PT. Ferwindo Karya Pratama

 

SHOULD TEACHERS USE TECHNOLOGY TO TEACH ENGLISH FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION PROGRAM

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS

UNIVERSITAS KRISTEN SATYA WACANA

SALATIGA

2018

INTRODUCTION

In a recent discussion of teaching English using technology for young learners, a controversial issue has been whether or not teachers should use technology in the classrooms.  English language teaching has been one of the important subjects in education. On the one hand, Haelry (2008, as cited in Pun, 2013, p. 3 - 4) argues that “the use of technology for teaching and learning is moving their institution in the right direction and the teachers' instructions lead to the students' thought patterns and motivate the students' emotions”. According to this view, the use of technology will likely give a better improvement and raise student’s enthusiasm in learning through the instruction that is given by the teachers. Naido (2003, as cited in Pramela Krish & Noraza Ahmad Zabidi, 2007,p. 5)  suggests that  “ICT  can also  be used  to support  teachers who lack adequate skills and content knowledge, thus contributing to improving the quality  of learning”. From this perspective, teachers also can learn how to use technology to teach their students and get various ideas to make a better learning process.

On the other hand, "students need to be given maximum opportunity for authentic social interaction" (Warschauer, 2000, as cited in Pun, 2013, p. 34). According to this view, the students do not want to be exploring their childhood and they only focus on the internet. Pun (2013) argues that “the teachers have to encourage the students to use their own mind and speak more” (p. 36). From this perspective, students should develop their creative thinking and interaction among other students.

I have experience when I was a senior high school in Medan which has similar issues in the case of teaching English with technology. In senior high school teachers usually, use technology to make the students are motivated. They use power point and some video when they want to show us about a material. In fact, technology can help the process of learning at school. Considering the fact that technology is useful for the students it makes technology could not be avoided by the teachers in the process of teaching English. I still maintain that teachers’ use of technology in the teaching English classroom is necessary to make the students are motivated. Therefore, my own view is that teachers still need to use technology to teach students because of several

Encourage Students for Learning

Technology is help people especially students to increase knowledge and make learning easier. In the new day, technology is a key to make students more creative and active when process learning. Technology also develops the understanding about language for the students and creating a positive impact in learning and make successful teaching. Most of all school use technology as their media to teach their students in a class. However, there is someone who disagrees with using technology in a learning process. Here, Ara (2009, as cited in Maria Diakou, 2015 p.285) “because of their short attention spans, children cannot concentrate on tedious activities for long durations”. She thinks that students do not have enough time to doing long activities when process learning. Besides from it, in Medan technology is also the one of an important thing to encourage students more enthusiasm and active when learning the English language. The use of technology encourages students more active, and interested in learning English. According to Chris Pim (2013), technology can encourage students for learning the English language with utilization songs, video clips, podcasts and etc. Therefore teachers should use much application to make students interested in the English language. Here, Scott and Ytreberg (1990) suggest that “teachers encourage their students and make them more interested when teachers using some applications in learning the English language”. For examples, teachers can use games, songs, stories, and etc. When teachers use games, songs, and stories in teaching English, students will be more excited about learning. They will be respected and listen to the teacher's explanations for what they should do next. The teachers can sing a song and students can follow the instruction from the teachers. When the students and teachers sing a song, students can remember a “word by word” and teachers can explain the meaning of the song or the words. In my opinion, this way can help students more active because they will sing together and also remember the words. According to Ningrum (2012), students are more enthusiastic when they have an activity in the learning process. The activities can develop creativities of the students, therefore students more challenging when teachers give an activity rather than just listen and answering the questions from a book. Ilter (2015) also says that technology internet and some computer games could promote language learning positively if they are used correctly (p.312). Almost all application use English language and it will improve students language if they always using technology in learning.

 

Technology Build Interaction in a Class

Teachers and students should have an interaction to make the process learning better. Interaction can be found when teachers and students give a response in the process learning. The interaction will be seen when both of them give a response with each other. Pun (2013) suggests that “The students will have a very limited time for speaking communication. The sound and image of multimedia technology affect the students' initiative to think and speak” (p.34). Related with this point, he thinks that if the students always using multimedia technology it will make a limited time for the students. Teachers do not need to talk or explain more to the students because it's already delivered by videos, pictures, audio and etc. Teachers can make an online class to make process learning more easily, but on the other hand, it cannot be a good choice for learning. It will be better if the teachers meet with the students and have a real process teaching “face to face”. In the other hand, using technology in a classroom develops interaction among teachers and students as long as they are in class.

Related with Krish (2006) emphasizes the importance of feedback in teaching and learning in the electronic media because helpful feedback given to learners means creating social presence which is crucial in the virtual mode of learning. When the teachers start to teach students, they usually explain about the material.  Therefore teachers need to give a feedback for the students, and it will develop their interaction among teachers and students. (Meyer,  2002  as  cited  in  Aksal,  2009; as cited in Melor) a statement that the process  of online  communication enables  the learners  to actively  construct their  own perspectives  which they  can communicate  to a  small group.  Learners engage in active, constructive, intentional, authentic and collaborative learning.  Enabling the groups to socially construct knowledge through communicating and collaborating with others is an important element of constructivist-based online learning and teaching. Related with this point, students can improve their ability to speak or communicate with others. They can share their knowledge with each other and also can be easy to socialization in the class.

Krish (2006, as cited in Pramela Krish & Noraza Ahmad Zabidi, 2007 p. 7)  Explains that both learners and instructors need appropriate computer skills and knowledge to experience meaningful learning. Teachers can make a quiz for the students by using multimedia technology to make them more active and dare to speak with teachers. The quiz can build an interaction also improve the students in the class. Even so, multimedia technology has been helping the teachers to make an interaction with the students. At this point, Pun (2013) multimedia technology in teaching focuses on the active participation of students and enhances the importance of interaction among students and between teachers and students (p. 32). According to this view, teachers should make students become an active participant by using games. The teachers can use games and material for learning in the class. Students will be interested in the game and it can make the interaction between the teachers too. Usually, students will be an active participant when they feel the activity that the teachers give is interesting.

Technology Makes Process Learning Easier.

Technology helps teachers to teach their students to be easier and better. The teachers will be easy to explain materials to the students. Related with Shin (2015, as cited in Maria Diakou p.289) “If online materials are used without critical review of their suitability, there is a risk that teachers will present inaccurate, inappropriate, or even dangerous content to learners”. According to with this point, teachers should be careful when they teach the students because when the teachers use technology for process learning it will have much negative content. In my opinion, the teachers should be a guide for students to use technology appropriately. The negative content does not seem if the teachers become a guide for the students. Because by using technology the teachers can teach the students easily.

Pun (2013) ITC can help teachers easier to teach the students because it creates more real life environment for English teaching. The ICT also make a process learning more economizer to the students (p.32). In addition, the teachers should not bring a lot of books to teach the students. They can bring a laptop in a class as their alternate books. Krish & Zabidi (2007) Technology enables the teacher to transmit more information to a larger number of students in a shorter time (p.4). The teacher can be easy teach and give knowledge for the students. They can use technology to convey knowledge or information and more quickly also better for the students. Furthermore, students can also follow the teachers in a better way.

Kennedy (cited in Peggy and Anne, 2010 p.272) noted that the most important feature of a professional development program is a strong focus on helping teachers understand how students learn specific content, and how specific instructional practices and tools can support student learning outcomes. Thus, when teachers teach students, they should teach a specific content to the students. It helps the students too easy to understand the material.

CONCLUSION

The use of technology in learning English for young learners are effective to make them more excited. Teachers use technology to learning English in Medan to encourages students more active and also develop interaction among teachers and students. Teachers can also use technology to help them in learning English easier. In brief, because of its reasons, teachers need to realize the importance of technology in teaching English, so they should not abandon and ignore the role of technology in school especially in Medan.

References :

Diakou. M. (2015). Using Information and Communication Technologies to Motivate Young Learners to Practice English as a Foreign Language in Cyprus, The JALT call Journal. 11 (3), 283–292.

Diana, T. A., & Ciornei, S. I. (2013). The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Computer Assisted Language Learning And Teaching For Foreign Languages, Social and Behavioral Sciences. 76, 248 – 252.

Ertmer, P. A., & Ottenbreit, A.T. (2010). Teacher Technology Change: How Knowledge, Confidence, Beliefs, and Culture Intersect. 42(3), 255–284.

Fortunasari (2016). The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in English as foreign language learning: A review of recent practices in Indonesia, The Asian EFL Journal Professional Teaching Articles.92, 1-21.

Ilter, B, G. (2015). How does technology affect language learning process at an early age?, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 199, 311 – 316.

Krish, P., & Zabidi, N. A. (2007).  Teachers and the new ICT challenges. 2 (2), 1-13.

Motteram. G. (2013). Innovations in learning technologies for English language teaching. 17-42.

Ningrum, A.S.B. (2012). Using Internet Resources In Teaching English To Young Learners. Using Internet Resources. 4 (2), 113-122.

Pun. M. (2013). The Use Of Multimedia Technology In English Language Teaching: A Global Perspective, International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. 1 (1), 29-38.

Yunus,M. M., Nordin. N., Salehi. H., Sun, C. H., & Embi, M.A (2013). Pros and Cons of Using ICT in Teaching ESL Reading and Writing. 6 (7), 119-130.

USING INTERNET RESOURCES IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO YOUNG LEARNERS

Ary Setya Budhi Ningrum

ICT can help to make process learning especially English language become auspicious. The use of ICT give knowledge also skill for empower students to learning process in their life. ICT is a complement for learning process in a class, and it can also increase learner. Additionally ITC can help the students to understand different cultures and make them more communicative when they speak with others. Ary (2012) “Apart  from modeling  real world  interactions,  ICT supported  learning  provides  learners  the opportunity  to  work  with  people  from  different  cultures,  thereby helping  to enhance  learners’  teaming  and  communicative  skills  as  well  as  their  global awareness”. This opportunity makes the students easier to have relations with their friends and teachers, get many knowledge or information. Furthermore, ICT support learning to make creation in the real world for students. ITC enhance teaching and learning, separation between the different   disciplines   and   between   theory   and   practice   in a classroom.  The students can improve their knowledge and they will be more critical when they want to think by using ICT as their media for learning. Basically the students prefer to explore rather than listen and remember in the class. The students will get much information from ITC when the use it in the class they can more easy to follow a material or subject that teachers give for them. Ary (2012) “ICTs allow learners to explore and discover their ability rather than merely listen and remember”. 

I want to argue that, ITC support a learning process and it can make learning process easier to understand for the students. I agree, students prefer to explore their ways to learning English using ICT then should listen and only remember the teachers. Because, if the students only listen and remember the teachers it can make the students bored with the subjects or materials.

Source:    Thijs,    A.,    et    al. Learning    Through    the    Web    Available    Online

http://www.decidenet.nl/Publications/Web_Based_Learning.pdf   Accessed   31   May 2002

A 12 Years Old Player Piano (The interest)

There are so many reasons why both adults and children benefit from the study of a musical instrument. Music brings us so much happiness to our life. It is important to be given the chance to make music because it can give us an emotional and creative outlet. Playing an instrument is an excellent source of pleasure and fulfillment. It can provide a deep sense of satisfaction.The piano provides both melody and harmony. Therefore, it can be played individually without any accompaniment. It has been proved that children and adults who take part in musical activities are happier and more sociable than those who don’t. Playing the piano provides a readymade opportunity to perform.

Cinta Angelica is a beautiful little girl from Ambarawa. She likes playing piano. She always plays it everyday. Since 9 years old, she has been playing piano. Cinta very likes piano. Every at 5 pm after she goes back from her school, she always goes to the piano class. Cinta first joined a competition, when she was 10 years old in an Indonesia Piano Competition 2014 (IPC). She has an experience when she did the first performance in a big stage. Cinta was very nervous and afraid. She did not believe that she would become the winner.

“I do not trust myself, when I saw people who were playing piano better than what I did.”

There were 5 juries from teachers and musicians in the competition. She was afraid if she made a mistake in front of many people when she was playing the piano.

“I felt nervous when I knew the juries are musicians, my foot shock. However, when my turn I tried to be relax so I could play piano”.

 She was very shock when she knew she got an “Award of Outstanding Performance”.

“I cannot believe that, I get this award. This is my first experience to join a competition and I get an award from this competition”.  

She was very happy and she was interested to join the other competition again. After one year, she joined again in Indonesia Piano Competition 2015. In this competition, she got the second winner. Although she was felt nervous because other pianist were more expressive than her, but she still wanted to try to be a good pianist. She wants to become the first winner in a competition. Until now she always joins many competitions from  her piano class. The challenge  when she play piano is, when her teacher gives an assignment with a quick tempo and she should make a new tone. Her motivation to playing piano is, to make others feel happy with her performance.

If you have a talent, you must develop it and do not feel satisfy quickly. God has given you potential to make your life more colorful. We should use it to make people around us happy and also use our potential to do positive things.

The Quality System Education In Indonesia

The government needs to pay attention about quality of education.

Jessyka Lusiana Dolok Saribu
112015080

The quality systems of curriculum in Indonesia make feel nauseous. 

The curriculum in Indonesia is different with curriculum in other countries. Indonesian try to follow the quality system of curriculum from other countries, but Indonesia still has many problems to apply the system from other countries. The Government has budgeted over IDR 829 billion, and this budgeted for infrastructure such as teachers training, buildings, books, etc to make the learning process better. The education system in Indonesia does not encourage independent, creative thought but focuses more on learning by rote. Discipline is strict, commendation little and many students are expelled for what in the western world we would consider slight misbehavior. The Government needs to improve the quality of curriculum system in Indonesia.

The curriculum in Indonesia always changes every 5 years, and this can make the students be confused with their subjects. They will have many difficulties to follow the new curriculum that makes their result of study become nasty. The curriculum that always changes, also make the students lose their times to play. Because, the new curriculum usually increase time to study. According to (Azumardi Azra,2006) explained that change of curriculum had affected the national education system of Indonesia it had not only affected the learning climate in the classroom, but the readiness of the principal and subject teachers in efforts to understand and apply the curriculum in practice.

 Not all teachers know how to use internet. In this new area, technology already develops. The teachers should use internet to teach their students, but the teachers who are already old will feel difficult to learn about internet. On the other hand, teachers should make the teaching process with a technology to attract the attention of students. (Bernie Poole 2012) “Every teacher should be familiar with presentation software such as PowerPoint because they can use it for makes students interested and also make students easily to understand the topic. Teachers also should make an online discussion group, where teachers get together in an open e-forum to share ideas about teaching and learning”.

The government needs to pay attention to infrastructure and facilities in school.  Schools do not supply library and books, so students cannot access books easily. Students also do not have a comfortable classroom to study. Students use the classroom that’s the roof is leaking. They do not have enough tables and chairs to study in classrooms. Government has given a lot of money to make infrastructure and facilities in Indonesia became better. Although the government already budgeted money, but most all schools have not yet got. (Anis Baswedan, 2013) “The standard of infrastructure and facilities are the criteria regarding a study room, projector, computer, libraries, laboratories, places of recreation as well as creative and other learning process, including the use of information and communication technology” (Muhammad Hamid, 2013)“Furthermore, the number of qualified teachers is still not evenly distributed in rural areas. According to the Director General of Primary Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Muhammad Hamid, many elementary schools (SD) in Indonesia face a serious shortage of teachers.  The amount is estimated to reach 112,000 teachers”.

If the curriculum in Indonesia always changes and there are not enough infrastructures, so the education system will be worse because the students and also the teachers will be confused to follow the rules. Therefore, the quality development of curriculum system will give profound impact for a better education system in Indonesia.

Reference:

Arza.A (2006). The National Curriculum Of Indonesia and its Change. UKessays. Retrieved November, 15, 2016, from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/education/the-national-curriculum-of-indonesia-and-its-changes-education-essay.php

Poole.B. (2012, May, 10).  What Every Teacher Should Know About Technology. Education world. Retrieved November, 15, 2016, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech227.shtml

USAID.(2013). Reflections on education in Indonesia. USAID. Retrieved October, 20, 2016, from http://www.prestasi-iief.org/index.php/english/feature/68-reflections-on-education-in-indonesia

The Quality System Education In Indonesia. Headline

The government needs to pay attention about quality of education. Position

The quality systems of curriculum in Indonesia make feel nauseous. Hook/ headline

The curriculum in Indonesia is different with curriculum in other countries. Indonesian tried to follow the quality system of curriculum from other countries, but Indonesia still has many problems to apply the system from other countries. The Government has budgeted over IDR 829 milliard, and this budgeted for infrastructure such as teachers training, buildings, books, and etc to make a learning process better. The education system of Indonesia does not encourage independent, creative thought but focuses more on learning by rote. Discipline is strict, commendation little and many students are expelled for what in the western world we would consider slight misbehavior. The Government needs to improve the quality of curriculum system in Indonesia.

The curriculum in Indonesia always change every 5 years, and this can make the students be confused with their subjects. They will have many difficulties to follow the new curriculum that makes their result of study become nasty. The curriculum that always changes, also make the students lose their times to play. Because, the new curriculum usually increase time to study more for students at school (Sahabat Geografi, 2012) “The existence of an increase in and the balance soft skills and hard skills that includes aspects of the competency attitude, skills, and knowledge. Curriculum also incriminates students, because the students get many subjects. Also, they have limits of a maximum of time concentration in learning”.

 Not all teachers know how to use internet. In this area, technology already develops. The teachers should use internet to teach their students, but the teachers who are already old will feel difficult to learn about internet. On the other hand, teachers should make the teaching process with a technology to attract the attention of students.(Maria M, 2014) “Teachers should make a process learning became fun and no boring for students. Teachers can using power point, and other sites and give assignment to students that makes students learn how to use the internet”.

The government needs to pay attention with education is about infrastructure and facilities in school. Schools don’t supply library and books, so students can’t access books easily. Students also do not have a comfortable classroom to study. Students using the classroom whose roof is leaking. They don’t have enough tables and chairs to study in classrooms. Government has given a lot of money to make infrastructure and facilities in Indonesia became better. Although the government already budgeted money, but most all schools have not yet got. (Anis Baswedan, 2013) “The standard of infrastructure and facilities are the criteria regarding a study room, projector, computer, libraries, laboratories, places of recreation as well as creative and other learning process, including the use of information and communication technology” (Muhammad Hamid, 2013) “Furthermore, the number of qualified teachers is still not evenly distributed in rural areas. According to the Director General of Primary Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Muhammad Hamid, many elementary schools (SD) in Indonesia face a serious shortage of teachers.  The amount is estimated to reach 112,000 teachers”. 

If the curriculum in Indonesia always changes and there are not enough infrastructures, so the education system will be worse because the students and also the teachers will be confused to follow the rules. Therefore, the quality development of curriculum system will give profound impact for a better education system in Indonesia.

Reference:

Sahabat Geografi. (2012,5,9). Curriculum change in indonesia: A critical review.Sahabat Geografi. Retreview Oktober, 13, 2016, from http://pendidikangeo.blogspot.co.id/2013/01/curriculum-change-in-indonesia-critical.html

Margaretha.M. (2014, November, 2013)  Guru perlukah  menguasai TIK? Perlu. Kompasiana. Retreview Oktober,13,2016, from http://www.kompasiana.com/apfiamariamargaretha.blogspot.com/guru-perlukah-menguasai-tik-perlu_54f3e3c07455137a2b6c8280

USAID.(2013). Reflections on education in Indonesia. USAID. Retreview Oktober, 20,2016,from http://www.prestasi-iief.org/index.php/english/feature/68-reflections-on-education-in-indonesia

Jessyka Lusiana Dolok Saribu

112015080

(Introduction)

The Government needs to improve the quality of curriculum system in Indonesia. The curriculum in Indonesia is different with curriculum in other countries. Indonesia try to follow the quality system of curriculum from other countries, but Indonesia still has many problems to apply the system from other countries. The Government has budgeted over IDR 829 milliard, and this budgeted for infrastructure such as teachers training and books. The education system of Indonesia does not encourage independent, creative thought but focuses more on learning by rote. Discipline is strict, commendation little and many students are expelled for what in the western world we would consider slight misbehavior.