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technology. The researcher did an observation related to teaching learning process and school facilities. Based on the observation, the teacher could operate laptop
and was able to connect it to the available media in the classroom such as projector. The students also could operate laptop as well as the latest technology
such as smartphone. In addition, the school had a language and computer laboratory which could be used in the learning process though in fact it was rarely
used in English learning process. As we know, the learning process which utilizes technology is commonly not popular to be used in classroom learning. However,
adapting technology into the learning process, such as utilizing computer and smartphone to create an autonomous learning application for students, will benefit
the learning process in the future. Hence, based on the elaborated background, the researcher concluded that
the students of Grade VIII of SMP Negeri 4 Yogyakarta needed supplementary materials, aside from the materials given in the classroom learning. The researcher
developed learning materials needed by the students which could be opened anywhere and anytime through their smartphone. The consideration for combining
the development of technology with the supplementary learning materials was that the students are more likely to bring and always in touch with their smartphone
every time and everywhere, unlike textbook or other printed materials.
B. Identification of the Problems
Based on the background of the research explained earlier, there were four
main problems related to learning short functional text reading that were found by
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the researcher. The problems were limited learning sources, uninteresting teaching method, limited learning time, and the development of technology. Each problem
will be explained as follows. The first problem was related to the learning materials or sources for
learning short functional texts. The textbook and LKS used by the teacher had limited learning contents. The sources provided few examples of short functional
texts, compared to the variety of this text. Based on the experience of the researcher, the textbook did not provide the students with enough knowledge,
mostly the textbook only covered the surface knowledge. In addition, the insufficient learning source for short functional texts also contributed to the
studen ts’ low achievement. Therefore, the students lacked the knowledge about
this kind of texts, although it exists around them in daily life. The next problem was teaching method. The learning process of short
functional texts was mostly teacher-centred, where the teacher spoke a lot and the students sat quietly listening to their teacher. The students rarely participated
unless the teacher asked questions or asked them to read some examples of short functional texts in front of their friends. The teacher also depended too much on
textbook which has limited examples and explanations. It made the learning process became monotonous and uninsteresting.
The third problem was limited time allocation. The teacher only had 90 minutes at most to teach topics related to short functional texts and she only had
two meetings in a week. Meanwhile, the class was big and very crowded. The
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teacher needed more time to control the students which made the teaching and learning process of short functional texts became ineffective.
The last was the technology development. With the available teaching media and the school’s language and computer laboratory, the teacher should
utilize them more in the learning process of short functional texts. Moreover, most of the students were able to operate laptops and they had smartphone. It would be
more useful and interesting if they could learn short functional texts, for example from their smartphones using a self-learning application. They could learn
autonomously, anytime and anywhere they had time to study. Thus, the teacher would not waste time on controlling them in a crowded class and the teaching and
learning could be more effective and time efficient.
C. Limitation of the Problems
