STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF L1 IN ENGLISH CLASSES
OF GRADE 8 SMP NEGERI 1 SALATIGA
THESIS
by:
Anjanis Lhaksmi Pangrukti
112010035
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
2014
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana
STUDENTS
’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE USE OF L1 IN ENGLISH CLASSES
OF GRADE 8 SMP NEGERI 1 SALATIGA
THESIS
Anjanis Lhaksmi Pangrukti
112010035
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
2014
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
This thesis contains no such material as has been submitted for examination in any course or accepted for the fulfillment of any degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and my belief, this contains no material previously published or written by any other person except where due reference is made in the text.
Copyright@ 2014. Anjanis Lhaksmi Pangrukti and Dra.Martha Nandari M.A
All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced by any means without the permission of at least one of the copyright owners or the English Department, Faculty of Language and Literature, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga.
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE U
SE OF L1 IN ENGLISH CLASSES
OF GRADE 8 SMP NEGERI 1 SALATIGA
Anjanis Lhaksmi Pangrukti
Abstract
The use of L1 in L2 classroom has been widely argued by many experts. They debated whether
to use the students‟ first language or not. However, the notion that English is a foreign language
in Indonesia makes it difficult to omit the use of L1 in English classrooms. This study explored
the students‟ perceptions on the use of L1 in an English class. The aim of the study is to answer
the research question “What are the students‟ perceptions toward the use of L1 in English
classroom?” This study was conducted in SMP Negeri 1 Salatiga. The participants selected were
grade 8 students. The data were collected using a combination of close and open ended questionnaire and analyzed descriptively with percentage. From the questionnaire, the writer found that the majority of students perceived L1 as a helpful tool in an English classroom. Their major preference is the use of L1 in translating new words. This finding supported an argument by Nation (2001) who believed that students will understand faster when L1 is used to translate new words from L2. Other preferences are explaining grammar concept, helping them cooperate in the classroom, and communicating in the classroom. Some of them also mentioned that L1 will help them to feel comfortable and confidence in the class. Thus, the use of L1 in English classroom is beneficial for the students.
