Background of the Study

developed. That is why a lot of students who feel unsatisfied with what they obtain and learn in schools often try to join additional classes outside schools. Those who want to improve their abilities in English join English courses that provide chances for them to obtain more knowledge about English and to practise using the language more. One of the English courses that is growing rapidly is Quick Concept English Course Solo. It is located at Jalan Kawung 3, Solo. Since it was opened on March 27, 2003, the number of the learners is increasing. The teaching methods which are focused on the language use have given great development for the learners’ abilities in using English as a communication means. However, the course only provided one short period course for all learners. It only offered basic and intermediate levels. After 55 meetings the course had ended already, whereas in fact, many of the graduates have requested higher levels. Most of them want to maintain or even increase their English skills, especially their speaking skills. Responding to the requests, Quick Concept English Course Solo then provides a conversation class for the graduates. The activities and the purposes of the class are focused on speaking skill. The topics include topics that often discussed in daily life such as life stories, news, science, and social issues. It depends on the teachers that play roles as the facilitators. In order to make the class really focus on the speaking activities and to be able to fulfill the target, that is to increase the learners’ speaking abilities, the teachers should have the guidelines in conducting the teaching-learning activities. 2 This study is intended to design a set of English conversation materials for the class. Hopefully, it can give benefits for both sides, the teachers and also the learners. The teachers are expected to get the benefits by using this design as the guidelines, and the learners hopefully can increase their speaking abilities by joining this class using this design as the materials to learn.

B. Problem Formulation

In this study, there are two major research problems to answer. They are formulated as follows: 1. What are the steps of designing a set of English conversation materials for advanced learners of English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo? 2. What does a set of English conversation materials for advanced learners of English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo look like?

C. Problem Limitation

This study concerns with the designing a set of English conversation materials for advanced learners of English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo. To make the study more effective and focused, this study is limited to design the materials for advanced learners, those are learners who have passed the basic and intermediate levels at Quick Concept English Course Solo. They have 3 proper mastery in English skills and elements. However, there is no discussion on the effectiveness of the materials designed.

D. Objectives of the Study

This research is aimed to discover the steps of designing a set of English conversation materials for advanced learners of English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo and to design a set of English conversation materials for advanced learners of English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo.

E. Benefits of the Study

This study is intended to give some benefits. First, hopefully, it can be used as the guidelines for the teachers of Quick Concept English Course Solo to teach the advanced learners of the English Conversation Class at Quick Concept English Course Solo. Second, by using the materials, the learners are expected to obtain improvement in their speaking skills. Third, it can be used as a reference for other teachers to teach and for other writers to do similar studies or develop further researches.

F. Definition of Terms

To clarify concepts and avoid misinterpretation, some words and phrases are defined as follows: 4