CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
B. Findings and Discussions
1. Characteristics of Lifelong Learners Reflected in The Rainbow Troops
It has been explained by the researcher in the previous chapter that lifelong learning is universal for everyone, wherever and whenever they learn. It is also flexible and diverse in terms of lesson content, equipment, and learning techniques, as well as the time and place of learning. Thus, lifelong learning is more dynamic and open to all kinds and forms of new developments.
To be a lifelong learner, they must have several characteristics that will be explained by the researcher below:
a. Having a good mindset
Mindset is related to a person's perspective on life. Mindset can be a determinant of whether a person can or not in dealing with any situation. This mindset will later affect the way you think and behave in any situation. In doing the activities including study, the lifelong learners must have a mindset like an expert. This mindset will give a big opportunity to master knowledge they learn.
In this novel, the character who has a good mindset is Lintang. He is the smartest student in the class. In the beginning of school day, he has shown his talent. A day when a whole class learned about alphabets, Lintang said that he wanted to fill out the enrollment of school day. At first, Bu Mus, his teacher refused it, but Lintang insisted he was able. Then, Bu Mus gave the form to Lintang.
“Can I get an application on the first day of school? I want to fill it. Bu Mus laughed: “Patience, Lintang. We just learned the alphabet. Later, in second grade, when you learn to write, you can
fill it out. The boy from the shore stood up: “I want to fill it up now, Ibunda. I made a promise to my father already.
When Lintang is done to write, Bu Mus got goose bumps because he could write well. And then Bu Mus praised Lintang with a soft voice.From that moment, it can be concluded that Lintang has a good mindset and believed in himself that he can prove that although his friends even his teacher are doubtful with his talent.
b. Making a connection
In order to develop the knowledge, all they need is mastering in making a connection between the information with others.This characteristic is represented by Lintang in this quotation:
He saw information in a dim circle of light from an oil lamp. And at that moment, in the middle of the night, his contemplation exploded, and he saw something magical happen on the ancient pages before his face.
c. Being flexible and adaptive
Flexibility can be interpreted as a person's ability to adapt to changes. He knows how to behave when what he expects is different from reality. Learning is the result of change and lifelong learners must be able to adapt with every situation happened.Learning is the result of change and lifelong learners must be able to adapt with every situation happened.
This characteristic is represented by Mahar with his brilliant idea as shown below:
For most of us from Muhammadiya, the carnival was an uncomfortable, if not traumatic experience. Our carnival performance consisted only of a group of children led by his two village teachers holding banners with our school symbols on them.
Those lines mean that Muhammadiyah School cannot adapt at the carnival like other school at first. One day, Pak Harfan encouraged his students to be optimistic to participate a carnival again.
“Carnival is the only way to show the world that our school still exists on this planet. Our school is an Islamic school that promotes religious values! You should be proud!" he said optimistically. "we must be at the carnival! No matter what! If we do an impressive job, Samadikul will be happy and may reconsider closing the school. Let's give them a chance to show that they have a . He is a very talented artist!”
After that, Mahar become more seriously. Every time he entered the class, he was silent that made his friends curious about his surprising concept he would offer. Then, on Saturday morning, Mahar told his classmates an excellent idea. He told that Muhammadiyah School would perform choreographic dance of the Masai tribe from Africa.
We really liked Mahar's energetic choreography and since our Maasai cow had just given birth, we were sure we would be part of the joy of dancing Maasai. During the dance we had to shout gibberish:Habuna!
Habuna! Habuna! Barabbas, Barabbas, Barabbas, Hubba, Hubba, hmm!
The day of the carnival arrived. All the students heart race because they will perform something different this time. They wore different costumes; some wore cheetah costumes, some table drummers, and the last eight students wore cow costumes. The performance was started with table drummers. The next performance was eight cow dancers. Their performance stole audience’s attention and finally they received the most prestigious trophy.
Little did we know that in that moment, Mahal had received the most prestigious trophy for Best Art Performance of the Year, the trophy we've always dreamed of.It was the first time this trophy was brought back to the village school. It was the trophy that kept our school from being ridiculed again.
Mahar could prove that he was able to show his excellent idea. It means that he could adapt to the situation happened there.
d. Always learn something
Lifelong learners must do exercise or training to their brain as well as they do exercise to their muscle every day. Managing the time wisely will make learning something’s activity become optimal
“Lintang was always keen to learn new things. Any information was an amalgamation of knowledge that could blow him away at any moment.”
Since the first day of the school, Lintang showed his interest in learning new things. Therefore he had a very brilliant brain.
e. Full of curiosity
It is one of the many amazing questions that are often asked by a lifelong learner is ‘why’; this question illustrates a great sense of curiosity.
The next day at school, Lintang was confused to see us confused about the 3-digit coordinate exercise. Why are the children of this village so confused? A voice in his mind said.
Based on the quotation above, Lintang was curious about his friends’
confusion about a three-digit exercise.
f. A lot of studying method
Learning can take any form or form that works best for you. Different people have different learning styles. Visual is a learning method that associates information with images. Visual learners learn best when they read or view demonstrations, charts, diagrams, and brain maps. Auditory learners are the best learners when information is reinforced by sound.
They enjoy lectures and seminars, listen to music while they study, and often create informational songs to help them remember. Kinesthetic is a
tactile learning style in which people recall information more easily while performing an activity, such as performing laboratory experiments or role- playing.
There are many ways that can be taken to carry out the learning process, but it is best to combine various steps, for example by maximizing reading, listening and speaking and even practice.
His answer was innocuous enough, but upon hearing it, Lintang, though only a sophomore, was already at a high level by developing his own techniques of identifying, analyzing, and solving difficulties. Lin Tan was not only smart, but also intellectually creative. He experimented to formulate his own mnemonic way of remembering things.
From the quotation above, the researcher can conclude that Lintang had many methods to combine in order to comprehend the subjects and to help his classmates.
g. Become a source of knowledge
There are many things that can be obtained by becoming a source of knowledge. Besides deeper understanding, the knowledge that the learner have will be increased.
So if you ask him how earthworms pee, be prepared to get an accurate, chronological, detailed, and very clever explanation of how microvilli work. Then, relaxing like a monkey picking lice, he likened the nematode urinary system to the excretory system of a protozoan through the highly complex anatomy of the contractile vacuole. rice field. If no one stops him, he wants to explain the functions of the cortex, Bowman's capsule, medulla oblongata and Malpighian bodies in the human excretory system. His own mnemonic design allowed Lintang to master the entire excretory system as easily as crushing a bloated mosquito.
It can be concluded that Lintang explained the answer enthusiastically and passionately and tried to make his friends understand his explanation.
h. Being diligent and persevering
Students who are enthusiastic to receive the lesson can be seen from how they behave class such as paying attention while teacher explains the subject, interested in the subject, and have consistency in doing the task. When they make mistake in doing their assignment, they are willing to correct and improve theirs.
I came very early. I couldn't wait to meet Bu Mus and Park Harfan. I was surprised when I opened the classroom door. In one corner sat a sleepy cow, and in the opposite corner sat Lintang equally quietly. His house was the furthest away, but he was always the first to come.
This characteristic is also portrayed by Borek or Samson as following:
He was obsessed with bodybuilding and obsessed with the macho male image. One day he lured me in and my curiosity won out. I couldn't understand how he knew his secret of making pecs.
I could only imagine what Lintang was thinking at that moment:The word absent is not in my vocabulary. Today we are studying the history of Islam. I would like to talk about the scriptures that foretold the victory of Byzantium seven years ago.
Flo was very enthusiastic and seemed to be making a difference. She was never absent every day and her manners with her teachers were very good. She came before everyone else, even Lin Tan. She cleaned the school, scooped buckets of water from eerie fountains, and diligently watered the flowers.
Together, Lintang's left brain and Mahar's overflowing right brain formed a set of artistic and intellectual goalposts in our classrooms whose presence kept us satiated.
Based on quotations above, the author of this novel described every character detailed and clearly. Lintang, who was a very diligent student, Borek with obsession with body building and didn’t hesitate to share it to his friend,Mahar with his ability in artistic aspects and Flo who was very enthusiastic since the day she moved from PN School.
i. Doing the assignment given by the teacher
Students who have a passion for learning will certainly want to immediately do the tasks given by the teacher, and only some of them show the laziness. They will also make efforts to the teacher’s assignment to do their best.
He wasn't even next to a number, which brought our spirits down as we were busy putting away our tree branches, not yet finishing the first phase of the surgery. I was excited but very surprised. It was the first day of the second year.
The author portrayed Lintang very well. The readers can see that Lintang was one of the hidden pearl in Muhammadiyah School. He dominated his class in mathematic subject by the ability to answer the questions quickly.
j. Always want to sit in the front row
Students who are enthusiastic in learning usually like to sit in the front row with the closest sitting position to the teacher’s desk
“Pak Cik, your son will share the seat with Lintang,” Bu Mus told my father. Oh, that's his name, Lintang. That's a strange name. Hearing the decision, Lintang tossed and turned, trying to separate himself so he could enter the classroom. His father tried to reassure him, but Lintang pulled him away, out of his father's arms, then jumped up and rushed into the classroom to find his own place.
It can be concluded that Lintang had a big enthusiasm since the first day of school, can be seen how he reacted when Bu Mus called his name.
k. Want additional tasks
Students who are eager to gain knowledge usually ask for or want additional assignment because these students want a bigger challenge.
She was tempted to test Lintang's level of mental strength,
"18 times 14 times 23 plus 11 plus 14 times 16 times 7!" We became depressed, bewildered, and clutched at our branches. In less than seven seconds, without even a number, without hesitation or haste, without blinking, Lintang roared, "651,952!"
From that, Bu Mus gave Lintang additional tasks, and Lintang could answer it quickly that gave Bu Mus excitement and admitted Lintang’s talent.
l. Not easily tired and discouraged
High enthusiasm does not make students easily tired, not easily give up and despair. They will always try various ways to achieve their goals.
Another time his bicycle chain broke. It cannot be repaired again because it has been damaged too many times and is now too short to reconnect. But he is not ready to give up. He pushed the bicycle about ten kilometers by hand.
Based on quotation above, the author described Lintang as a child who wasn’t easily to give up no matter the condition he faced. Lintang was always found his own solution for every problem that he tried to solve.