CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
The first chapter examined of introduction of the study. At this stage, I would discuss the introductory part. In this study, I want to discuss the background of the problem, research objectives, research object, research significance, and scope of research.
1.1 Research Background.
English is one of the subjects taught to students from elementary to college level. The Indonesian government began introducing English as early as possible for students in Elementary School (SD) or Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) through the 1994 basic education curriculum. Since implementing the curriculum, English subjects are local lessons taught starting in 4th grade. SD/MI. Meanwhile, at the next level, English is a compulsory subject until now. Because of its status as an elective subject, the level of implementation is different. Some schools teach it in the fourth grade. Some teach it from the first grade of elementary school, meanwhile at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan has taught English since 2nd grade.
Teaching English has become a special attraction for teachers who have paid more attention to foreign language learning for children in recent times. Particularly English, due to the rapid expansion of technology necessities in this day of globalization. As a result, acquiring and mastering English as a communication tool is critical for young people to meet today's demands. In the current era of globalization (Rahmawati, 2016). The extent of the need and demand for mastering
international languages has created the educational curriculum will start to shift.
Initially, English classes were taught to junior high school students, but they are now taught to elementary school children as well.
The importance of learning English at the elementary school level is to provide a lot of vocabulary mastery knowledge needs. If children continue their education to a higher level, they will not experience difficulties (Aminah, 2011). Jazuly (2016) also stated that English lessons need to be applied from an early age to make it easier for children to develop English when they enter in elementary school, junior high school, or a higher level because children have extraordinary memory skills, especially those aged 5-6 years, so this period was the right time to introduce foreign languages according to the abilities and needs of children (Fauziati, 2010).
English is one of the subjects that was considered difficult for elementary school students. Several things were caused the difficulties they experience in learning English. One of them is the students' family background and life, which makes them less or even unfamiliar with the use of English in everyday life. It is infrequent for them to have the opportunity to hear, read and speak English words or sentences in their daily lives. Hence, the students feel hard to master English, especially related to vocabulary mastery.
Learning English vocabulary must be followed by its meaning. Mastery of vocabulary is very important to build a meaningful understanding of language. By having a lot of vocabularies, we can improve our language. To make it easier to master vocabulary, it can be done with various media as a strategy to improve learning in the classroom. Media is the one component of communication, namely
as a messenger from the communicator to the communicant. It can be said that the learning media is a means of intermediary in the learning process. Regarding the effectiveness of the use of media in the learning process, Kemendikbud (1992) asserted that the use of media in the learning process can generate interest and motivation in students' learning, reduce or avoid the occurrence of verbalism, generate regular, systematic reasoning, and to foster understanding and develop values in student self. In addition, the use of learning media is very important because it can save the time, simplify problems, especially in conveying things that are new and foreign to students. Various media can be used, including image media like pictures. This picture medium is a medium that is easy to use in learning English. This is because children prefer pictures rather than just using books.
Students are more enthusiastic about learning when the teacher uses picture media (Megawati 2017).
From the descriptions above, it can be concluded that using learning media like pictures is very important to increase the learning interest of elementary school students. The use of pictures in the teaching and learning process is a fun activity because pictures make students not bored. The use of pictures makes vocabulary material more meaningful, to help students memorize words easily and to represent actual objects or objects. The use of pictures is also a fantastic educational tool and makes learning process more fun than usual.
From the results of pre-observation at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan, with a 4th grade teacher, in particular, it can be seen that there were many difficulties faced in learning English. There were still many students who have problems to
memorize the vocabulary. Based on the results of pre-observation at the grades of English class 4, it can be seen from the 15 students. On the average, there were still many students who have difficulties in mastering English vocabulary. There were initial problems and obstacles faced by students when learning English. They are as follows:
a. Media and methods that are all the same
Students felt bored in learning English because of the monotonous teaching technique conducted by the teachers. However, because teachers do not use engaging materials, learners are less engaged and excited about learning.
Furthermore, they are frequently unable to put what they have learned into practice.
The teacher only uses pictures in the textbook and never use picture as media in their teaching process.
b. Vocabulary mastery
English is a language that is still foreign language for MIM Kranggan. They only study the lessons at school, so when they get home, they cannot practice the vocabulary they have learned at school. Moreover, many students’ parents cannot teach their children at home because of their education factor who only graduated from elementary school. There are differences in subjects between past and now.
Thus, students are less able to improve and develop their vocabulary at home.
c. Less study time
Another challenge faced at MIM Kranggan was the lack of time to learn English. Learning is less effective when less time is spent on it. A lot of things have
been twisted, especially when English is only learned once a week. The problems and obstacles encountered in many factors become barriers in learning English, including the lack of study time leading to less effective learning. At that time, teachers who still use teaching methods that lack a variety of learning materials will be bored and students will not be interested in learning. When learning English, teachers can use different means, tools and methods to stimulate students' interest in learning. Visual media is one of the means to help you learn English vocabulary. Illustrated materials can aid the learning process, make learning more enjoyable, more enjoyable, and make it easier for students to learn vocabulary.
Based on the explanation above, the urgency of this research is very important. Regarding the effectiveness of using media in the learning process, affirming that the use of media in the learning process can create interest and motivation for students, reduce or avoid profanity, create regular and systematic reasoning, promote understanding and develop values in the students themselves.
In addition, the use of study materials is important because it saves the time (Kemendikbud, 1992). Learning through the media can simplify matters, especially by communicating something new and unfamiliar to students. The results of this study also offer solution to several existing problems such as the use of appropriate learning media in the form of pictures as an effective way to increase students' motivation and learning outcomes about vocabulary.
1.2 Research Question
Based on the focus and objectives of this study, the researcher arranged two research questions, namely:
1. How is the implementation of picture as media in vocabulary learning for 4thgrade at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan?
2. Can picture improve students’ English vocabulary mastery for 4th grade at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan?
1.3 Research Objectives
Based on the problems found in the field by the researcher, the researcher determined the purpose of this study to find out two things, namely :
1. To find out the implementation of picture use as media in vocabulary learning for 4thgrade.
2. To find out whether pictures can improve English mastery in learning vocabulary for 4th-grade at MIM Kranggan.
1.4 Significances of the Study
The significance of the study is a written statement that explains why this research was needed. This significances of the study contains a justification of the importance and impact of this study in the research field. The significances of the study has two benefits in theoretical and practical :
1. Theoretical Significance
The findings of this study are intended to strengthen media needs in helping the young learners learning foreign language.
2. Practical Significance
a. Provide data about learning English, especially vocabulary, for elementary school teacher in facilitating more enjoyable learning atmosphere.
b. Helping teacher to struggle alternatives in optimizing learning goals.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The scope of the research is focused on how to use picture media in understanding English vocabulary at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan. Researcher will find out the use of picture media and its implementation in learning English vocabulary for 4th grade at MI Muhammadiyah Kranggan.
1.6 Definition of Terms
1. Learning media
Literally, the word media comes from the Latin medium, which means
"intermediary" or "introduction". The Association for Education and Communication Technology (AECT) defines the media as objects that can be manipulated, seen, heard, read, or discussed, along with instruments that are correctly used in teaching and learning activities, can affect the effectiveness of instructional programs (Asnawir and Usman, 2002).
2. Picture media
The general form of picture media is summarized in terms of visual media.
Graphic media is a visual representation of ideas and events that uses symbols, picture, dots, and lines to convey and summarize them. The most widely utilized
intermediary is picture media. It is a universal language that everyone can understand (Sadiman, 2011).
3. Vocabulary
According to Soedjito's book, vocabulary is defined as: (1) all words in a language; (2) the richness of words owned by someone speaking; (3) terms utilized in an area of science; and (4) a list of words ordered like a dictionary with a brief and practical explanation. Vocabulary is the key to mastering a language, and it is one of the most crucial skills to have things in learning English, especially in learning foreign languages (Megawati, 2017).
Based on the definitions above it can be concluded that picture as medium for learning vocabulary is one of learning intermediary that can help students make learning vocabulary easier which it can be used in teaching and learning activities and it can affect the effectiveness of instructional programs.
1.7 Outline of the Study
The outline of this study was conducted in two cycles, and each cycle was conducted in two meetings. The researcher arranged the stages that are passed in classroom action research, such as pre-cycle, implementation of cycle I, 9
reflection. In the next section researcher conducted planning, implementing cycle II, observation, and reflection.
