2. AN OVERVIEW OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
2.1 Definition of Language Skills
Language skill is an ability to use language well in order to do the process of communication whether spoken or written by practicing and doing
many practices. There are four language skills that have to be mastered in learning a
language, they are listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. 1.
Listening Skills Listening skill is a receptive skill in the oral mode which uses the sense of
hearing. Listening is an activity of thinking. It is not only using the sense of hearing, but also the combination of sense of hearing and thinking
process. 2.
Speaking Skills Speaking skill is a productive skill in the oral mode.
3. Reading Skills
Reading skills is an active process of receptive skill in the written mode intends to absorb and store information in order to increase knowledge.
4. Writing Skills
Writing skill is a productive skill in the written mode. The relationships among these four skills above can be shown in the
following chart:
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Oral Written
Receptive Listening
Reading Productive
Speaking Writing
Tarigan, 1980: 1, 1981: 2. Each of these four skills has the close relation, it can not be separated
each other to do the communication well by language. The relationships among these skills ca be explained as a series of thinking process. Firstly, we listen by
using the sense of hearing and thinking. Then, we speak to say what we have listened. We need to absorb and store information; therefore the next step is to
read something to increase the knowledge the knowledge such as, newspaper, books, journal, statement, report, etc.
These skills are used in communication. Listening and speaking are used in oral communication means, while reading and writing are used I written
communication. In acquiring the language skills, we usually pass an organized relation
that starts from learning a language when we were children, then speak. After that learning to read and write. Each skill certainly has close relation with processes
that provided language. Language reflects minds. Tarigan 1980:1, 1981:2 states “The more skilled somebody used the language, the more bright and clear his or
her way of mind. Skills only can be gotten and mastered through practice and do a lot of exercise. Exercise the language skills means to exercise thinking skills”.
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2.2 Definition of Speaking