Overcoming The Difficulty of Teaching English Vocabulary To Kindergarten Children At TK Tunas Cemara.

(1)

i Maranatha Christian University

ABSTRACT

Selama saya dalam masa magang, saya menghadapi kesulitan dalam mengajar kosakata dalam bahasa Inggris kepada anak-anak di TK Tunas Cemara. Penyebabnya adalah karena saya tidak tahu bagaimana cara mengajar kosakata kepada anak-anak, kosakata yang diberikan terlalu banyak untuk diajarkan kepada anak-anak, dan juga karena anak-anak

memiliki konsentrasi yang singkat. Akibatnya anak-anak tidak memperhatikan saya ketika saya mengajar, saya kehilangan kontrol atas anak-anak di kelas, dan juga saya harus belajar bagaimana cara mengajar kosakata kepada anak-anak dengan berkonsultasi pada guru yang lebih berpengalaman. Setelah melakukan penelitian, saya mempunyai tiga solusi untuk mengatasi masalah saya. Pertama, saya menggunakan alat peraga visual dengan tepat. Kedua, saya mengkategorikan kosakata yang akan diajarkan. Ketiga, saya sering menggunakan kosakata baru di kelas. Tiga solusi

tersebut sangat efektif bagi saya karena solusi-solusi tersebut dapat

(2)

FLOWCHART

Cause 1: I do not know how to teach vocabulary

Cause 2: There are too many new words to teach in each lesson

Cause 3: Children have short concentration span

Problem:

I have difficulty in teaching English vocabulary to kindergarten children at TK

Tunas Cemara

Effect 1: The children do not pay attention to me during the lesson

Effect 2: I lose control of the children

Potential Negative Effects:

1. It is time consuming 2. Children become passive

Potential Solution I:

I use visual aids wisely

Potential Positive Effects:

1. It is easy to explain 2. Children pay attention to

me

1. It is easy to explain 2. It is easier for children to

learn the meaning of the words

Potential Solution II:

I categorize the vocabulary

1. Children will only be able to learn vocabulary according to one system 2. Children will be confused

if there is vocabulary outside of the categories

already learnt

Chosen Solution:

I use visual aids wisely

1. It is easier for children to remember the new words 2. Children can understand

the meaning of the words

Potential Solution III:

I use the new words often in the class

1. Children get bored 2. The vocabulary that I use

(4)

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

In this globalization era, English becomes very important because English is the international language. English has been used in most of the countries in the world for the business and education sectors. Therefore, it is necessary for almosteverybody to learn English language. In the article “Why Do People

Learn Languages Especially English”, it is said that “People especially learn English because it's the most common language spoken in the world” (par. 1). In Indonesianow, English begins to be learned from an early age.

(5)

2 Maranatha Christian University

teaching kindergarten children is related to my study, because it is based on my learning about teaching. At the university, I took subjects that are related to teaching, like TEFL and Psychological Approach to Teaching.

When teaching young children, it is difficult to teach new vocabulary to them. This is a common problem that teachers face when they are teaching English as a foreign language. As stated in the article “Difficulties and Challenges in

Teaching English as The Second Language”, it is stated that “Teachers often

face various difficulties and challenges while teaching English as a foreign

language” (par. 1).At TK Tunas Cemara, I had aproblem as a teacher assistant when teaching vocabulary to twenty two children. Some of the children did not remember the new words that I taught them. This can happen because of two factors. The first factor is because of the children. Some of the children do not want to pay attention to the lesson or do their activities. The second factor is the teacher. Sometimes the teacher neither knows how to teach vocabulary to the children nor finds an appropiate way to get their attention. Therefore, in this term paper I would like to analyze this problem and find the best solution for it.

B. Identification of the Problem

(6)

1. Why do the children at TK Tunas Cemara find it difficultto remember the English vocabulary?

2. How should the teacher introduce new English vocabulary effectively so that the children at Tunas Cemara can remember it?

C. Objectives and Benefits of the Study

The objectives of this study are to cope with the problem of the childrenat TK Tunas Cemara who can not remember the new words in English, and also to findpossible solutions and choose the best solution for the teacher of

Englishto help the children remember the new words.

By writing this term paper, there are some benefits for the institution, the reader of this term paper, and for me as the writer. For the institution, I hope that my term paper can help the English teachers at Tunas Cemarato know how to teach vocabulary to the children, so that the children can know the meaning of the words and remember the vocabulary. For the readers who are interested in education, I expect this study can give information on how to teach vocabulary to young children to make them understand and remember the meaning of the words. Then, the benefit for me is I can share my

experience in teaching vocabulary to young children with others who

(7)

D. Description of the Institution

Tunas Cemara is an educational institution that was established by Yayasan Citra Cemara on April 17, 2000. Tunas Cemara was initially located in a size of approximately 5000m2at Jl.SumberHurip 31, Sumber Sari. In July 2004, Tunas Cemara moved to Jl. Situ Aksan 41. In 2009, Tunas Cemara received accreditation of an A from The National Accreditation Institution. TK Tunas Cemaraplans to have a new buildingin Jl. SoekarnoHatta 22 in the year 2011. TK Tunas Cemara’s development progressively increases. At first there were only 40 children, with three teachers, while now there are 100 more children, with eight teachers and an administration staff.

The school has a vision and a mission. Tunas Cemara School’s vision is to become a qualified educational institution that prepares the kindergarten children to be knowledgeable, qualified and responsible. The school’s mission is to educate students by optimizing the potential of children in their

emotional, intellectual, physical, and linguistic development by close

cooperation between the school and the parents. The mission states having children who :

 are physically and mentally healthy

 are balanced in aquiringboth knowledge and skills

 have a healthy personality

“Play Group, TK & SD Tunas Cemara” (2).

(8)

Forthe process of collecting data about kindergarten children at TK Tunas Cemara, Iuse several ways. First, I get data from the observation of twenty two children during my internship. Next, I read my internship journal, because in my internship journal there are real life storiesof people and experiences atthe school, what I did during my internship and other information. Then, I read some books from Maranatha Christian University’s library that are related to my problem in this term paper. Lastly, I also browsed on the Internet for the theories and solutions to my problem.

F. Limitation of the Study

My term paper focuses on how to teach English vocabulary to

kindergarten children to help them remember the new words. There were twenty two children in the class. The age level of the children isfour years old. The observation was done from July to September 2010 at TK Tunas

Cemara, Bandung.

G. Organization of the Term Paper

This term paper starts with Abstract, a summary of the whole term paper. Then, there is Declaration of Originality, which contains a statement from the writer of this term paper about the authenticity of the paper. Next is

(9)

(10)

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

When teaching vocabulary to kindergarten children, it is normal for a teacher to have problems. The problems can affect the performance of the teacher negatively when teaching in the classroom. During my internship, I faced a problem, namely, a difficulty in teaching English vocabulary to

kindergarten children at TK Tunas Cemara. The reasons for this problem are I did not know how to teach vocabulary, there were too many new words to teach each lesson, and children have a short concentration span. This problem also has bad effects for the learning process. The effects are the children do not pay attention to me and I lose control of the children. To handle my problem, I have three solutions. The first solution is I use visual aids wisely. Second, I categorize the vocabulary. Third, I use the new words often in the class.

(11)

To introduce the new vocabulary to children, I usually use visual aids like puppets, flash cards or handmade aids that are suitable for the lesson. For example I used flash cards to teach transportation, I used a doll to teach about parts of the body, and I used real things by touching furniture in the classroom to teach about furniture.

Using visual aids wisely is the best solution for me. This solution is better than the other solutions to solve the problem in teaching vocabulary to kindergarten children because using visual aids help to get children’s

attention, as children cannot focus on something for a long time. Therefore, I use something that can make the children be attracted to the lesson. In this way, the children can understand and remember the lessonbetter because they are interested. It also make it easier for me to teach and give me confidence because children pay more attention and I cancontrol the class better. It is more effective for the learning process of the children, since the children showed more interest with their bright eyes when I used visual aids. I believe that the solution that I choose can be applied by kindergarten

(12)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Printed Sources

Slaterry, Mary, and Jane Willis. English for Primary Teachers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Electronic Sources

Brick, Beverlee. “Advantages & Disadvantages of Visual Aids.” ehow.co.uk. 2

April 2010. 8 November 2010

<http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6142537_advantages-disadvantages-visual-aids.html>.

Caldwell, Andi. “Student Teachers: What to Do When You’ve Lost Control of

Your Classroom.” helium.com. 15 April 2010. 15 October 2010

<http://www.helium.com/items/841489-student-teachers-what-to-do-when-youve-lost-control-of-your-classroom>.

“Children and Concentration.” essortment.com. 31 January 2009. 15 October

(13)

Maranatha Christian University “Difficulties and ChallengesIn Teaching English as The SecondLanguage.”

Articlesbase.com. 27 April 2009. 15 October 2010

<http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/difficulties-and-challenges-in-teaching-english-as-the-second-language-887318.html>.

Heller, Rafael, Ph.D. “Vocabulary.” adlit.org. July 2009. 15 October 2010

<http://www.adlit.org/adlit_101/improving_literacy_instruction_in_your_sch ool/vocabulary>.

“How to Remember Vocabulary Words.” squidoo.com. November 2008. 15

October 2010 <http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-remember-vocabulary>. Nikky. “Teaching Aids, Their Characteristics, Advantages, and How and

Where to Use Teaching Aids.” indiastudychannel.com. 23 Mei 2009. 1

November 2010<http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/120369-Teaching-Aids-Their-Characteristics-Advantages.aspx>.

Nikky. “Teaching Aids, Their Needs, Types and Importance of Teaching Aids

In Teaching Learning Process.” indiastudychannel.com. 20 Mei 2009. 1

November 2010<http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/120148-Teaching-Aids-Their-Needs-Types-Importance.aspx>.

Pappano, Laura. “Small Kids, Big Words.” hepg.org. June 2008. 10 October

2010<http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/192>.

“Some Benefits of Teaching and Learning Aids.” kauaibbqgrill.com. 22 April

(14)

“Teacher.” bls.gov. 19 March 2010. 17 October 2010

<http://www.bls.gov/k12/help01.htm>.

“Teacher Experience and Credentials.” greatschools.org. August 2008. 17

October 2010 <http://www.greatschools.org/improvement/quality-

teaching/teacher-experience-and-credentials-issues-to-consider.gs?content=495>.

Thorne, Glenda, Ph.D, and Alice Thomas, M.Ed. “What is Attention?” cdl.org. 23 June 2009. 17 October 2010

<http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/attention2.php>.

“What is Categorizing?” olc.spsd.sk.ca. 5 March 2008. 15 October 2010

<http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/pd/instr/strats/categorizing/index.html>.

“Why Do PeopleLearn LanguagesEspecially English?” wiki.answers.com.

March 2008. 25 September 2010