Identification of the Problems

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B. Identification of the Problems

As a new program, English Tutorial Program needs English speaking materials to conduct the English speaking activities effectively. The materials need to e ased on the students’ needs, interests, and level of proficiency. The more appropriate materials, the better source of learning experiences for students. They should be able to facilitate interaction among students and tutors or students and students during the speaking activities. Students also need materials than can broaden their learning experiences in improving their speaking skill. The materials needed in English Tutorial Program include coursebooks, textbooks, multimedia materials, modules, tutor- developedadaptedmade materials, and other supplementary materials. Due to the fact this is the first year to run English Tutorial Program for students of international study programs, English speaking materials used in this program are only in the form of coursebooks developed by the tutors, who are students of English Education Department, and the lecturers of English Education Department of Yogyakarta State University. There are three different coursebooks for three study programs. Those are International Accounting Education, International Mathematics Education, and International Science Education. International Science Education consists of International Science Education, International Chemistry Education, International Physics Education, and International Biology Education. The materials are compiled from such resources as English speaking books and websites. They consist of materials needed by the students to communicate in daily and academic 6 contexts. The themes and topics are developed based on what students are interested in and the language functions provided are also those which are students have not comprehended well yet. The units are designed from the easier to more difficult language functions to make the students learn in an easier and effective way. Other materials which can be used in conducting speaking activities such as textbooks, multimedia materials, modules, tutor-developedadaptedmade materials, and other supplementary materials designed for participants of English Tutorial Program are not available. The only kind of materials which are in the form of coursebooks will be used by tutors during the English Tutorial Program activities. The developed coursebooks also do not cover all language functions which are needed by students. Even though there are many English speaking materials available, those materials are not appropriate to be used by students of international study programs since they come from specific study programs. They need materials which have been adjusted to suit their needs. The students have their own learning needs and there is no certain coursebook can possibly supply these satisfactorily. The topics dealt with in those available materials may also not necessarily be relevant or interesting for the students. Furthermore, using only one coursebook is confining since its set structure and sequence may inhibit the tutors’ initiative and creativity, and lead to boredom and lack of motivation on the part of the students. Hence, the researcher aims to develop English speaking materials that can be used by the 7 students of international study program to practice and improve their speaking skill in the daily and academic contexts.

C. Limitation of the Problems