k Use information texts that contain topics with which the students are familiar. This will allow them to use their prior knowledge and to learn more about the
topic.
27
B. Group Discussion
1. The Understanding of Group Discussion
Small group discussion or working in small groups has been shown to improve students’ understanding, retention of material, and problem-solving
abilities. However, most of us do not instinctively know how to work well with others in the academic setting. In order to be successful, group work must be
carefully structured and the student must receive support in order to be successful. John K. Brilhart said that group is two or more persons united for some
purpose s and interacting in such a way that they influence each other.
28
Christopher Brumfit stated about group “A group is usually defined as a number of people who interact with one another that perceive themselves to be a
group”.
29
Small group discussion is the discussion that take place when student work together usually in group of 5 or 7. So it can be inference that small group discussion
is the way to influence each other to get involve in order to find the way out about something they discuss about. The writer concluded, small group discussion is a
media for students to get involve to influence each other to find the way out about something they discuss about or problem solving.
27
Elizabeth S. Pang, Angaluki Muaka, Educational Practices Series-12: Teaching Reading. Brussel: The International Academy of Education, 2003. p.17
28
John K. Brilhart, Effective Group Discussion, 4
th
ed, California: Brown Company Publisher, 1982,p.16
29
Christopher Brumfit, Communication Methodology in Language Teaching The Roles of Fluency Accuracy, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1984.,p.9-10.
2. Types of Group Discussion
There are nine ways to organize group according to Friederike Klipple. There are :
30
a. Fishbowl All the students of the class sit in a big circle. In the middle of the circle there
are five chair for a group. Three students who have controversial opinion about the topic sit in three chair. The three of five students start the discussion. Then two other
students who have different opinion join them. Students from the outer circle can replace speakers in the inner circle by tapping them on the shoulder if they feel
confident that they can present the topic better. b. Buzz Group
Each group discusses a problem for a view minute before the solution are reported to the whole class.
c. Hearing A group of students sit in front of the class and are asked by the other students
about the topic. They have to discuss before they make discussion to answer the questions.
d. Network The class is divided into groups that should not have more than 10 students
each. Each group has a ball of string whoever is speaking about the topic holds the ball of string. When the speaker has finished him or she gives the ball of string to the
next speaker, but keeps holding on the string. In this way a net of string develops, showing who talked the most and who the least.
e. Market All students walk around the class and each of them talks to some others.
f. Onion
30
Friederike Klipple, Keep Talking Community Fluency Activities for Language Teaching, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1984.,p.9-10
The class is divided into two equal groups. The students sit on the courtiers that are arranged in a double circle. The students who sit in the outer circle facing
inwards and those of the inner circle sit facing another students in the outer circle move on one chair and now have a new partner to continue the discussion.
g. Star Six groups try to find solution of a problem. Each group elects a speaker.
Then the speaker joins with the other speakers from the other groups to form a new group to continue the discussion.
h. Opinion Vote Each student gets a voting card with numbers from 1 to 5 in it 1= agree
completely, 2= agree, 3= nor agree or disagree, 4= disagree, 5= disagree completely. They discuss for awhile, each student votes, and the distribution of different opinion
in the group can be seen at glance. i. Forced Contribution
In order to make sure that all the members are distributed which determined the order of speaking.
3. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Group Discussion a. The Advantages
