teachers play an important role in teaching speaking. The teachers should be able to set classroom activity well. Besides, the teachers should regard to all supporting components of successful teaching classroom including class management, technique and materials. In relation to teaching materials, there are many sources for teaching speaking such as books and internet sources. Internet has a good impact in developing student’s speaking ability. Internet offers the great initiative on study and rich variety of choices. By using internet, students can get and learn material out of class. They can choose the learning materials and arrange study on their own schedule. Moreover, different students have different background knowledge, study ability and cognitive ability on study. As a matter of fact, teacher solely can not cover all those differences and needs. Thus, the teaching and learning process is not effectively reached. The writer assumes that by using internet as a source of learning may overcome such problems mentioned above.
Generally speaking, internet has changed the world. According to data from theultralinx.com, internet users in the world increased 7% in the last decade. With the rapid growth and the advanced features it has, the internet as a medium will help the teachers to carry out various education activities including language teaching and learning. Internet helps the teachers by providing teaching-learning online and some downloadable materials. Additionally, internet becomes an alternative tool to enhance effective teaching. For instance, the teachers can access the materials and apply the materials in their classroom activity.
There are many researches conducted on the use of internet in learning. One of them is study conducted by Yunzheng (2008). The study is about autonomy English learning on the internet which conducted to college students in China. In his study, he stated that learning from the internet are useful and effective because the internet provides multi-channeled, multi-perspective, multi-leveled and multi-formed. Moreover, it is very quick and timely. Thus, it is easily aroused keen interest in learning initiative.[6] The results of his research showed that the percentage of the compatibility of the language skills students developed up to 60,2% after learning by using internet.
Another study conducted by Zhou (2003) about Chinese EFL teacher’s views of and attitudes towards ICT in the classroom. In his dissertation, he stated that the internet has improves learning English activity because the internet provides valuable materials for teachers and learners alike. Teachers can find prepared materials addressing English language development in diverse content areas, curriculum and academic disciplines. Students of all ages, interests and learning goals can independently choose online materials and activities that meet their specific language learning needs, and access them in their own time and at their own pace.[7] One of the respondents, Shi, wrote of her experience:“I am glad to use internet in my classroom, it makes me easier to manage all teaching learning tasks with variety of choices and helps me to fulfill student’s needs”. Based on Yunzheng and Zhou findings, it can be concluded that internet can improve English learning activity. Hence, the writer also wants to conduct a research about the effect of using internet materials in improving students’ speaking ability.
There are many educational materials from internet that offer the benefits for teachers. One of them is effortlessenglish.com. The effortlessenglish.com is a site focusing on teaching English especially in improving speaking ability. This site is a commercial site which provides many materials that will help students to speak English fluently and automatically. There is popular material of the site is known as “seven rule concepts”. Seven rule concepts are designed to help teachers in teaching speaking. These concepts consist of seven rules that guide students in leaning speaking.
Based on the background above, the writer wants to conduct the research which is entitled “Teaching Speaking by Using Effortlessenglish.com Materials (An Experimental Teaching at English Department Students of IAIN Ar-Raniry)”
B. Research Questions
Based on the background of study, this research will be conducted to answer the following questions:
- Can effortlessenglish.com materials improve student’s speaking ability?
- What are the students’ responses in learning speaking by using effortlessenglish.com materials?
- C. The Aims of Study
The aims of study are:
- To determine whether effortlessenglish.com materials improve student’s speaking ability.
- To find out students’ responses in learning speaking by using effortlessenglish.com materials.
- D. The Scope of Study
This study focuses on the implementation of effortlessenglish.com in teaching speaking especially the use of seven rule concepts.
- E. Terminology
It is important to define several keywords of this research in order to avoid misunderstanding between the writer and the readers. The keywords are:
- Teaching Speaking
According to B.O Smith, “Teaching is a system of actions intended to produce learning”. Besides, Gage also states that teaching is a form of inter-personal influence aimed at changing the behavior potential of another person.[8]
Meanwhile, speaking is the action of conveying information or expressing one’s thoughts and feelings in spoken language. The speaking is a language activity characterized by informality, by the absence of a deliberately assigned question, or problem to be discussed, by absence of the need of reaching a decision and by frequently change of topics as state in the dictionary of Education.[9]
Thus, teaching speaking is the way of the teachers to explore and built student’s potential in learning speaking so that the students can convey information or express their thoughts and feelings in spoken language.
- Effortlessenglish.com materials
Effortlenglish.com is a commercial website that focuses on teaching English, particularly on how to speak English fluently and automatically. This site is created by A.J. Hoge who has experienced in teaching English for 20 years.
The most popular material of the site is known as “seven rule concepts”. Seven rule concepts are designed to help teachers in teaching speaking. These concepts consist of seven rules that guide students in learning speaking.
[1] Alfitri.M (2012),The Importance of Learning Foreign Languages.Retrived October 10,2012,from http://wismasastra.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/apa-bahasa-itu-sepuluh-pengertian-bahasa-menurut-para-ahli/
[2] Suryosubroto. B (1997). Proses Belajar Mengajar di Sekolah, Jakarta:Rineka Cipta,
[3]Brown, G. & G. Yule (2000). Teaching the Spoken Language. Beijing: People Education Press.
[4]Jan Noyes (2004). A communicating Skill: Speaking Everyone’s Language. Santa Rosa.
[5]Burkat, Grave Stovall(2000). Teaching Speaking. Retrived April 02,2013, from http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/speaking/goalsspeak.htm.
[6]Yunsheng.Z(.2008) English Language Teaching: A Study of Autonomy English Learning on the Internet. Foreign Language Department of Qinzhou University
[7]Zhao,H.Q(2003) A case study of Chinese EFL teacher’s views of and attitudes towards ICT in the classroom. The University of Bath.
[8]Gage N.L (1964) Theories of teaching. In: Hilgard E R (ed.) (1964)Theories of Learning and Instruction. National Society for the Study of Education Yearbook No. 63, Part 1. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press,
[9]Carter V Good (1997). Dictionary of Education. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.
dany j.r 