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CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
In this chapter, terms and concepts that are used in the discussion are presented. There are two parts of which the writer presents in this chapter. They
are literature review and conceptual framework.
A. Literature Review
1. Teaching English to Young learners
According to Brewster and Ellis 2003:1, “Children learn languages better and more easily than older.”, furthermore, Pinter 2011:49 said that,” Children
are believed to be more successful second language learners than adults” It can be concluded there is a widespread belief that there are lots of advantages to
introducing language learning in early age. Moreover, Brewster and Ellis 2003:3 said that, “Starting to learn a foreign language several years earlier was simply to
increase the total number of years spent in learning the language, especially at age six or nine instead of eleven or twelve.”
Other reasons of teaching English to young learners was the belief that young children seem to have a better facility and they are good in imitating what
they hear and what they see than secondary school students. In Indonesia, young
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learners start to learn English in elementary school although not all of elementary schools in Indonesia teach English. On the other hand, Brewster and Ellis 2003
explained some reasons of young learners, especially elementary school students to learn English earlier. Those reasons are:
a. English becomes universal language around the world and most people in the world use English to communicate. That makes many children in many
countries are demanded to learn English earlier. b. The government is enthusiastic to push their citizen to have English language
competence for economic benefit of their countries. c. The lowering of the age at when children learn language will give more time
for the children to learn languages.
2. Characteristics of elementary school students
Dealing with the development of curriculum in Indonesia, teaching English to young learners is still important. Many elementary schools consider
English as a vital subject to teach however, it is not always an easy task to teach young learner. There are many considerations that should be taken on how to
teach them and what to teach. It is a fact that children are different from adult physically and mentally. The students who are considered as young learners enjoy
studying language through loads of cheerful activities in a bright, large and colorful room. While adult are expected to use abstract notions since they can
think rationally. As Harmer 2001:40 affirms that adults often encompass clear understanding of why they are learning and what they wish to comprehend out of
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