An Investigation of Indonesian Student’s English Language Problems in The International School: A Case Study in Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah International School

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AN INVESTIGATION OF INDONESISAN STUDENT’S ENGLISH

LANGUAGE PROBLEMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: A

CASE STUDY IN SHAFIYYATUL AMALIYYAH INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL

A THESIS

By

SITI NURHAYATI

147052018/MBE

FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

MEDAN

2017

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AN INVESTIGATION OF INDONESIAN STUDENT’S ENGLISH

LANGUAGE PROBLEMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: A

CASE STUDY IN SHAFIYYATUL AMALIYYAH INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL

A THESIS

Submitted as the Partial Fulfillment of Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) in English Postgraduate Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences,

University of Sumatera Utara

By

SITI NURHAYATI

147052018/MBE

FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

MEDAN

2017

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Title of Thesis :AN INVESTIGATION OF INDONESIAN STUDENT’S ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROBLEMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL : A CASE STUDY IN SHAFIYYATUL AMALIYYAH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Name :Siti Nurhayati

Reg. Number :147052018

Study Program :English Postgraduate

Approved by Adviser Commission

(Dr. Ridwan Hanafiah, S.H., M.A.) (Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D)

Adviser I Adviser II

Head of Dean of

English Postgraduate Program Faculty of Cultural Sciences

(Dr. Ridwan Hanafiah, S.H., M.A.) (Dr. Budi Agustono, M.S.)

Passing Date : 29th July 2017

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Has been examined on Date :29th July 2017

Board of Examiners :

Chief : Dr. Ridwan Hanafiah, S.H., M.A. (……….)

Members : Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. (……….)

Prof. Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A., (……….)

Dr. Deliana, M.Hum (……….)

Dr. Drs. Umar Mono, Dipl. Trans., M.Hum (……….)

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DECLARATION

AN INVESTIGATION OF INDONESIAN STUDENTS’ ENGLISH

LANGUAGE PROBLEMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL:

A CASE STUDY IN SHAFIYATUL AMALIYAH

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

I certify that the thesis I wrote as one of the requierments to obtain the degree of Master of Arts from English Postgraduate Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Sumatera Utara, is exactly my own work.

I certify that I clearly mentioned the reference of the citations I used in some specific parts of this thesis based on norm, rule, and etiquette of the technique of a scientific writing.

I certify, in the future , that I am willing to accept the sanction of the

renovation of my academic degree which I receive and other sanction in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations, provided some parts or all parts of this thesis are invented not be my own work or to commit plagiarism.

Medan, July 2017

The Writer

Siti Nurhayati

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AN INVESTIGATION OF INDONESIAN STUDENT’S ENGLISH LANGUAGE

PROBLEMS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY IN SHAFIYYATUL AMALIYYAH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

ABSTRACT

This study tries to investigate English language problem of four English skills in International school of senior high school students in Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah International School (i.e listening skill, speaking skill, reading skill, writing skill). The objectives of this study are two folds; to find out dominant English language problem of four skills that experienced by the students; and to describe how students apply learning strategies to overcome the language problem. This study engaged with a qualitative descriptive approach. Data for this study were collected from result of questionnaire that had been given to 50 students at the 10 & 11 grade, data for this

study also obtained from interview‟s transcript of 5 students was choosen randomly.

The result of this study found that reading skill as the most dominant problem for senior high school in Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah, and the most dominant in reading skill were the lack of academic vocabulary and failure to read for meaning. 17 students was experienced in reading skill due to lack of vocabularies. 15 students from 17 students who experienced the problem in reading skill had choosen 2 of problems above as the most problem in reading skill. The other problem of four skills that experienced by students were listening skill had choosen by 10 students, for listening skill students have the most problem in cannot control the speed of native speaker, lack of contextual knowledge and cannot concentrate, from 10 students, 9 students had been choosen 3 problems above as their most problem, speaking skill had choosen by 12 students in Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah, there were 4 problems in speaking but the most that was experienced: worried about mistakes had been choosen by 7 students from 12. And the last was writing skill had been choosen by 11 students, in writing skill itself, there are 4 problems and the most problems according to students in Shafiyyatul was incorrect noun plurals, 10 of 11 students could not answer the written expression question about noun plurals. Because reading skill as one of skill in English as became problem for senior high school students, students overcome problem in reading skill with mark or underline some difficult words in the text and then find out meaning of the word that had similarities meaning. What students had done to overcome in reading problem appropriate with learning strategies : grasping main idea, supporting details, drawing conclusions and identifying inferences.

Keywords : Investigation, English language problem, language skill, listening, speaking, reading, writing

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INVESTIGASI MASALAH DALAM BAHASA INGGRIS TERHADAP SISWA INDONESIA DI SEKOLAH INTERNASIONAL : STUDI KASUS SEKOLAH

INTERNASIONAL SHAFIYYATUL AMALIYYAH

ABSTRAK

Penelitian ini mencoba untuk menginvestigasi masalah bahasa Inggris didalam empat kemampuan berbahasa pada siswa menengah atas sekolah internasional Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah. Tujuan dari penelitian ini terbagi atas 2, yakni; untuk mencari dominan masalah bahasa Inggris terhadap empat kemampuan berbahasa yang dialami oleh siswa; dan untuk menjelaskan bagaimana siswa mengatasi masalah dalam bahasa inggris; dan untuk mencari strategi apa yang sesuai untuk setiap masalah dalam berbahasa seperti pada kemampuan mendengar, berbicara, membaca dan menulis. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif. Data penelitian ini didapatkan dari hasil kuesioner yang telah diberikan kepada 50 siswa yang duduk di kelas 10 dan 11, data penelitian ini juga di dapatkan dari hasil wawancara kepada 5 siswa yang diambil secara acak. Hasil dari penelitian ini menemukan bahwa, kemampuan membaca sebagai masalah utama bagi siswa jenjang menengah atas di sekolah Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah, dan masalah utama dalam kemampuan membaca adalah kurangnya kosakata akademik dan gagal membaca makna. Terdapat 17 siswa mengalami masalah dalam kemampuan membaca dikarenakan kurangnya kosakata. 15 siswa dari 17 siswa yang mengalami masalah dalam kemampuan membaca telah memilih 2 masalah diatas sebagai masalah utama dalam membaca. Masalah kebahasaan lain dari 4 kemampuan berbahasa yang dialami oleh 10 siswa,ialah kemampuan mendengar, siswa mengalami masalah utama yaitu tidak dapat mengendalikan ucapan native speaker, kurangnya pemahaman konteks dan sulit berkonsentrasi, 9 dari 10 siswa memilih 3 masalah diatas sebagai masalah utama mereka, 12 siswa Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah memilih kemampuan berbahasa sebagai masalah mereka, ada 4 masalah dalam berbicara namun masalah utama bagi siswa adalah khawatir melakukan kesalahan, yang dipilih oleh 7 dari 12 siswa sebagai masalah mereka. Dan yang terakhir ialah kemampuan menulis yang dipilih oleh 11 siswa sebagai masalah. Dalam menulis, terdapat 4 masalah dan masalah utama bagi siswa adalah penempatan kata benda jamak yang salah, 10 dari 11 siswa tidak dapat menjawab dalam soal written expression tentang kata benda jamak. Dikarenakan kemampuan membaca adalah masalah utama bagi siswa jenjang menengah keatas, siswa mengatasi masalah tersebut dengan menandai atau menggaris bawahi beberapa kosakata sulit pada teks lalu mencari arti atau kosakata dengan arti yang sama. Apa yang siswa telah lakukan untuk mengatasi masalah membaca, sesuai dengan teori strategi pembelajaran untuk kemampuan membaca yaitu : memahami ide pokok, detail pendukung dan menarik kesimpulan.

Kata Kunci : Investigasi, Masalah dalam bahasa inggris, kemampuan berbahasa, mendengar, berbicara, membaca, menulis

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank to the One and Only, her Almighty God, Allah SWT for giving me everything health, strength, ability to finish this thesis, for every bless and for every answered prayer.

In this occasion, I would like to thank the Rector of University of Sumatera Utara Prof. Dr. Runtung Sitepu, S.H, M.Hum., and the Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences Dr. Budi Agustono, M.S., the Head of English Postgraduate Program Dr. Ridwan Hanafiah, S.H, M.A and the Secretary of English Postgraduate Program Dr. Umar Mono, Dipl, Trans, M.Hum., and my deep gratitude goes to Dr. Ridwan Hanafiah, M.A as my supervisor, and Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A, P.hD.,as my co-supervisor who expertly guided me in writing this thesis. Their valuable time, mental support, and worthwhile advice have helped me so much that this thesis has become to its final format. My appreciation also extends to all my lectures for encouragement that launched the greater part of this thesis.

Thanks to my parents, My father, Kasturi and my beloved mother, Nurhayani Damanik, S.Pd, who always pray for me, encourage me and support me in any situations. Thanks to my brother Muhammad Azis Tarmidzi, Abdul Rauf Sazali and my youngest sister Siti Rasyida Nur for their support and their endless love for me during doing this thesis

Thank you for people who helped me in finishing this thesis, thank you for my classmates who gave unforgotable moment and thank you for people I love that I cannot mentioned one by one, no other words that can describe it all.

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Finally, I realize there are still many weakness in this thesis, hopefully this thesis can be useful for who read.

Medan, July 2017

The Writer,

Siti Nurhayati

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CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Data

Name: Siti Nurhayati

Place, Data of Birth : Lima Puluh, 25th Desember 1991

Sex : Female

Religion : Islam

Nationality : Indonesia

Address : Jl. Sei Mencirim Dusun IV Desa Medan Krio,

Sunggal 20352

Phone Number : 085260098891

Email : sitinur2512@gmail.com

Academic Background

1. 1998 – 2004 : SD Inpres 104188

2. 2004 - 2007 : SMPS Muhammadiyah 48 Sunggal

3. 2007 – 2010 : SMAS Muhammadiyah 18 Sunggal

4. 2010 – 2014 : Bachelor of Literature (S.S) of State University

of Medan

5. 2015 – 2017 : Master of Arts in English (M.A) Faculty

Cultural Sciences of Sumatera Utara

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF APPENDICES ... ix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ... x

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 Problems of the Study ... 3

1.3 Objectives of the Study ... 3

1.4 Scope of the Study ... 4

1.5 Significances of the Study ... 4

CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Investigation ... 5

2.2 Language Problem ... 6

2.2.1 Listening Problem ... 7

2.2.2 Speaking Problem ... 9

2.2.3 Reading Problem ... 10

2.2.4 Writing Problem ... 11

2.3 International School ... 13

2.4 Case Study ... 14

vi

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2.5 Theoretical Framework ... 14

2.5.1 Second Language Acquisition ... 14

2.5.1.1 English as Foreign Language ... 15

2.6 Theory of Language Learning Strategies ... 16

2.6.1 Listening Skill ... 17

2.6.2 Speaking Skill ... 18

2.6.3 Reading Skill ... 20

2.6.4 Writing Skill ... 21

2.7 Shafiyyatul Amaliyyah Foundation ... 22

2.8 Previous Relevant Studies ... 22

CHAPTER III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Time and Location of Research ... 28

3.2 Research Design ... 28

3.3 The Data & Data Source ... 29

3.4 Instrument of Collecting Data ... 30

3.4.1 Questionnaire ... 30

3.4.2 Interview ... 31

3.5 Techniques of Data Analysis ... 31

3.6 Data Validation ... 32

CHAPTER IV. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Language Problem ... 37

4.2 How Do The Students Apply the Learning Strategies to Overcome the problem ... 57

vii

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4.3 Findings ... 64

4.4 Discussions ... 70

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 76

5.1 Conclusions ... 76

5.2 Suggestions ... 79

REFERENCES ... 80

APPENDICES ... 85

viii

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LIST OF TABLES

No. Title Page

3.3 Table of Description of The Students ... ... 30

3.6 Table of The Description of Kinds of Data and Questions Item ... 34

4.1 Table of Dominant English Language Problem that Experienced by Students 55

4.1.1 Table of Description of Listening Problem in English Language Learning 37

4.1.2 Table of Description of Speaking Problem in English Language Learning ... 42

4.1.3 Table of Description of Reading Problem in English Language Learning .. 45

4.1.4 Table of Description of Writing Problem in English Language Learning ... 49

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LIST OF FIGURE

No. Title Page

3.1 Figure of Diagram of Research Process ... 36

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LIST OF APPENDICES

No.

Appendix 1 Questionnaire to Shafiyatul Amaliyah International Students Appendix 2 Interview‟s Transcript of Students

Appendix 3 Distribution of English Language Problem Experienced by The Students

Appendix 4 Letter of Research Permission

xi

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

EFL = English as Foreign Language

ESL = English as Second Language

ELL‟s = English Language Learners

L1 = First Language

L2 = Second Language

SLA = Second Language Acquisition

SVA = Subject-Verb-Agreement

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