The Background of Study

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCION

This chapter presents and discusses the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of study, significance of study, scope and limitation of study, and definition of key terms.

A. The Background of Study

English is used as a means of communication and it plays an important role in the peoples life, either in written or oral forms, such as in books, newspapers, magazines, televisions, radios, and internet. English is considered important to broaden knowledge and to develop technology, art, and culture. Besides, there are many books, especially textbooks for university students, which are written in English. In order to be able to read the textbooks and other written materials, people should master English. However, to master English is not always easy for everybody. English as the first foreign language is officially taught at Junior High School and Senior High School in Indonesia. Based on the Minister of Educational and Culture decree No : 372 2003 dated December 12, 2003 1 as stated in the 2004 basic course outline for the Islamic Secondary School states that English is the first foreign language that must be taught in Indonesia. English as a foreign language is also taught at Madrasah Tsanawiyah for the next term the word MTs is used as a compulsory subject. The goal of teaching English at MTs is to enable the students to possess the ability of listening, speaking, reading, and writing through the chosen themes based on their development level and interest, with the mastery of approximately 500 entry words and relevant grammar. 1 Depdiknas. Standar Kompetensi Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris SMPMTs. Jakarta: Puskur, Depdiknas, 2004 . To achieve the objectives of teaching English at MTs requires the involvement of many factors. Kasbollah 1993:3 2 states that teachers, textbooks, media, students, curriculum and society are needed to support the teaching and learning process. But to handle all those factors is not easy. A book has an important role in the efforts to improve students knowledge, which consists of learning materials. It plays a dominant role in educational programs. Textbook plays an important role because it dictates to a considerable extent the content and form of teaching. It is used as guidance for teachers and students in teaching learning process. To make the process of teaching learning successful, teachers should use appropriate textbooks for students. The textbook should be readable and understandable by the students and also appropriate with the syllabus and curriculum according to their instructional level. In teaching learning English, a textbook also still has an important role in facilitating teaching learning activities. It is used to facilitate students in improving their English skills. There are many English textbooks which have been written and produced for various levels of students. The importance of using textbooks for academic purposes encouraged many publishers to produce textbooks that will be used in schools. They offer a variety of textbooks including English textbooks. Thus, teachers should be able to select and use the appropriate English textbook to be used in class. Sometimes, it is the responsibility of the teachers to select the textbook they will use in a given class. The selection of English textbooks is not an easy process. It is often difficult to convince students of English as a foreign language that texts in English can be understood even though there are vocabulary items and structures that students have never seen before. A good English textbook is readable, understandable and comprehensible for students. They are easy to read and understand. It will motivate them to learn 2 Kasbollah. K, Teaching Learning Strategies 1 : Instructional Material Part A, Malang: English Department FPBS IKIP Malang, 1993 English. If they have difficulty to understand the textbook, they usually get bored and it will make them frustrated in learning English. To have textbooks in the classroom is a good way and it is also a must for both teacher and students. A textbook is designed to help learners understanding the lesson easily. It is also helps the teacher to gives the lesson in a good arrangement. Textbook, according to Jack C. Richards Schmidt on Longman dictionary, has a meaning; a book on a specific subject used as a teaching learning guide, especially in a school or collage. Textbook foreign language learning is often part of graded series covering multiple skills which are listening, reading, writing, grammar. Nowadays, there are many English textbooks that the teachers may use to support the teaching learning activities. Even though the books compiled based on the same curriculum, but the contents may be different. It is the teacher that should be aware and be more critical in choosing and delivering the materials to the students. And it will be much better if the teacher not only use one textbook reference but also more than one textbook reference. In fact, it is quite difficult to get English textbook has good materials and suitable with the curriculum. Although plenty of English textbooks for Junior High School are claimed to be published and written based on the 2004 English curriculum, but not all of them are really in line with the 2004 English curriculum perfectly Based on the statement above, the writer tries to analyze the content material coverage of English textbook and to know whether the textbook is in line with the latest English syllabus recommended which is used at the first grade of MTs Pembangunan UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. The English textbook entitled Smart Steps the Smartest Way to Learning English an English Textbook for Junior High School Grade VII published by GANECA EXACT, the textbook is based on Competency Based Curriculum. The writer is focused on the analyzing the content of the textbooks in the English material coverage. Based on this problem, the writer tries to analyze and interpret it under title THE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH TEXTBOOK USED AT THE FIRST GRADE OF MADRASAH TSANAWIYAH PEMBANGUNAN UIN SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA BASED ON CURRICULUM 2004 AND GUIDELINE ASSESSMENT.

B. Statement of the Problem