CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

seriously or not. Some of the students thought that they were not really comfortable with traditional seating arrangement when they had to do group work activities. They had to move heavy chairs or tables to gather with their friends in the group. It could waste time and cause noisy sound. Generally, students perceived traditional seating arrangement as a positive perception. One of the students wrote: “Yes, I could. It happens because I have already accustomed to this situation.” The lecturers thought that they found few difficulties using traditional seating arrangement, especially when they had to interact with the students, but they could handle those problems. The lecturers were also accustomed to this seating arrangement, but they thought that traditional seating arrangement was not ideal for Public Speaking I class. The second research question was answered by analyzing the data from open- ended questions in the questionnaires and interview. From the result of the open- ended questions and interview, there were two majors suggestion that can be drawn from the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions on traditional seating arrangement. The first suggestion is related to the facilities. They suggested that the institution should provide a special class for Public Speaking I with these criteria: first, for speaking class, the seating arrangement should be in circle or letter ‘U” arrangement, so the lecturer becomes the center in the class and none of student sits in the back row. Second, it is also better if the tables and chairs are not made of wood because those chairs are heavy. Third, the table and chair are in one piece and could be folded. The last, it would be better if the faculty reduces the number of tables or chairs in the class because Public Speaking is not a big class. 76 The second suggestion is related to the teaching and learning activities. There were four suggestions which can be drawn related to the teaching and learning activities in the class. First, in the class, the lecturers have to interact with the students well. Since the class is big and there are students who sit in the front, middle and back row, it is better if the lecturers could move around the class not just in group work activities, but also when they have to give explanation or instructions in the class. When the lecturers move around, they can control the class well. The distractions in the back row can be reduced. Second, it is better that the lecturers have clear and loud voice when they give explanation in teaching and learning activities, so the students who sit in the back could pay attention to the lecturer. Because many students think that the lecturers seldom move around the class, so it is good that the lecturers give clear instruction. Third, if the class is too big for Public Speaking class, the lecturers could give advice to the students to sit in the front and middle rows which are still empty. So, the lecturers are able to manage the class easily. Some students say that the back seats are the most comfortable ones, so sometimes the front rows are empty. If the lecturers do not want that rule, the lecturers can be flexible. The lecturers could stand in front of the aisle where the students sit. Fourth, the lecturers could be flexible in arranging the seating. The lecturers are able to change the arrangement before the activities. So, the students are not bored 77 with the same seating arrangement. The lecturers could ask some boys to rearrange the seating arrangement.

B. SUGGESTIONS

This study has gained much valuable information concerning the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions on the traditional seating arrangement in Public Speaking I class. Some valuable suggestions to improve teaching and learning process using traditional seating arrangement are acquired from the students and lecturers themselves who experienced using traditional seating arrangement. Such valuable information should be put into the consideration for the faculty, lecturers and the students themselves. Based on the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions and also suggestion, the researcher tries to offer some suggestions in order to improve teaching and learning activities in Public Speaking I class. The following are the suggestions for the faculty, the lecturers, the students and anyone interested to do further research on similar topic.

1. For English Education Study Program.

It is hoped that there is a special class for Public Speaking I class. As we know Public Speaking I class is a small class. The activities in this class tend to be cooperative learning, so most of the activities are pair work or group work activities. Some students and lecturers think that they still could do teaching and learning using the traditional seating arrangement because they are accustomed to that, but this seating arrangement is not ideal for Public Speaking class. The students have the problems when they have to do group work activities because they do not sit face to 78 face and the lecturers sometimes are difficult to interact with all of the students. It is good that Public Speaking I class is not too big. It is better if the class has circle seating arrangement which are the table and chair are in one piece and could be folded. According to them, this situation will support their activities in the class, so Public Speaking I can work efficiently.

2. For the lecturers who teach Public Speaking I at Sanata Dharma University.

If the seating arrangement is impossible to be changed, the lecturers should have good classroom management, so the students are motivated to study seriously in the class. The lecturers should often move around the class because some of the students think that the lecturers seldom move around when they are giving a lecture. So, sometimes only students who sit in the front get fully attention from their lecturer. If the lecturers often move around, the students are easier interacting with the students although the students sit in the back row. The lecturers could also warn the students to sit in the front or middle rows if those seats are still empty. So, the lecturers could control the class easily and the number of behavior problems, especially the students who sit in the back could be reduced.

3. For the students who join Public Speaking I class.

Based on the students’ perceptions, most of the students admitted that the situation in the class using the traditional seating arrangement could grow their own awareness and motivation to study seriously in the class. Considering the seating arrangement is similar with IK 03, the students who are aware will choose the front rows if the seats are empty because according to them the position of the seats in 79