of elementary school are chosen as the participants of this study since they are young learners that enable them to learn words more quickly than to learn
structure. Moreover, the emphasis of this study is on vocabulary rather than on structure since vocabulary is said to be the basic element of a language for them to
learn Phillips, 1993: 163.
D. Problem Formulation
The research questions can be formulated as follows: 1. How is the possible implementation of Task- Based Learning to teach
vocabulary for the second grade students of Kanisius Notoyudan elementary school?
2. What are the influential factors towards the implementation of Task-Based Learning to teach vocabulary for the second grade students of Kanisius
Notoyudan elementary school?
E. Research Objectives
The objectives of the study aim to answer the problem formulation previously stated. Firstly, this study aims to investigate how the possible
implementation of Task-Based Learning to teach vocabulary for the second grade students of Kanisius Notoyudan elementary school is. Secondly, this study aims to
describe what the influential factors are towards Task-Based Learning implementation to teach vocabulary for the second grade students of Kanisius
Notoyudan elementary school.
F. Research Benefits This study is intended to give benefits for:
1. English teachers of elementary school level. The result of the research could be a reference for English teachers to teach
vocabulary for children by implementing such a teaching method. 2. Other researchers
The result of the research could be a base for other researchers to develop another kind of research relates to the implementation of a teaching method to
teach vocabulary for children.
G. Definition of Terms
Some terms associated with this stud y need to be explained further. They are as the following:
1. Implementation The term implementation is derived from the term implement. In the
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English 1995: 595, the term
of implement means to put something into effect or to carry something out. In this study, implementation is relevant to those described above. Implementation refers
to carrying such a method, that is Task-Based Learning, to assist language teaching learning out. Task-Based Learning is utilized to teach vocabulary for the
second grade elementary school students. In this study, the researcher attempts to examine the influential factors towards the implementation of Task-Based
Learning to teach vocabulary for the second grade students of elementary school. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2. Task-Based Learning There are definitions about what is meant by Task-Based Learning that are
provided by some experts. Willis 1996: 1 proposes that Task-Based Learning TBL can be used as the central focus in a supportive methodological framework.
It means that a teacher can make use of tasks as the main activity while carrying language teaching learning out. Tasks are intended to create a real purpose for
language use and provide a natural context for language learning. In this study, tasks are elaborated in line with what is suggested by
Richards et al. 1986: 289 as cited in Nunan 1989: 6 as the following: A task is an activity or an action which is carried out as the result of
processing or understanding the language i.e. as a response. For example, drawing a map while listening to a tape, listening to an
instruction, and performing a command may be referred to as a task. Task may or may not involve the production of language. A task usually
requires a teacher to specify what will be regarded as successful completion of the task. The use of a variety of different kinds of tasks in
language teaching is said to make language teaching more communicative…since it provides a purpose for a classroom activity
which goes beyond the practice of language for its own sake.
The definition above emphasizes that task is employed to facilitate language learners to be engaged in such activities of language teaching learning.
It is aimed to lead the language learners to make use of language in a real communicative purpose. Nunan 1989: 10 also proposes another definition of a
task. Nunan defines that task is a piece of classroom work that involves learners to comprehend, manipulate, produce or interact in the target language which
focuses the intention on conveying meaning rather than on form without disregarding learners’ grammatical knowledge.
Hence, in this study, task is defined as a piece of classroom work that gets the learners in comprehending, manipulating, producing, or interacting in the
target language in which their attention is focused on both meaning and form of the language.
3. Teaching Vocabulary According to Nation 1990: 2, teaching vocabulary is considered
imperative. It is based on the reason that both learners and teachers see vocabulary as being a very important element in language learning. As vocabulary is of
importance, teaching vocabulary cannot be separated from the issues on what vocabulary to teach and how to teach them. Before dealing with the definition of
teaching vocabulary in this study, it needs first to know what is meant by vocabulary. In the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English
1995: 461, vocabulary is the total number of words that make up a language. In this study, vocabulary refers to lists of words that are learned by the second grade
students of elementary school. Vocabulary in this study relates to such words that are often encountered by language learners in their daily environment, such as
fruits, animals, family, greetings, my ABC, colors, parts of the body, etc. From the above definition, teaching vocabulary in this study refers to
teaching lists of words that are related to learners’ daily environment by implementing Task-Based Learning for beginners. Thus, teaching vocabulary in
this study employs the underlying theory of Task-Based Learning for Beginners as what is suggested by Willis 1996: 120 that emphasizes on words and phrases
before grammar in order to provide opportunity for the learners to practice the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
language, which is in line with the framework of TBL. As a result, the appropriate teaching learning activities for beginners will be taken up such as jumbled
spelling dictation, memory games, bingo, puzzles, and guessing games. 4. Elementary School
In Peraturan Pemerintah No. 28 Tahun 1990, elementary school is defined as a unit form of basic education that takes a six-year education program.
This study refers elementary school to a unit form of basic education where the students obtain their first formal and compulsory education.
5. The Second Grade Students of Elementary School The second grade students of elementary school refer to the learners who
occupy the second level or class based on their age and ability. In this study, the second grade students of elementary school mean learners who study in the
second level of their first formal education level. 6. Qualitative Study
The term qualitative study refers to observational field study, so that the observation is held naturally in the setting that this study takes place. Ary 2002:
25 proposes that in qualitative study, the researcher attempts to understand a phenomenon in a holistic picture rather than in numeric analysis of data. In this
study, the researcher employs several instruments to obtain the data needed such as observation, field notes and interview.
10
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW
