a. Learning Principles
Here some of learning principles will be discussed. According to Kimble 1961: 6 as quoted by Hergenhahn and Olson 1993:6, they define learning as
changes in observable behavior. The concept from Kimble emphasizes on the significant of experience in the process of learning. Kimble says “learning is
relatively permanent change in behavior or in behavior potentiality that result from experience and cannot be attributed to temporary body state”. From the
statement, it can be conclude that experience plays important role in learning process. The experience might come from the environments and surroundings.
Kolesnik 1976:2 views learning as changes in behavior that result from the contacts with the environments and interactions with other people. It can be said
that in the daily life people also experience learning. Therefore, in order to have a successful learning, teachers should make the classrooms’ situation identical to
the daily life situation. Hurlock 1978:28 also has her view on environment, she says that
environment takes an important role in the children’ learning. The meaning, according to her, is the development that comes from the practices and trials. The
practice and trials process takes place in the environments, whether in the school or surrounding
b. Teaching Principles
Language teaching can be defined as activities that are intended to bring about the language learning. Since English is not the children’s mother tongue,
English is only taught in school.
In teaching foreign language to children, the teacher should consider several aspects before teaching. The aspects of consideration which are quoted by the
writer from Trisisca, 1996 :12-15 will be presented as follows. 1
The atmosphere of teaching learning should not be tense.
Since, the kindergarten students are beginners in English and also English is not their mother tongue language, the learning process should be fun and natural
for children. In order for students to be successful in learning the target language, there must be the absence of stress, Richards and Rodgers 2001 cited by Setiyadi
2006. An enjoyable situation can make the students feel motivated to learn the language.
2 Learning is a challenge
In learning, there should be challenges in order to make the students motivated to learn. Students will not learn or will not participate in learning
process if the learning does not give them new knowledge. There usually occur the misunderstanding between teacher and students.
Teacher thinks that when students are not motivated in learning they considered the students to be lazy and not active. Conversely, the fact shows that
the nature of children is not lazy, they are very active Spears, 1954: 163. Therefore, process of teaching should be challenging in order to make the students
motivated in the process. 3
Learning is a process of experiencing
Experience is considered a good way to teach. Old proverb says that experience is a good teacher; it means that in order to have full learning someone
should experience in using the language. The students should experience and apply the knowledge they get into reality.
The learning process is not finish in having the concept, but they should apply or use it. Therefore, teacher should make the students experience the
learning so the process of learning can be meaningful for the students. The more meaningful the experience the better learning will be acquire by the students.
4 Learning is a creative process
Students are not a passive people; they have mind and thought that enable them to think creatively. Considering that, the teacher should not treat the students
as a receiver but the teacher should guide them to make students think and develop their ability. Students’ mind is a processor, they should have stimulus in
order to process knowledge. Now, it is the teachers’ role to give stimulus to the students in order to make them think and access knowledge.
c. Vocabulary Teaching
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