Quantitative Data Research Finding

19 Grammar is one of the most important components in English study and it should be thoroughly understood because it is fundamental in learning English. According to Fromkin and Rodman 1998 p.13: “ The grammar, then, is what we know. It represents our linguistics competence. To understand the nature of this internalized unconscious set of rules, which is part of every grammar of every language, every human being who speaks a language knows it is grammar”. One of grammar subject which has to be mastered by English learner is participial adjective which often used in daily conversation. In the Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged 1983, English participial adjective is an adjective with –ed or –ing ending suffix. Most suffixes do not change the meaning of the base; rather, they change grammatical function of the base word. English grammar could be taught and mastered by explicit and implicit teaching. In explicit teaching, grammar taught directly by explanation of the grammar rule clearly. The lecturer will explain structure aspect of grammar while students will use logical thinking. Meanwhile, in implicit teaching the student will learn unconsciously without awareness to learn English grammar. As for Sanata Dharma ELESP students, English grammar is taught in Semester 2. Students are taught systematically by lecturer from structure and the rules. Lecturers usually give examples on grammar and explain the ‘how-to’ pattern with lack of practice. However, most students have difficulty in learning and applying grammar, particularly on participial adjective. From the finding research, students were still confused to differentiate participial adjective. Researcher found that almost half of participants fall into “Poor” and “Very Poor” category despite they have studied and passed participial 20 adjective subject in Semester 2. Students cannot mention participial adjective accurately either, as in questionnaire, most students answered questions incorrectly. This reflects that students’ understanding on this subject is still low and they are lack of understanding and knowledge on characteristic of the noun and not any specific act Quirk, 1985, p. 246. They also do not possess adequate knowledge in describing cause of feeling Azar, 1992, p. 298. The students’ low understanding in this subject was then proved and more explained in further interview which gain additional information. Researcher took five students as samples for interview. The questions in interview are: 1. Do you understand about participial adjective? 2. Do you know the differences between –ing and –ed participial adjective? 3. Do you understand the function of –ing and –ed participial adjective? 4. Do you find difficulty in understanding participial adjective? 5. What is your difficulty in understanding participial adjective? 6. How do you learn about participial adjective? From all questions guidelines above, all of these five students tried explaining about adjective participial but none of them explained it correctly and accurately. Theoretically, they do understand about adjective only, but not participial adjective thoroughly. When students answer the questionnaire or other participial adjective-related questions, some of them answer it by guessing. One of correspondent explained that shehe is still confused in choosing whether to use –ing or –ed and what does it function. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 21 This research eventually proved that students’ lack of understanding participial adjective is mainly because of teaching method. Lecturers approach to teach grammar is often explicit which focus on grammar structure with lack of exercise. Thus, students only learn grammar in the meeting of the course in the classroom. The interview also shows that most students only learn English grammar by listening to lecturer’s explanation. They do not repeat or practice the material outside the classroom. To master English grammar, the teaching method should apply both explicit and implicit teaching. Students need to learn grammar structure and pattern in classroom but they have to apply it so will become habit. Not only students will learn by explanation, but they will also learn by daily practice. It then stimulates students to be more understandable on basic knowledge of grammar and to unconsciously improve their ability with minimal use of logical thinking as well. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI