THE ROLE OF WATCHING ENGLISH MOVIE IN LEARNING ENGLISH

THE ROLE OF WATCHING ENGLISH MOVIE IN LEARNING ENGLISH

By

Mohammad Agus Salim El Bahri

ABSTRACT

English as international language has realized people as a vital medium of communication. In international congress and gatherings, English is more often used than any other language.

Nowadays, Globalization era has been in our surrounding, we must be brave to face it. The role of foreign language has been important at the time, especially English language as international language. We are encountered with condition that force us to be more transparant in understanding what is taking place on the other side of the earth. We are competition with the fast growing technology, while the distance among the countries is practically gone. There is nearly boundless relationship between two countries, what is happening now at one place in this world will be heard and known in seconds by the other people in far away of place. It means that we are facing hard competition and we may not left behind.

The development technology right now, on the way. It can influence on human life at all sectors. Information technology has been used from education sector until business, many information of intellectual, practical, technical, and entertainment are promoted on electronic audio visual as on television, radio, and internet.

Television as one of a prove of modern technology has given many advantages for human life. By watching television people can know everything about news, entertainments, etc in far away of place. And television has become an effective medium to transfer knowledge, information, and culture, habit even life style.

Most people in our environment think that development technology has brought more negative effect than the positive one, such as – television, internet, and VCD/DVD player. Through this paper the writer wants to tell the readers to see the positive side of watching television in learning English

There are many benefits that can be achieved through watching movie. The first, watching is something enjoyable, moreover if we understand about it. by watching people can know the current things. English movie are very develop nowadays and known in Indonesia because of the effect of globalization era on information sector.

The second, watching English movie is very advantages for English students, not only as something enjoyable but also as motivation to learn English. Finally, the students can also learn a lot of things from watching English movie such as – pronunciation, vocabulary, style, intonation even western culture, habit etc.

1. Definition

   1. Pronunciation

As human being, we always get in touch with other people such as- our parent, friends, teachers and any body else wherever and whenever even foreigners. But how we do it? Surely, we carry it out by speaking, what sort of tools do we use to speak? to answer this question, every body is bound to know it obviously that we use language to speak and in speaking, we need the way of word or language is usually spoken that is called pronunciation, there are many definition of pronunciation :

According to Professor Sir Randolph Quirk (1987; 830) in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English said that:

“Pronunciation is the way in which a language or particular word is pronounced “

And according to As Hornby (2005; 928) in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English said that:

“Pronunciation is way in which a language is spoken “

While in http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pronounciation (021206):

“Pronunciation is a word can be spoken in different ways by various individuals or groups, depending on many factors, such as the time in which they grew up, the area in which they grew up, the area in which they now live, their social class and their education”

Based on the definitions above, it can be concluded that pronunciation is a sound of a word or language in which the society are usually used as tool of communication.

According to J.D.O.Connor (1967:6-7) in Better English Pronunciation said that:

In one sense there are as many different kinds of English as there are speakers of it ; no two people speak exactly alike- we can always differences between them-and the pronunciation of English varies a great deal in different geographical area.

Based on the statement above, it can be concluded that the differences of English pronunciation can be caused by the habit where the people live or geographical area.

The fact that we always find when foreigners are speaking in English, they have different pronunciation, intonation and etc. the listeners can predict where they come from. We can know them how they speak, either Australian, British or American.

In communication, we must always pay attention the aspect of pronunciation: sound, stress, rhythm, and intonation. So, pronunciation is used to more clearly communication or conversation. A speaker knows how to pronounce the sound correctly. For incorrect pronunciation makes the listeners boring, unpleasant feeling, not interested. It might cause also loosing the listener’s attention.

2. English movie

Movie is one of entertainment which can not be separated in our life now. It is also become a medium to describe about human life and all aspect of problem; it can be retell a story or event in the last time. By watching movie, we can know about habit, culture or language in the world. Many people spend their time in front of television just to watch movie, entertainment, news etc. The reality, movie has great influence on audiences’ life. Because movie is universal form for communication. In this chapter, the writer will explain about English movie. Before it, it will be explained about movie. There are many definition of movie:

According to Professor Sir Randolph Quirk (1987; 380) in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English said that:

“Movie is a story, play etc recorded on film to be show in the cinema, on television etc”

While in http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ film. (021206)

“Film is a form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of image giving the illusion of continuous movement “

According to As Hornby (1995; 434) in Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary of Current English, said that:

“Film is a story etc recorded as set of moving pictures to be shown on television or at the cinema “.

Based on the definitions, it can be concluded movie is a story etc recorded which is done by people and to be presented on television or at the cinema.

So, English movie is a story of western life (European or American) which has been presented on television or at the cinema and become entertainment.

Television as media to present the movie has many functions, according to Dr. Oemar Hamalik, which is rewritten by Drs. Darwanto, SS. In Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan (2007; 125) said that function of television as learning media:

1. The character of television are real and direct

2. Television can be enlarge class observation

3. Television can be re-create all the last event

4. Television gives anything

5. Television makes interested, not only children but also all people.

6. Television helps to teachers.

7. Television brings all sources in society into the class room.

Based on the function of television as learning media, it can be concluded that television can give solution in lack of teachers, learning room and books.

As we know in Indonesia, some of television has presented English programs as broadcasting, news and movie. Their aim to give education and information by English language. So, the audiences are used to hearing and watching English language as one of public communication in the world.

Learning through television has many advantages. The first, the audiences can learn knowledge which has been good design. The second, it can increase children’s appreciation. According Oemar Hamalik in Media Pendidikan which is rewritten by Drs. Darwanto, SS. In Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan. (2007; 126) said that:

“A communication, television is unique in its ability to bring many other sides in class room. Every audio visual help we have known can be carried by television, motion pictures, film strip, slide (particularly to provides setting for dramatic production ), recording, drawings, maps, and countless other instructional device more over it given school opportunity to present fresh, original, creative illustration produced in the living present”

Based on Oemar Hamalik’s opinion, it can concluded that television as learning media , so the students can learn any things through television program, specially education program. According to Drs. Darwanto, SS (2007; 131). In Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said that the effects of television to student are:

1. Television can influence on the children / students to learn knowledge based on their thinking.

2. Television helps to students to understand about anything that has never done before.

3. Television as leading spirit to study about circumstance

4. Television as leading spirit to children to be scientist.

In this era, television has been mass media, because in sort time, the role of television has influence on the way of people’s thinking; include public opinion to interest industrial products. Be caused the programs on television more interest, so many people spend their time to watch it. Finally, television will influence on audience’s attitude, behavior, and the way of thinking.

The functions of mass media include television according to Dr. Harold D. Laswell (2007; 32-33) in Televise Sebagai Media Pendidikan said there are many main function of mass media:

1. The surveillance of the environment.

2. The correlation of the parts of society in responding to the environment.

3. The transmission of the social heritage from one generation to the next. (Harold, D. Laswell, 1948; 38)

Based on Dr. Harold D. Laswell, it can be concluded that the function of mass media are:

1. Mass media as giving information about something unusual on public.

2. Mass media to do selection, evaluation and interpretation from information.

3. Mass media as media to convey moral value and heritage from one generation to the next generation. It means mass media as educational function.

While according to Charles R. Wright (2007; 33) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said:

“Communicative act primarily intended for amusement irrespective of any instrumental effects the might have “(Charles R. Wright, 1959; 38 in Mass Communication A Sociological Perspective)

It means mass media as entertainment, be caused of it people read newspaper, listening radio and watching television.

According to Wilbur Schramm (2007; 33) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said mass media as promotion media:

“To sell goods for us”

Based on those opinion above, Drs. Darwanto, S.S (2007; 34) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan, concluded that mass media has function. They are:

1. As news and providing information media

2. As educational media

3. As entertainment media

4. As promotion media

Television as entertainment, educational and information media has influenced on society life. They get many things such as – habit, culture, knowledge, style etc. As audience is easy to imitate what they hear and watch.

In this case, English movie has important role to teach audiences how to pronounce the language or word correctly. By watching English movie are expected to students to imitate what the actors or actress said and increasing into their vocabulary and know how to pronounce correctly.

3. Habit

As human being, we always find diversity of culture, habit, character, behavior and language. Diversity makes us know how to adapt and makes relationship with other people. The important thing in diversity how to respect each other and mutual understanding.

Everyone has difference habit; it is easy to makes social conflict. If there are not mutual understanding and tolerance each other. One of the ways to get mutual understanding by learning a habit in environment, such as - daily language which is used as tool of communication. Habit can be caused by environment, life style, etc. in this chapter there are many definition of habit:

According to Professor Sir Rondolph (1987; 469) in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English said that:

“ habit is a tendency to be have in particular way or particular thing, especially regularly and repeatedly over a long period “.

While in http://www.bartleby.com/61/habit (120107)

1. A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.

2. An established disposition of mind or character.

According to As Hornby (1995; 533) in Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary said that:

“Habit is a thing that person does often and almost without thinking”

While in http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/habit (120107)

“A prevailing disposition or character of person’s thought and feeling: mental make up”

Based on the definitions, it can be concluded that habit is all activities that done repeatedly for a long time without thinking.

According to J.D.O.Connor (1967; 01) in Better English pronunciation said that:

“Language starts with the ear. When a baby stars to talk he does it by hearing the sound his mother makes and imitating them “.

So, it can be concluded that Language is habit:

1. Speaking is mouth-action: so, you must use your mouth.

2. Reading is mouth and eye-action: so, you must use your mouth.

3. Listening is ear-action: so, you must use your ear.

4. Writing is hand-action: so, must use your action.

Someone can speak depend on hearing, but just hearing, it is not enough, she or he must listen to it, and it is not for the meaning but for the sound of it. It means that language is habit. Make it habit, she or he will get it. If she or he wants to speak fluently she or he must has habit in speaking. Speaking is mouth-action, being fussy will make better in speaking.

It is also needed more practice and a great deal of patience in learning English as foreign language. Environment has important role to be success in learning language, because a good environment is not a luxury, but a necessity. It means that learning language needs a habit in environment. So, to success in learning language, we must live in area in which the language is used.

2. Function

Language is very important for human life. English language is one of the tools of communication in international community. Therefore, English is needed here because not only English is used to communicate in international community, but also the fact that this language is mostly needed in transferring the knowledge of modern technology, scientific publications, books, newspaper and magazine.

In learning a language especially in conversation, it is needed a good pronunciation. In the other word, a good pronunciation will influence on a good conversation.

Learning English needs some goods ways to understand more easily. There are many ways to study English; one of the ways is by watching English movie.

It is necessity to consider the role of watching English movie. By watching English movie, the student does not only get an entertainment, but also can learn English language. More than that, English movie is able to make the situation enjoyable, pleasurable, and interesting. Watching English movie will be an effective medium to encourage the students in learning English especially in conversation with right pronunciation.

According to Hudoro Sumeto, MBA (2003; 35) in Kiat Menguasai Bahasa Asing, said that:

“The role of radio and television are also very importance in learning foreign language. Because by listening and watching television, we are used to hearing pronunciation and speaking from foreign language which we learn. We can hear news or film which are presented by both of them. In listening or watching, we learn to understand what the people said and also increase vocabulary “.

According to J.D.O.Connor (1967; 05) in better English pronunciation said that:

“Films or radio programs have the disadvantages that you can not stop them and ask for something to be repeated. Gramophone records do not have this advantage. With gramophone records you can repeat any part of the text as you need, and you must do this : it is much better for you ear if you listen to the same passage six times than if you listen to six different passage; be careful – listen closely each time, don’t relax after two or three hearings, try to keep your ears as closely concentrated on the sound of the passage at the sixth hearing as at the first. In this way you will build up a store of sound-memory which will form a firm base for you performance “.

The role of listening conversation in learning language, either through television, radio, tape recorder, movie or other tool is very importance for audience’s memory. By listening native speaker, we used to with vocabulary pronunciation, intonation and also grammatical of sentence. So, the audiences are expected to imitate what the native speaker said.

Reference lists:

Connor J.D.O “Better English Pronunciation“Cambridge at the University Press 1967

Darwanto, SS, Drs “Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan “Pustaka Pelajar, Yogyakarta, 2007

Harnby As “Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English “Oxford University press, 1995

Sir Randolph Quirk Professor “Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English “Longman Group UK Limited, 1987

Sumeto, Hudoro, MBA. “Kiat Menguasai Bahasa Asing “Puspa Swara, Anggota Ikapi Jakarta, 2003

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

http://www.bartleby.com/61

http://www.m-w.com

Presented by MOHAMMAD AGUS SALIM EL BAHRI

Now, he is studying at Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa University of Yogyakarta Indonesia. He comes from Madura Island East Java Indonesia

TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY USING GAMES

TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY USING GAMES

By

Mohammad Agus Salim El Bahri

Abstract

Learning is one of the primary activities of students in the classroom. Successful learning is only on the right way to lead the process. Good learning atmosphere and method can guide the students to learn more and meaningful. To accomplish such condition, teachers must create varitype and attractive methods for the class.

What should a teacher do if their students get bored? Using varitype 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. By this paper, the writer wants to share experiences about “how to teach English vocabulary using games”.

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. One of the best ways of doing this is through games.

Games can help the teachers to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful. In the whole process of teaching and learning by games, the students can take part widely and open-mindedly. To win the games each student or group should competitively answer the questions addressed by the teacher or other students or groups. In order to do so they must understand what the teacher or others are saying or have written, and they must speak or write in order to express their own point of view or give information

The English instruction in elementary school is intended to endorse the mastery and development of the four basic abilities and skills. Those are reading, writing, speaking and listening as reflected in abilities and skill concerning language use so that the students are able to express simple expression with emphasis our vocabulary mastery in order to avoid to vocabulary infraction and attain better out comes, the teacher should choose an appropriate teaching method, which is suitable with subject matter in teaching learning process. The need to use various instructional media will be able to help students to increase their English vocabulary.

Teaching vocabulary is clearly more than just presenting new words. It also includes a decision that words should teach the basic of how frequent they are used by speaker of the language. The words are most commonly used are those a teacher should teach first.

But commonly and usually the way of teaching makes the students lazy and bored. The teacher needs something different to make students interested, mostly children, because they are very easy to get bored. Therefore, teacher needs something interesting which can make motivate them. It is based on the characteristics and attitude of the children that they are curious and often seeks something that the teacher notices them and shows appreciation for what they are doing. So, to motivate them teacher needs something new that can stimulate their curiosity.

With the current analysis on communication in teaching language, using games appears to hold a solution for many teachers. The communication activities somehow involves in a varied use of language.

It had been found in many schools, teacher use games activities as their teaching aid. The students really appreciate any kind of activities which provide excitement and fun. It will be easy to understand and practice of English. The writer chooses games as the simple illustrated media to facilitate students’ method of learning, as we know children learn while playing games. It is easy to be understood and comprehended by students.

However, learning English vocabulary using games has an importance role for elementary teachers and students. The first, as students, they have strong and good motivation to deepen English language. The second, they are easy to accept the English language because they learn by playing games that nowadays has been grown and developed in Indonesia. The third, teaching English vocabulary using games can help teacher in teaching learning process. Finally, they (teacher and students) can teach and learn English vocabulary using games.

1. The characteristic of children as learners

Slattery and Willis (2001)

1. They are developing quickly as individuals; it means that they have difference in language acquisition.

2. Learn in a variety of ways, for example; by watching, by listening, by imitating and by doing things. It means children learn their knowledge through what they see, heard in their surrounding and then imitate it and imitating by doing things (children learn by doing)

3. Are not able to understand grammatical rules and explanations about language. Children are not understanding about the rule of language, they only imitate what they are seeing and hearing.

4. Try to make sense of situations by making use of non-verbal clues. Children will do imitate, it means learning by doing.

5. Talk in their mother tongue about they understand and do this helps them learn. It means they use their mother tongue to understand everything.

6. Can generally imitate the sounds they hear quite accurately and copy the way adults speak. It means they do imitation, memorization, practice and over learning, what the people are said.

7. Are naturally curious. They have strong willingness to know what they see and hear in their surrounding.

8. Love to play and use their imagination. It means they are learning while playing.

9. Are comfortable with routines and enjoy repetition. It means they need habit to learn.

10. Have quite a short attention span and need variety. Because they are learning while playing, it is needed many ways to make them understand what the teacher means.

2. The Definition of Vocabulary

Vocabulary is the total number of words in a language (Hornby, 1995; 1331). Vocabulary is an important part to mastery English well. According to Pigeat’s theory, a child at the age of 7 – 10 years is always interesting in recognizing and knowing new words, he stands to repeat new words repeatedly so that he will memorize them.

There are essential steps of learning vocabulary (Brown, 1995; 373) which has recited by Cameron:

• Having source for encountering new words.

• Getting a clear image for the form of new words.

• Learning the meaning of new words

• Making a strong memory connection between the form and the meaning of the words

• Using the words.

In teaching to children, teacher has to use performance to teach vocabulary to them, because the children in literacy level are Performance, it means children learn language with accompanying action / scaffolding. In this level, teacher can use media, according to Nation (1990) in recited by Cameron is listed basic technique of explaining the meaning of new words.

By demonstration picture:

• Using an object

• Using a cut-out picture

• Using gesture

• Performance action

• Photographs

• Drawing and or diagram on the board

• Picture from books, TV, Video or Computer

By verbal explanation:

• Analytical definition

• Putting in a context

• Translating

3. The important of vocabulary

A good mastery of vocabulary helps the learners to express their ideas precisely. By having many stocks of word learners will be able to comprehend the reading materials catch other talking, give response, speak fluently and write some kind of topics. On the contrary, if the learners do not recognize the meaning of the words use by those who address them, the will be unable to participate in conversation, unable to express some ideas, or unable to ask for information.

Considering the important of vocabulary role in learning foreign language. The mastery of this element should be ensured and develop. Otherwise, the vocabulary mastery of the children will be limited and consequence of it is that they will find difficulties in learning the skills of the language. Therefore, schools have a task to teach vocabulary to their students as suggested by John Carol as showed by Margaretha MC Keown (1987; 01)

Although a considerable amount of vocabulary, learning is associated with primary language learning in early years. The acquisition of most the vocabulary characteristic of an educated adult occur during the years of schooling, and infects one of the primary task of the school as far as language learning in concerned, as to teach vocabulary.

4. The use of Games

To increase the vocabulary we need media to be used. One of them is game. The definition of game is an activity that you do to have some fun (Hornby; 1995; 486). Games can make the students more focus in learning, because they do not feel that they are forced to learn.

Games can lower anxiety, thus making the acquisition of input more likely (Richard-Amato, 1988; 147). They are highly motivating and entertaining, and they can give shy students more opportunity to express their opinion and feelings (Hansen;1994;118). They also enable learners to acquire new experiences within a foreign language which are not always possible during a typical lesson. Games can be media that will give many advantages for teacher and the students either.

The useful of games are 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) other useful of games are:

• Games add variation to a lesson and increase motivation by providing a plausible incentive to use the target language. For many children between for and twelve years old, especially the youngest, language learning will not be the key motivation factor. Games can provide this stimulus. (Lewis, 1999).

• The game context makes the foreign language immediately useful to the children. It brings the target language to life. (Lewis, 1999).the games make the reason for speaking plausible even to reluctant children. (lewis,1999)

• Through playing games, students can learn English they way children learn their mother tongue without being aware they are studying; thus without stress, they can learn a lot.

• Even shy students can participate positively.

5. Moon (2000) suggests a positive learning environment:

• Make your classroom a lively place through the use of attractive wall displays, displays of pupils’ work, etc. language classroom is noisy with the language (English) is good because it will make the classroom more a live in English (practice)

• Motivate pupils to want to learn English by using interesting and enjoyable learning activities. E.g., project work, games, drama. It means learning by playing.

• Create warm and happy atmosphere where teacher and pupil enjoy working together. Teacher arranges good atmosphere in classroom and make the students interested.

• Help pupils to develop personal reasons for learning English. For example by encouraging out-of –school class activities, e.g. pen friends, project, reading story books.

6. How teachers can teach children.

1. Make learning English enjoyable and fun-remember you are influencing their attitude to language learning. (Lower as affective filter). It means teacher has to try in order to students are having fun in learning (learning by playing). Remember teacher is influencing their attitude to language learning

2. Do not worry about mistakes. Be encouraging – make sure children feel comfortable, and not afraid to take part. It means teacher does not blame directly to students, teacher must give support to students while repair their mistakes.

3. Use a lot of gestures, actions, pictures to demonstrate what you mean. It means teacher has to try to accompany her explanation with media in order to students understand easily. Don’t force the students to use the language directly, just give them examples by gestures

4. Talk a lot to them in English, especially about things they can see. Teacher must teach them by using English, especially about anything in their surrounding.

5. Play games, singsongs, say rhymes and chants together. It means teacher has skills in playing games, singsong etc to make them enjoy and interest in learning.

6. Tell simple theories in English, using pictures, acting with different voices.

7. Do not worry when they use their mother tongue. You can answer a mother tongue question in English, and sometimes recast in English what they say in their mother tongue. It means if the students use their mother tongue, the teacher translate to English and repeat again, again and again to make them always remember what teacher means.

8. Constantly recycle new language but do not be afraid to add new things or to use words they will not know. Teacher gives new language while remember the last topic.

9. Plan lesson with varied activities, some quiet, some noisy, some sitting, some standing and moving, it means teacher must demonstrate his teaching with several activities (mobilling teaching), sometimes teacher sit, stand up in front of or behind the students.

7. Teaching English vocabulary-using games

Language learning is hard work. Effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over a long period. Games help and encourage many learners to sustain their interest and work.

Games also help the teacher to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful. The learners want to take part and in order to do so must understand what others are saying or have written, and they must speak or write in order to express their own point of view or give information.

The need for meaningfulness in language learning has been accepted for some years. A useful interpretation of meaningfulness is that the learners respond to the content in a definite way. If they are amused, angered, intrigued or surprised the content is clearly meaningful to them. Thus, the meaning of the language they listen to, read, speak and write will be more vividly experienced and, therefore, better remembered.

There are many kinds of games which can be used in teaching English. Of course, as a technique games need help from media. The media can be picture, flash cards, object, puppet, cassette, projector and many others object surround them. It is better if the games are familiar for children, because they learn in a variety of ways, for example; by watching, by listening, by imitating and by doing things. It means children learn their knowledge through what they see, heard in their surrounding and then imitate it and imitating by doing things (children learn by doing)

Children can generally imitate the sounds they hear quite accurately and copy the way adults speak. It means they do imitation, memorization, practice and over learning, what the people are said

Bruner says that language is the most important tool for cognitive growth and he also investigate how adults can help the children to solve their problem. Scaffolding is bruner’s theory, it means that scaffolding is explainig to students and interacting to students to communicate, in scaffolding is holistic and must permeate all aspects of scientific teaching, if we answer.

So, teaching vocabulary-using games as methodolgy in learning – teaching process and the teaching materials for children less than five years old which is related with their surround, it means the vocabulary which related and introducing things surround them such as family names, naming of alphabet, name of number. And teaching material

Learn how to teach math vocabulary and specific words as you demonstrate math activities and when you talk to your students about their math experiences. Children learn the language of math just like they learn to talk about other topics.

In this variation, students break up into small groups and play a board game following commands. After the students have completed the game, they create their own board game using commands they have created on their own.

Language learning is a hard task which can sometimes be frustrating. Constant effort is required to understand, produce and manipulate the target language. Well-chosen games are invaluable as they give students a break and at the same time allow students to practise language skills. Games are highly motivating since they are amusing and at the same time challenging. Furthermore, they employ meaningful and useful language in real contexts. They also encourage and increase cooperation.

Games encourage, entertain, teach, and promote fluency. If not for any of these reasons, they should be used just because they help students see beauty in a foreign language and not just problems that at times seem overwhelming.

Games are often used as short warm-up activities or when there is some time left at the end of a lesson. Yet, a game should not be regarded as a marginal activity filling in odd moments when the teacher and class have nothing better to do. Games ought to be at the heart of teaching foreign languages. Games are used at all stages of the lesson, provided that they are suitable and carefully chosen.

Games also lend themselves well to revision exercises helping learners recall material in a pleasant, entertaining way. All authors referred to in this article agree that even if games resulted only in noise and entertained students, they are still worth paying attention to and implementing in the classroom since they motivate learners, promote communicative competence, and generate fluency.

There are many criteria games as educational media for teaching English to children:

• A game must be more than just fun.

• A game should involve "friendly" competition.

• A game should keep all of the students involved and interested.

• A game should encourage students to focus on the use of language rather than on the language itself.

• A game should give students a chance to learn, practice, or review specific language material.

• A game should be familiar by children.

The important things in teaching English vocabulary is how to make English learning fun for children with these excellent products

There are many advantages of using games in the classroom:
Games are a welcome break from the usual routine of the language class.

1. They are motivating and challenging.

2. Learning a language requires a great deal of effort.

3. Games help students to make and sustain the effort of learning.

4. Games provide language practice in the various skills- speaking, writing, listening and reading.

5. They encourage students to interact and communicate.

6. They create a meaningful context for language use.

7. Vocabulary games bring real world context into the classroom, and increase students’ use of English in a flexible, meaningful and communicative way.

8. Games usually involve friendly competition and they keep students interested in learning the language.

9. Games can help them (children) learn and hang on to new words more easily

The reasons of the writer in choosing games as educational media for teaching children are:

1. Games make learning fun so your class and children are willing participants and not just there because they have to be.

2. Playing a game has a purpose to it, an outcome, and in order to play students have to say things – they have a reason to communicate rather than just repeat things back mindlessly. Therefore, they want to know and learn more.

3. Students get to use the language all the time during the games

4. They involve a lot of repetition, and repetition is the mother of skill, it can be boring, but thanks to these games, it is fun.

5. How do you expect your class or children to remember vocabulary if they never use it? Repetition is the mother of skill.

6. The games lend themselves perfectly to quick bursts of revision. Using some of the games, you can revise a massive amount of vocabulary and grammar in a few minutes.

7. If you use games to revise two or three topics every lesson, as well as teach the new language, imagine how well your kids will do at exam time, and how proud you will feel.

8. Children have a short attention span (even more so these days with the style and pace of the media, and computer games), so injecting lively varied games into your classes to practice the language you are teaching will keep your children alert and enjoying themselves

9. The philosophy of encouragement incorporated into these games allows all students, including the less good ones, to gain in confidence. Usually this doesn't just mean they get better at your subject, but in all subjects. This makes everybody, including you, more motivated and optimistic, and you can really make a difference by helping your pupils have more self-esteem so they succeed in all areas of life.

10. You do not need many materials to play these games (in some cases you need only your regular black board or classroom props). Once you have used the games once you will need virtually no preparation time at all!

11. You will be able to give stimulating fun classes while keeping your evenings free for yourself and your own hobbies, family and friends

Pay attention:

• Games are often used as short warm-up activities or when there is some time left at the end of a lesson. In this case, a game should not be regarded as a marginal activity filling in odd moments when the teacher and class have nothing better to do. Games ought to be at the heart of teaching (foreign) languages.

• Games can be used at all stages of the lesson. But teachers must be sure that games provided, are suitable and carefully selected by the teachers.

• Before playing a game teachers should give attention to the number of students, proficiency level, cultural context, timing, learning topic, and the classroom settings.

• Games also lend themselves well to revision exercises helping learners recall material in a pleasant, entertaining way.

Reference list:

Cameron Dynne, 2001 “Teaching Language to Young Learners” Cambridge Unversity Press

Harnby As, 1995 “Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English “Oxford University Press

Slattery M & Jane Willis, 2001 “English for Primary Teacher” Oxford University Press.

Presented by MOHAMMAD AGUS SALIM EL BAHRI

www.maselbahri.blogspot.com,

Email: mas_agussalim@yahoo.com

THE ROLE OF SEARCHING INTERNET IN LEARNING ENGLISH

THE ROLE OF SEARCHING INTERNET IN LEARNING ENGLISH

By

Mohammad Agus Salim El Bahri

ABSTRACT

English as international language has been realized by people as a vital medium of communication. In international congress and gatherings, English is more often used than any other languages. Globalization era and revolution in communication are now on the way. What is now happening at one place in this world will be heard and known by the people in far a way of place.

The development of technology has given advantages for human life, such as – internet, television, radio, and hand phone, etc. Everyone can use the technology and take and give information.

Nowadays, Globalization era has been in our surrounding, we must be brave to face it. The role of foreign language has been important at the time, especially English language as international language. We are encountered with condition that force us to be more transparent in understanding what is taking place on the other side of the earth. We are competing with the fast growing technology, while the distance among the countries is practically gone. There is nearly boundless relationship between two countries, what is happening now at one place in this world will be heard and known in seconds by the other people in far a way place. It means that we are facing hard competition and we may be not left behind.

Internet as one of proves of modern technology has given many advantages for human life. By searching internet, people can know everything about news, entertainments, etc, in far away place. And internet has also become an effective medium to transfer knowledge, information, and culture, habit even life style.

Most people in our environment think that development technology has brought more negative effect than the positive one, such as – television, internet, and VCD/DVD player. Through this paper the writer wants to tell the readers to see the positive side of internet in learning English

The technology development has been on its way right now. It can influence on human life at all sectors. Information of technology has been used from education sector to business, much information intellectual, practical, technical, and entertainment, are available in websites.

There are many benefits that can be achieved through searching internet. The first, searching is something enjoyable, moreover if we understand about it. By searching internet people know the current things. Nowadays, searching internet are developed a lot and known in Indonesia because of the effect of globalization era on information sector.

The second, searching internet is very advantageous for English students, not only as something enjoyable but also as motivation to learn English. Finally, the students can also learn a lot of things from searching internet such as – grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, style, intonation even culture, habit, etc from the sources directly.

1. Definition

   1. Habit

As human being, we always get in touch with other people such as- our parents, friends, teachers and any body else wherever and whenever even foreigners. We will find diversity of culture, habit, character, behavior and even language. Diversity makes us know how to adapt and to make relationship with other people. The important thing in diversity is how to respect each other and mutual understanding.

Everyone has different habit. It is easy to make social conflict, if there are not mutual understanding and tolerance each other. One of the ways to get mutual understanding and tolerance is learning a habit in environment, such as - daily language which is used as tool of communication. Habit can be caused by environment, life style, etc. In this chapter there are many definitions of habit:

According to Professor Sir Randolph (1987; 469) in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English said that:

“Habit is a tendency to behave in particular way or particular thing, especially regularly and repeatedly over a long period “.

While in http://www.bartleby.com/61/habit (120107)

1. A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.

2. An established disposition of mind or character.

According to As Hornby (1995; 533) in Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary said that:

“Habit is a thing that person does often and almost without thinking”

While in http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/habit (120107)

“A prevailing disposition or character of person’s thought and feeling: mental make up”

Based on the definitions, it can be concluded that habit is all activities that done repeatedly for a long time without thinking.

According to J.D.O.Connor (1967; 01) in Better English Pronunciation said that:

“Language starts with the ear. When a baby stars to talk he does it by hearing the sound his mother makes and imitating them “.

So, it can be concluded that Language is habit:

1. Speaking is mouth-action: so, you must use your mouth.

2. Reading is mouth and eye-action: so, you must use your mouth.

3. Listening is ear-action: so, you must use your ear.

4. Writing is hand-action: so, must use your action.

Someone can speak depend on hearing, but just hearing, it is not enough, she or he must listen to it, and it is not for the meaning but for the sound of it. It means that language is habit. Make it habit, she or he will get it. If she or he wants to speak fluently she or he must have habit in speaking. Speaking is mouth-action, being fussy will make better in speaking.

It is also needed more practice and a great deal of patience in learning English as foreign language. Environment has important role to be success in learning language, because a good environment is not a luxury, but a necessity. It means that learning language needs a habit in environment. So, to be successful in learning language, we must live in area in which the language is used.

2. Internet

Internet as electronic communications has many benefits for human life, because communication is a systematic attempt to formulate in rigorous fashion, the principles by which information is transmitted and opinions and attitudes are formed.

By searching internet people can take and give information, on the internet all information can be found. People can look for all information through the web sites in which they are searching such as – yahoo (www.yahoo.com), Google (www.google.com) and others. Even people can watch movie through internet. So, the function of internet as information sources or electronic book, because on the internet there are many reference books that are not available in book stores or libraries.

On the internet information is not only national but also international information. So, people can enjoy the information by searching internet and they can communicate in far away place. All people know about internet, but actually what is the meaning of internet:

http://www.webopedia.com./TERM/I/internet.htm

“A global network connecting million of computers, more than 100 countries is liked into exchanges of data, news and opinions”.

http://www.britannica.com

“A system architecture that has revolutionized communications and method of commerce by allowing various computer networks around the world to interconnect.”(Encyclopedia Britannica)

http://www.m-w.com/internet

“A computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange”

Based on those definitions, it can be concluded that Internet is a tool of communication and information sources that use computer facilities as network to global connection.

By internet, people will get much information, such as - news, business, science, technology, entertainment, etc. By using the facilities of websites through internet, information can be known fast, people also get job vacancy, partner, even pair of couple, because many web sites offer them. On the internet there are facilities which can be used or offered, such as e-mail, chatting and also web sites. So everyone can do transaction and communication through the facilities in internet.

According to Helen S. Solórzano (2006:10) in North Star: Building Skill for The TOEFL IBT, High Intermediate said:

“Due to the development of technology such as satellite communication and internet, people in 21^st century are better informed about world events than ever before. We no longer have to wait until the evening news hour or publication of the daily newspaper to find out about current events. Instead, we can get updates on the latest breaking news stories as soon as they happen via 24 – hour cable TV broadcasts and internet news sources. You can even subscribe to services the send news directly to your email address or cell phone. As a result, we can always be informed about important events. In additions, news coverage is no longer limited by geography and distance. Modern internet and satellite technology allows broadcasters to send video and audio reports around the world, so event that were once local now have global audience, and we can learn about breaking news in every corner of the world “.

In this era, internet has been mass media, because in sort time, the role of internet has influence on the way of people’s thinking; include public opinion to interest industrial products. Since the facilities on internet are more interesting, so many people spend their time to search it and use it as tool of communication. Finally, internet will influence on people’s attitude, behavior, and the way of thinking.

The functions of mass media according to Dr. Harold D. Laswell (2007; 32-33) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said there are many main functions of mass media:

1. The surveillance of the environment.

2. The correlation of the parts of society in responding to the environment.

3. The transmission of the social heritage from one generation to the next. (Harold, D. Laswell, 1948; 38)

Based on Dr. Harold D. Laswell, it can be concluded that the function of mass media are:

1. Mass media as giving information about something unusual on public.

2. Mass media to do selection, evaluation and interpretation from information.

3. Mass media as media to convey moral value and heritage from one generation to the next generation. It means mass media as educational function.

While according to Charles R. Wright (2007; 33) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said:

“Communicative act primarily intended for amusement irrespective of any instrumental effects the might have “(Charles R. Wright, 1959; 38 in Mass Communication A Sociological Perspective)

According to Wilbur Schramm (2007; 33) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan said mass media as promotion media:

“To sell goods for us”

Based on those opinion above, Drs. Darwanto, S.S (2007; 34) in Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan, concluded that mass media has functions. As follows:

1. As news and providing information media

2. As educational media

3. As entertainment media

4. As promotion media

Internet as entertainment, educational and information media has influenced on society life. They get many things such as – habit, culture, knowledge, and style, etc

Many universities or institution use the facilities of websites online to access data and to offer or to promote to students to study in their university online (internet). The students can register without going to campus (face to face), either national universities or international universities.

Internet as an educational media has many advantages to students to learn any things such as – English, biology, physic, mathematic, and etc, beside that the students use it as reference to get more complete information.

Searching internet is very advantageous for English students. It is not only as something enjoyable in getting a lot of information but also as motivation to learn English

According to Dwi Heriyanto (2005:57 – 58) in Belajar dan Mengajar Bahasa Inggris Dengan Menggunakan Teknologi Modern Audio dan Multimedia said, there are many facilities internet to offer for students in learning English online such as:

• http://www.tbi.co.id

• http://www.indo.net.id/acl/alc.htm

• http://www.english-in-oxford.com

• http://www.english.bham.ac.uk/

• http://www.english.ox.ac.uk/

• http://www.shef.ac.uk/english/literature/

• http://www.ucl.ac.uk/intenet-grammar/

Learning English through internet makes students understand easily whatever they learn like grammars, structures, or pronunciation, because the students are taught by sources directly. They can download the websites or surfing the address such as – http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/. This website learns grammar through internet which is guided from College London University.

Newspaper and English magazine are needed to help students or costumers in reading ability and improving knowledge about the problems of world. We need newspaper and magazine as learning media. But we must pay attention, if we are students, we need the kinds of magazine which sort contains, so besides getting knowledge, it is also useful to make the readers are not bored, because the problematic in learning language is being bored.

Newspaper has equal function with magazine, but the language of newspaper is more complete. Beside that, the contents of newspaper are up to date. In internet there are many newspapers and English magazines. According to Dwi Heriyanto (2005:66 – 68) in Belajar dan Mengajar Bahasa Inggris Dengan Menggunakan Teknologi Modern Audio dan Multimedia said, there are many newspapers and English magazines offered online such as :

: http://www.washingtonpost.com

: http://www.latimes.com

: http://www.nytimes.com/

: http://www.theherald.co.uk

: http://www.elsmag.com

: http://www.cnsmag.com

: http://www.harvard-magazine.com

On the internet there are also many online dictionaries. Online dictionary is needed to get many dictionaries easily for costumers, because online dictionary gives the meaning and explanation of words easily, it is more complete than book dictionaries.

According to Dwi Heriyanto (2005:61 – 62) in Belajar dan Mengajar Bahasa Inggris Dengan Menggunakan Teknologi Modern Audio dan Multimedia said, there are many online dictionaries offering for students in learning English online such as:

: http://www.onlinedictionary.datasegment.com

: http://www.m-w.com

: http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/

: http://www.lowcomdom.com/dictionary/index.shtml

: http://www.global-language.com/century/

: http://www.kamus.web.id/

B. Function

Language is very important for human life. English language is one of the tools of communication in international community. Therefore, English is needed here because not only English is used to communicate in international community, but also the fact that this language is mostly needed in transferring the knowledge of modern technology, scientific publications, books, newspapers and magazines.

Learning English needs some good ways to understand more easily. There are many ways to study English language; one of the ways is by searching internet. Through internet the students or costumers are guided directly by the sources and internet as sources of information will give easy way to learn English. Guided by native speaker or sources, we get used to with pronunciation, vocabulary and also grammatical structure of sentences. So, the students or costumers are expected to imitate what the native speaker taught.

• The web sites of learning English online (Internet).

Internet as a source of information has many websites which will help people who want to take and to give information.

According to Dwi Heriyanto, (2005; 57-69) in Belajar dan Mengajar Bahasa inggris dengan technolgi modern audio, video dan multimedia, there are many websites in internet which help in learning English well, they are:

1. English education

   1. The British Institute Indonesia.

(http://www.tbi.co.id/)

This institute gives international English course and has been built 1984, the located in Indonesia now at Bandung.

2. American Language Center

(http://www.indo.net.id/acl/acl.htm)

One of English course which serve to practice English online

3. Effective English Conversation Course

(http://eecc.ourfamily.com/)

This institution gives English course, at Pare Kediri, east java.

4. English In Oxford For Professionals

(http://www.english-in-oxford.com)

This website serves English practice for individual and group

5. English Faculty at Birmingham University, UK.

(http://www.english.bham.ac.uk/)

f. Language and Literature Faculty at Oxford University

(http://www.english.ox.ac.uk/)

7. ELS Studies

(http://www.els.to/)

This web site serves online course.

7. Literature faculty at Sheffield University, UK

(http://www.shef.ac.uk/english/literature/)

7. Englishtown.Com

(http://www.englishtown.com)

English learning centre and completed with native speaker.

7. English language faculty at Liverpool University.

(http://www.liv.ac.uk/english/)

7. BBC English

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/index.shtm)

Learning English from BBC

7. PeakEnglish.Com

(http://www.peakenglish.com/index.jsp)

English learning web sites which give additional knowledge about English such as – slang in English.

m. Internet Grammar

(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/intenet-grammar/)

Learning grammar online, this is guided by University of College London.

n. English-Express.Com

(http://www.english-express.com/english/home.htm)

This website serves in learning English online.

15. EnglishPage.Com

(http://www.englishpage.com)

English language for learning ESL/EFL

p. English-At-Home.Com

(http://www.english-at-home.com)

It is learning English grammar, vocabulary, verbs, and speaking with several games.

2. Online Dictionary

a. Datasegment.Com

(http://www.onlinedictionary.datasegment.com)

It is not only dictionary, but also bible from old and new agreement

b. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

(http://www.bartleby.com/61/)

It is a complete dictionary which presented online.

c. Merriam-Webster Online

(http://www.m-w.com)

There are games of words which easy to add vocabulary.

d. Foldoc Dictionary Online

(http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/)

e. The LowComDom Online Dictionary

(http://www.lowcomdom.com/dictionary/index.shtml)

f. Wordsmyth

(http://www.wordsmyth.net)

It is dictionary and thesaurus for education.

g. Computer Dictionary

(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon.htm)

The websites contents computer word or language.

h. Online Dictionary

(http://www.online-dictionary.net)

The websites give serve about kinds of dictionary.

i. The Century Dictionary

(http://www.global-language.com/century/)

The website serves dictionary with picture and explanation.

j. Kamus. Web

(http://www.kamus.web.id/)

The website gives serve dictionary facilities for Indonesian – English and English – Indonesian.

3. Newspaper and English Magazines

a. The Washington Post

(http://www.washingtonpost.com)

It is a newspaper from Washington DC. United state, which can be read online

b. Los Angeles Times

(http://www.latimes.com)

The online newspaper from one of famous city in united state of American, Los Angeles

c. The New York Times

(http://www.nytimes.com/)

d. The Washington Times

(http://washtimes.com)

e. The Sydney Morning Herald

(http://www.smh.com.au/)

It is a famous newspaper from Australian country.

f. Times Online

(http://www.timesonline.co.uk)

One of newspaper from British

g. The Herald

(http://www.theherald.co.uk)

The biggest newspaper in British which can find the factual news

h. TV Guide Magazine

(http://www.tvguide.com)

English magazine which relationship with program and films on television

i. ESL Magazine Online

(http://www.elsmag.com)

It is online magazine for English education.

j. C’n S Magazine

(http://www.cnsmag.com)

English magazine of Indonesia country

k. Harvard Magazine

(http://www.harvard-magazine.com)

It is English magazine of Harvard University.

4. Literature of English - America

a. An Online Library of Literature

(http://www.literature.org)

The website serves the biography and famous authors such as – Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Shelley, etc.

b. Great Authors of 19^th Century Literature

(http://www.2020site.org/literature/)

The website gives information about biography of the authors at 19^th century such as – Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and etc.

c. 16^th Century Renaissance English Literature (1485-1603)

(http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/)

The website gives information about the biography of the authors at 16^th century.

Using modern technology as educational media will get many advantages and will make students enjoy studying. Radio, television and internet as products of modern technology have given easy ways to teachers and English students. By using the technology, learning methods and English lessons are not boring

Reference lists:

Azwar Saifuddin, MA, 2005” Metode Penelitian” Pustaka Pelajar, Yogyakarta

Connor J.D.O, 1967 “Better English Pronunciation” Cambridge at the University Press

Darwanto, SS, Drs, 2007 “Televisi Sebagai Media Pendidikan “Pustaka Pelajar, Yogyakarta

Harnby As, 1995 “Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English “Oxford University press

Heriyanto Dwi, 2005 “Belajar Dan Mengajar Bahasa Inggris Dengan Menggunakan Teknologi Modern Audio, Video Dan Multimedia “Pustaka Widyatama, Yogyakarta

Sir Randolph Quirk Professor, 1987 “Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English “Longman Group UK Limited

Solórzano Helen S, 2006 “North Star: Building Skills for the TOEFL IBT, High Intermediate “Pearson Education, Icn, Pearson Longman

http://www.bartleby.com/61

http://www.m-w.com

http://www.webopedia.com

http://www.britannica.com

Presented by MOHAMMAD AGUS SALIM EL BAHRI

Now, he is studying at Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa University of Yogyakarta Indonesia. He comes from Madura Island East Java Indonesia