Background of the Study

1

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 presents the introduction of the study, which consists of background, reason for choosing the topic, statement of the problems, purpose of the study, significance of the study, and the outline of the study report. The description of the subchapter is presented as follows.

1.1 Background of the Study

English study is one of the most important studies in language learning across the world. It is because English as an international language is used in almost every aspects of humans ’ life. In economics, politics and technology, for example, English plays important roles, especially at the degree of international communities. Many books, articles, and journal of science and technology from many countries are also written in Englishtherefore mastering English will be very essential to make us be able to compete in globalization era. Our government also has the concern of the importance of English indeed, and implies it as the subject in every formal school level, elementary, junior high, senior high, and even in university. English is also implemented in the curriculum of SLB. In a formal education which takes place in a formal school, a teacher is obligated to maintain the teaching and learning to take place and involving the students in the activity. Teaching and learning are integrated in a one component, an educator must understand both the learning and teaching process; every component in the activity must be accomplished in order to reach the result of meaningful learning. In this context, English for students with special needs is also considered as an important component too, especially in this global era there are so many English phrases are used in our country, for example is “non-smoking area” it is an English phrase, for normal people who have seen it for many times, it will not be hard to reckon the phrase however it might be different for the students with special needs; they might get difficulty to get the meaning of that phrase. From this situation we can derive a conclusion that English is important for everyone without exception. In Indonesia, there are many SLB applies English as a substantial subject, this shows how English is defined as a supporting element for students with special needs to be involved in daily social life. Basically, to teach English to students with special needs especially students with autism the awareness and understanding the students’situation is one main point that must be understood by the educators. Students with mental disorders are the students who suffer from mental health illness, when special needs begin to severely affect a person’s thinking, emotional state and behavior then it may be that the problem is becoming a disorder. If this occurs it is important that the person seeks appropriate help from a health professional such as a GP, psychologist or other mental health professional. A mental disorder is a clinically diagnosable illness Ruble, 2012. Seeking help as early as possible can lead to a good treatment. It shows that students with autism cannot manage their emotional, they may have a problem in getting themselves concentrated, interested in and encouraged to the materials the teacher delivers. On the onther hand, autism is a complex neurological disorder which affects the functioning of brain, this prevents the people who suffer autism from understanding what the see, hear, and otherwise the sense. Thus leads to a problem that prevents the autism people in communicating, behaving and socializing. Ruble, 2011 An educator will find several problems in doing hisher job, especially in handling and getting into students attention. One biggest concern is how the teacher of disabled students special needs specified autism get the attention from the students, it will take a lot of efforts in getting the students interested in and involved in the teaching and learning process. It is the chalenge for the teachers that students with mental health issues may be limited in the amount or kinds of activities they can perform due to the presence of an emotional, psychological or psychiatric condition. Autistic students actually have higher ability to process words and vocabulary compared to downsyndroms, this is one big point becomes a sorce to develop the teaching materials for the autism students. Developing the teaching and learning materials for these autism students is one way to improve the students’ concentration, interest, and involvement. As teachers of SLB are generally knowledgable of these terms, they develop the teaching methods to suit the characteristics of the autistic students, and to encourage them in getting involved more. Teacher also faces problems in finding appropriate materials; it is obvious that materials for students with special needs are different from the materials for normal students, that is also one concern that teacher has to face. The t eacher also has to be aware of the students’ characteristics generally and individually. There are numerous characteristics which usually exist in autistic learners. They usually resist in human contact and social interaction from a very early age and have difficulty in learning the social interaction. Sometimes, they can be very sensitive and cannot control their emotion well. They also have developmental delay of spoken language. They like repeating words and sounds made by other people. Sometimes, they use words which are not appropriate with the meaning. From here, author can actually use imitating technique to be applied in the materials;since the students like to repeat words made by other people, can follow and repeat after the teacher in learning new vocabularies. From those characteristics, we assume that teaching autistic children is not easy. The teacher must be patient, attractive, creative also aware to use appropriate teaching methods and materials since method is an important element in teaching-learning process, especially in studying English. As a foreign language, getting maximum result of study is surely not easy. However, the achievement is not the target of this research; it will produce a supplementary book which eases teacher students, and parents informal educator to apply it in classroom and home. The sstudents are expected to be more active by following the instruction from teacher based on the bookmodule which researcher will develop. Basically, the goal of the module is that the students will be able to use basic English in their daily life and help them to survive with the situation of global era which many of English phrases are used in our Indonesian community, one more goal is students are expected to be less dependent to others and learning to be more independent through English language learning. Children learn language by imitating, teachers are asked and demanded to give a very clear exampleand instruction, are expected to be creative, and to be patient to the children. Different kinds of methods are applied during the teaching and learning process. In SLB YPAC the teachers apply old or traditional methods in teaching the autistic students. Yet, teachers are supposed to be aware of the materials that being taught must be delivered in an attractive and creative way to get students’ involvement and concentration. A set of developed suitable teaching materials is very needed to help the teachers and the students as well. By that the developed teaching and learning materials covers syllabus not entirely, lesson plans if necessary,teaching materials, and activitywill improve and develop autism students’ involvement and concentration moreover social ability by putting them work together in groups and they will build communication inside their own community. Working in group and pairs are good ways in im proving students’ involvement, this also leads to the fun activities that can be applied in classroom activities. Students can practice their language ability by the help of their peers and also the classroom teacher and subject teacher. This developed material will attend a more effective learning and teaching activity.

1.2 Reasons for Choosing the Topic