school subject and it may be necessary to pass an examination in English to enter universities. Therefore, English is still regarded as an important subject.
a. English as a Foreign Language
Crystal 2003 states that a foreign language FL is a non-native language taught at school and has no status as a routine medium of communication in that
country. In Indonesia, English is regarded as a foreign language. According to Simatupang 1999 as cited by Lauder 2008, English has no wide use in society
of Indonesia. Also, it is not used as a medium communication in officials like government, the law courts, and the educational system and it is not accorded any
special status in the country’s language legislation. English is only learned at school and not used in daily life. Nevertheless, it is still seen as priority, as the
most important foreign language to be taught. Nababan 1991 states that in Indonesia’s education, the function of
English language is as a “library language”. It is because most of the books and scientific materials in the libraries are in English. It is about 80 per cent of the
books in a university library are in English. Therefore, English are taught in the secondary schools for practical purpose of preparing the students enter
universities.
b. English Teaching and Learning Process
According to Brown 1987: 6, teaching may be defined as “showing or helping someone to learn how to do something, giving someone instructions,
guiding someone in the study of something, providing someone with knowledge, and causing someone to know or understand.” In short, teaching can be defined as
an activity to give someone knowledge and to train someone. In accordance with Brown, Gage 1964 as quoted by Brown 1987: 7 notes that teaching is guiding
learner, enabling the learner to learn, facilitating learning, and setting the conditions for learning.
Brown 1987: 6 also states the definition of learning. He breaks down the components of the definition of learning as follows:
1. Learning is acquisition or “getting”. 2. Learning is retention of information or skill.
3. Retention implies storage systems, memory, and cognitive
organization. 4. Learning involves active, conscious focus on and acting upon events
outside or inside the organism. 5. Learning is relatively permanent, but subject to forgetting.
6. Learning involves some form of practice, perhaps reinforced practice. 7. Learning is a change in behavior.
Thus, according to Brown learning is not only the activity of obtaining knowledge, but also maintaining information and skill someone obtain. Also,
learning contains the value of the force to change in behavior. It includes the values of someone’s attitude.
In summary, teaching and learning cannot be defined apart from each other. Teaching may be defined as giving someone knowledge, guiding someone
in the study of something, providing someone with knowledge, causing someone to know or understand. What is learned is not merely information or knowledge,
but also an expression of values and attitudes. Also learning is a highly individualistic experience of acquiring or getting knowledge of a subject or a skill
by study, experience, or instruc tion, taking place through the active behavior of the student, causing a relatively permanent change in a behavioral tendency, and
the result of reinforced practice which takes place between the two kinds of participants: the teacher on one hand and the learners on the other.
2. Students’ Participation in the English Teaching -Learning Process
