The Background of the Study

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the background of the study, the identification of the problem, the limitation and the formulation of the problem, the objective of the study, the significance of the study, and the organization of writing.

A. The Background of the Study

Language as a means of communication plays very important role in social relationship among human beings. Language is a system of sounds and words used by human to express their though and feeling. 1 English as one of the international languages is very important since it requires as a bridge of communication. With English we can develop science, technology, art, business and make some relations with people in other countries in the world. English curriculum 1994 states 2 “English is the first foreign language in Indonesia which is considered very important for the purpose of science development and absorption, technology and culture, and also construction of relation with other nation”. In this era of globalization also, learning English seems to be an obligation for people who want to be able to compete with other people especially for those who want to study or work abroad. 1 A. S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, New York:Oxford University Press, 1995, p 662 2 DEPDIKBUD RI. GBPP Bahasa Inggris SMP, Jakarta: DEPDIKBUD RI, 1994, P.1 2 Furthermore, In Indonesia, English is one of the compulsory subjects which is taught in junior high school, senior high school and university as the first foreign language. And it has become one of the lessons that is included in curriculum KTSP Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan within school. It has four major skills that are obviously asserted in the syllabus of KTSP which should be mastered by learners. Those are listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Besides, there are still other important skills that become sub-skills of English language, mainly vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. Every language especially English has it own rules and its own skills, and grammar has a great role on one’s acquisition in English which is different from Indonesian language. Grammar is a description of the way language works, with grammar people can communicate their message clearly and precisely. Grammar also plays an important role in teaching a foreign language. It is a part of discourse, an essential feature of reading, speaking and writing, and it is difficult to separate in any clear-cut way from vocabulary. Therefore, grammar is considered as a compulsory subject that must be taught to every language learner. Grammar is absolutely needed when people learn a language especially English. The better people’s grammar is the better they can use English. Therefore having a good ability in grammar is very important when people want to master English. Students who learn English will meet some problems, especially with the grammar as an aspect of the language that can be and appear confusing. Some students think of grammar are boring subject because it is full of pattern that students are supposed to understand them, they also try to avoid the grammar because they are confusing and hard to be understood. Based on the observation that conducted by the writer about teaching imperative sentences at first grade of MTs. Islamiyah Sawangan, the writer found that the most of students have some problems in using imperative sentences such as: first, the students still have limited vocabularies, so they felt difficult to make a sentence when they asked someone to do something, and they forgot a new vocabularies easily even through the teacher has just been given them. Second, the students are still confused in distinguishing between verbs which are used after 3 “no’ and “don’t” in making prohibition, so they didn’t apply the role correctly, example: they often make a prohibition such as: “no study here”, “don’t sitting on the table ”. When they make a command they still use verb-ing in the first sentence such as “standing in front of me”. Third, the students are still difficult in understanding the sign’s mean that they usually ever seen in the some places. In addition, the writer also found that the teacher taught imperative sentences deductively, he presented the rule first, he listed the vocabularies on the whiteboard, and he instructed to students to take a note and to memorize them. After that he gave examples based on rules. Finally, the teacher gave tasks to them, even though some students still look confuse and don’t understand the material. This teaching way make the students get bored and forgot the vocabularies easily, the students seemed much suppressed by feeling passive and unmotivated to learn. Based on the observation above, the writer assumed that the students’ problems in learning imperative sentences not only come from the students but also from the teacher’s method that used in teaching imperative sentences. According to the writer, it is crucial problems because the students will find difficulties in learning imperative sentences, so they cannot use imperative sentences in real communication, and they will forget vocabularies easily. Based on the problem above, the writer wants to propose a method and she tries to give the solution to the teacher’s problem in teaching imperative sentences, in order the problems that faced by the students and the teacher can be solved, and can develop students’ ability in using imperative sentences . The method proposed is using Total Physical Response TPR in teaching imperative sentences. Total Physical Response TPR, a method developed by James J. Asher, is one of methods in teaching language that may support to realize the expected situation. Total Physical Response TPR method is a language teaching method created around the coordination of speech and action, it attempts to teach language through Physical activity. 3 Using TPR is usually a lot of fun for the students and 3 Jack C. Richards and Theodore S Rodgers. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching: A description and Analysis Cambridge: Cambridge University, 1986, p. 87. 4 provides excellent practice in both listening comprehension and memory. TPR also involves game like movement, reduce learners stress, and create a positive mood for the learners. Using TPR method is a suitable method for the teacher in teaching imperative sentences, and it will give a solution for the teacher to his problem in teaching learning activities. Based on the explanation above, the writer wants to conduct the research about the effort to develop students’ ability in using imperative sentences through Total Physical Response TPR with entitled “DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN USING IMPERATIVE SENTENCES THROUGH TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE TPR A Classroom Action Research in the First Year 1 Class of MTs. Islamiyah Sawangan”.

B. The Identification of the Problem