CHAPTER
I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter
presents and discusses background of the study, statements of the problems,
objectives of the study, scope of the study, significance of the study, and
definition of the key terms. All of them are discussed as follows.
1.1 Background
of the Study
A language is a method
of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of
words in a structured and conventional way (Oxford, 1995 in Nurhasani, 2010).
Language mainly has function as a means of communication. It plays an important
role for communicating ideas and feelings using sounds, gestures, sign or marks
(Manivannan, 2006 in Nurhasani, 2010).
One of the languages
that are recognized as the international language is English. English has very
important role in the society all around the world unexceptionally in our
country, Indonesia. As a matter of fact, it is important to learn English.
Richard (1985) in Nurhasani (2010) states that learning English is important
since it becomes global language that enables people to communicate with other
people all over the global and participate in the international society.
In Indonesia the
government through the decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No.
006/U/1993 decides English as the first foreign language subject that may be
taught starting from grade one
elementary school until university. In addition, according to the high school
national curriculum (2004) and KTSP (2006) English is taught in high school as
one of the compulsory subject. It means English has the same position with the
other subject (Priyono, 2004 in Nurhasani 2010).
Teaching English in
Senior High school is also emphasized to provide the students with the ability
to use the target language from communication. To achieve this goal, Senior
High School teach four language abilities to develop the students’ competence
in all language skills, i.e. listening, speaking, writing, and reading (DIKNAS,
2004 in Nurhasani, 2010).
Language skills, i.e.
listening, speaking, writing, and reading are the main factor that can
influence successful (L-2) learning. The success of English lesson is not
determined by only one skill, while it involves the whole skill, i.e.
listening, speaking, writing, and reading.
The first skill of
language is listening skill. In learning second language (L-2), listening skill
might be the first skill which influences language learning process. Students
who master better with well developed listening comprehension skill will be
able to participate more effectively in EFL classes (Brown, 2001 in Nurhasani,
2010). Therefore, listening comprehension is very important for English
learners.
In teaching listening skill
is a challenging task for the English teachers. The fleeting nature of sound
usually makes the students find some difficulties to focus their attention on
the listening material which is being listened to. So, teachers’ creativities
are needed in this time. Teacher should deliver the interesting ways in order
to conduct listening activities interesting, fun and communicative. There are
three techniques of teaching which are considered interesting, useful, and
communicative, i.e. song, conversation, and, games (Nurhasani, 2010).
Based on the statement
above, the teacher can use English song as the alternative materials of
teaching listening. In listening activity using songs, the students are not
only expected to be able to focus on the essential of vocabulary, grammar, and
the other specific information of the songs, but also make the listening
activities affective, enjoyable, and fun in order to reach the learning
objectives completely.
The use of English
songs has many benefits for listening activities. Dobson (1986) (in Nurhasani,
2010) states that English songs are able to emphasize students’ interest in
learning English. In addition, English songs can expose the students to the
authentic use of the language and stimulate their interest in the listening
class (Ward, 1989 in Nurhasani, 2010). The use of English songs is really
important to complete the listening objectives easily. Besides, it makes the
listening activities enjoyable and fun.
Based on discussion
above, SMA Taman Madya Probolinggo has not used English songs in listening
activity. Although this strategies is one of the strategies that can improve
students to increase their listening skills. So, that way the researcher will
use English song to improve listening skills. It is a good alternative for the
English teacher at this school to use English song. As the materials, the use
of English songs is a variation among other listening materials such as;
conversation and dialogues which are commonly used.
The students have
difficulties in differentiate the accent of language because the limitation to
practice continually in listening English. Based on the observation in SMA
Taman Madya Probolinggo the researcher found that the students’ listening is
still low. It was showed by their score in listening skill. The mean of their
listening score is 50 whereas the minimum standard mastery is 65. The course of
listening which is given by teacher is not effective because actually the
meeting is two times per week but the teaching of listening is not normal so
that the students do not know about listening course, and the technical
teaching still use classical method.
Based on the discussion above,
the researcher is very interested in Improving Listening Skill by Using English
Song at the First Grade Students of SMA Taman Madya Probolinggo.
1.2 Research
Problem
These problems of the
study are:
1.
How can English song improve the
listening skill at the first grade students of SMA Taman Madya Probolinggo?
2.
How can English song improve the
students respond in listening skill?
1.3 Objective
of Research
Based on the stated
problem above, the objective of this study as follow:
a.
To describe how English song can improve
the listening skill.
b.
To describe how English songs improve
the students respond in listening skill.
1.4 Scope
and Limitation of the Research
To specify the
research, the researcher has some limitations of the study as follows.
1. This subject
of study is limited to the first year of SMA Taman Madya Probolinggo.
2. This study is
limited on the use English song in speaking class.
1.5 Significance of Research
This research is hoped to have practical
significant. They are:
a. The result
will help students learn and understand listening English by using English song
b. The result
will help the instructors or teachers to solve their problems in listening
subject.
1.6 Definition
of Key Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding and
misinterpretation of some key terms, these key terms will be defined as
follows.
1. Improving is
attracting the student’s attention to teach some natural, and understand to
pronounce what the speaker say especially in listening skill.
2. Listening skill is
providing to hear voice speakers to improve their listening skill and gain
valuable language input through listening song.
3. English song is
giving a powerful stimulus for the student’s engagement precisely to analyze
the different pattern of variety language of English. The song title which is
used in this research is:
·
The Day You Went Away (M2M)
·
Viva Forever (Spice girl)
·
My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
·
Just The Way Are (Bruno Mars)
·
Because Of You (Kelly Clarkson)
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