THE USE... R. Arief Nugroho Mater’s Program in Linguistics, Diponegoro University
©2009, UNDIP Institutional Repository
From the explanation above we know that language teaching and learning process is closely related to the philosophy of stimulus-response-
reinforcement which learners need.
2. Cognitivsm
As a human being, we are equipped with a special compartment for language. That compartment is called L.A.D Language Acquisition
Device. Harmer 2001:69 states that “Chomsky theorised that all children are born with some kind of language processor - a black box or
„language acquisition device’ – which allowed them to formulate rules of language based on the input they received”. We know that nowadays we
can see that English are being taught from early ages. Furthermore, Language Acquisition Device enables children to develop their language
system automatically; this is in line with the definition of language from Goh and Silver 2004:19
that is “Language is not a behavior learned through imitation and conditioning. It is rule-based and generative in
nature, processed and produced complicated cognitive processes and mechanism”. From those statements we believe that learning grammar
from the early ages is an important thing to do in order to make an acceptable communication and moreover, Brewster, J, G. Ellis, D.
Girard’s view above will answer the decree „the earlier English is taught the better the results is’. Brewster, J, G. Ellis, D. Girard 1991:96 also
state that “the learning of English grammar and basic sentence patterns is nevertheless important to enable children to participate in activities which
THE USE... R. Arief Nugroho Mater’s Program in Linguistics, Diponegoro University
©2009, UNDIP Institutional Repository
focus on purposeful communication”. Moreover, Glover and Bruning 1987 in Curtain and Pesola’s book 1988:65 have summarized six major
principles of cognitive psychology as they relate to instruction: a. Students are active processors of information.
b. Learning is most likely to occur when information is made meaningful to students.
c. How students learn may be more important than what they learn. d. Cognitive processes become automatic with repeated use.
e. Metacognitive skills can be developed through instruction. f. The most enduring motivation for learning is internal motivation.
g. There are vast differences in students’ information-processing
abilities. There are some factors which differentiate child learners from
adolescents and adults. According to Harmer 2001:38, there are some characteristics shown by children learners’ and this can differentiate them
from adolescents and adult learners. Those characteristics are: a. They respond to meaning even if they do not understand individual
words. b. They often learn indirectly rather than directly
– that is they take in information from all sides and learn from everything around them
rather than only focusing on the precise topic they are being taught.
THE USE... R. Arief Nugroho Mater’s Program in Linguistics, Diponegoro University
©2009, UNDIP Institutional Repository
c. Their understanding comes not only from explanation, but also from what they see and hear the chance to touch and interact
with. d. They generally display an enthusiasm for learning and a curiosity
about the world around them. e. They have a need for individual attention and approval from the
teacher. f. They are keen to talk about themselves, and respond well to
learning that uses themselves and their own lives as main topics in the classroom.
g. They have a limited attention span; unless activities are extremely engaging they can easily get bored, losing interest after ten minutes
or so. According to the children’s characteristics above, the researcher must
be aware of choosing or selecting the appropriate activities, activities which should be fun and catchy for children but also effective and efficient
for teaching and learning process. Based on the explanation above, the researcher feels that both
cognitivism and behaviorism are proper enough to be the underlying philosophy of the Comprehensive Teaching Technique CTT.
THE USE... R. Arief Nugroho Mater’s Program in Linguistics, Diponegoro University
©2009, UNDIP Institutional Repository
C. Methods of Teaching
