Developing students' undertanding of the simple past tense by using narrative text
DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING OF
THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE BY USING NARRATIVE
TEXT
(A Classroom Action Research at Second Grade of MTs. Al-Falah, Jakarta)
A “Skripsi”
Submitted to the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teachers Training in Partial of Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Strata 1 (S.Pd) in English
Language Education
By:
HENI HARYANI NIM: 106014000384
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TARBIYAH AND TEACHERS TRAINING
“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH” STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
JAKARTA
2011
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MTs. Al-Falah, Jakarta). Skripsi, Department of English Education Faculty of Tarbiya and Teachers Training “Syarif Hidayatullah” State Islamic University Jakarta.
Advisor: Drs. Nasrun Mahmud, M.Pd
Key Words: The Simple Past Tense, Narrative Text.
This research is conducted to know whether using narrative text an effective way to develop students’ understanding in learning Simple Past Tense at second grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta, and took 34 students as respondent. While Simple Past Tense is one of the English language rules that students should be understood. One of the difficulties which are faced by the students in learning regular and irregular verbs and lack of remembering of the past form. To know about regular and irregular verbs well, teacher must continue looking for more effective and interesting technique in teaching especially teaching Simple Past Tense, the researcher used text in narrative form because language feature of narrative text used Simple Past Tense.
This research used Classroom Action Research (CAR) method in developing students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense. The researcher used the Kurt Lewins’ model that consists of four phases, planning, acting, observing and reflecting. Then, in collecting and analyzing the data, the writer used observation, interview, and questioner, pretest and posttest.
The result of this research showed that using narrative text in learning Simple Past Tense at VIII-1 grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta could motivate the students to develop their understanding on Simple Past Tense. The students’ responses showed that they were enthusiastic to learn and the activities were interesting. Moreover, the students’ achievements in pretest and posttest showed a significant improvement. Initially, the students’ average score in pretest was 55. 29, there were only 14.70% of the whole students who could pass the KKM. Afterwards, the students’ average score in posttest I was 69.26, there were only 61.76% of the whole students who could pass the KKM. Finally, the students’ average score in post test II was 75.15, there were 85.29% of the whole students who could pass the KKM, and there were only 16.67% of students who could not pass the KKM. From this result, the researcher concluded that teaching the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text at second grade of MTs. Al-Falah, Jakarta has significant improvement.
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iii ABSTRAK
Heni Haryani. 106014000384. Developing Students’ Understanding of the
Simple Past Tense By Using Narrative Text (A Classroom Action Research at MTs. Al-Falah, Jakarta).Skripsi, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Fakultas Ilmu Tarbiyah dan Keguruan, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
Pembimbing: Drs. Nasrun Mahmud, M.Pd
Kata Kunci:The Simple Past Tense, Narrative Text.
Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui apakah menggunakan teks narrative adalah sebuah cara yang efektif untuk mengembangkan pemahaman siswa dalam pembelajaran Simple Past Tense di kelas VIII MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta, dan mengambil 34 siswa sebagai responden. Simple Past Tense adalah salah satu tata bahasa Inggris yang harus dipahami siswa. Salah satu kesulitan yang banyak dihadapi oleh siswa dalam pemahaman kata kerja beraturan dan tidak beraturan serta kurangnya memahami bentuk kata kerja lampau. Untuk mengetahui bentuk kata kerja beraturan dan tidak beraturan, seorang guru harus mencari teknik yang lebih efektif dan menarik dalam mengajar terutama mengajar Simple Past Tense, peneliti menggunakan teks dalam bentuk narrative karena fitur bahasa teks narrative yang digunakan adalah Simple Past Tense.
Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (CAR) dalam mengembangkan pemahaman siswa pada Simple Past Tense dengan menggunakan Teks narrative. Peneliti menggunakan model Kurt Lewin yang terdiri dari empat tahap, perencanaan, bertindak, mengamati dan refleksi. Kemudian, dalam mengumpulkan dan menganalisa data, peneliti menggunakan observasi, wawancara, dan kuesioner, pretest dan posttest.
Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa menggunakan teks narrative dalam pembelajaran Simple Past Tense di kelas VIII-1 MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta dapat memotivasi siswa untuk mengembangkan pemahaman mereka pada bentuk Simple Past Tense. Respons siswa menunjukkan bahwa mereka antusias untuk belajar dan dengan kegiatan yang menarik. Selain itu, pencapaian siswa dalam pretest dan posttest menunjukkan peningkatan yang signifikan. Awalnya, skor rata-rata siswa dalam pretest adalah 55. 29, hanya ada 14.70% dari seluruh siswa yang bisa lulus KKM tersebut. Setelah itu, nilai rata-rata siswa pada postes I 69.26, hanya ada 61.76% dari seluruh siswa yang bisa lulus KKM tersebut. Akhirnya, skor rata-rata siswa dalam post test II adalah 75.15, ada 85.29% dari seluruh siswa yang bisa lulus KKM, dan hanya ada 16.67% siswa yang tidak lulus KKM tersebut. Dari hasil ini, peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa pengajaran Simple Past Tense dengan menggunakan teks narrative di kelas VIII-1 MTs. Al-Falah, Jakarta telah mengalami peningkatan yang signifikan.
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and strength, so that she could finish this „skripsi’. Peace and blessing be upon our prophet Muhammad SAW, his family, his companions and his followers.
This „skripsi’ is presented to the English Education Department of the faculty of Tarbiya and Teachers Training Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for strata 1 (S1).
On this occasion, the writer would like to express her thanks and gratitude to her beloved family, her great parents, H. Nawi (Alm.) and Hj. Masanih, for all their supports, motivations and valuable prayers to finish her study. They inspired her to keep working hard and not to give up easily. They are her inspiration to be strong to overcome every obstacle that she found when she was working on this paper.
Her special thanks go to Drs. Nasrun Mahmud, M.Pd, the advisor, for all his guidance and advice. Without all of his assistance she cannot complete this paper.
She offers her gratitude to all of people who have contributed to her study among others:
1. All of the lectures of English Education Department.
2. Drs. Syauki, M.Pd, the chief of English Education Department.
3. Neneng Sunengsih, S.Pd, the secretary of English Education Department. 4. Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, M.A., the Dean of the Faculty of Tarbiya and
Teachers Training UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
5. Yusri, S.Pd.I, the headmaster of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta, for permitting the writer in doing the research.
6. Mrs. Ma’rifah S.Pd as the English Teacher of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. 7. All teachers and staff at MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta.
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8. Ramadha Taufik Quzzakiyi, S.T her beloved boyfriend, for helping in any occasion, his supports, motivation and encouragement to finish her study. Allah always loves us.
9. I.Isrotun Nofifah, Irfan Fahmi, Muhammad Bagus Nawawi, for their great deal of help, cooperation and motivation to the writer.
10.All of her friends at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, especially English Education Department Students 2006 – B Class Never Dies, for nice brotherhood and sisterhood.
The writer realizes there are still some mistakes in this „skripsi’, and it is not proper to be said “perfect”. Therefore, the writer expects some suggestions and critics for this „skripsi’. At last, the writer hopes that this „skripsi’ will be useful for all.
Jakarta, May 2011
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ENDORSEMENT SHEET ... i
ABSTRACT ... ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vi
LIST OF APPENDICES ... ix
LIST OF TABLES ... x
LIST OF FIGURES ... xi
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Limitation and formulation of the Problem ... 3
C. Objective of the Study ... 4
D. Significance of the Study ... 4
E. Organization of Study ... 5
CHAPTER II : THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK A. Simple Past Tense ... 6
1. Definition of the Simple Past Tense ... 6
2. Form of the Simple Past Tense ... 8
3. Use of the Simple Past Tense ... 11
B. Narrative Text ... 14
1. Definition of Narrative Text and Its Purpose ... 14
2. Schematic Structure of Narrative Text ... 16
3. Grammatical Features of Narrative Text ... 19
CHAPTER III: PROFILE OF MTS. AL-FALAH JAKARTA A. Profile of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta in Brief ... 20
B. Historical Background of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta ... 21
C. Vision of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta ... 21
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E. Objectives of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta ... 22
F. Academic Facilities... 22
G. Non-Academic Facilities ... 23
CHAPTER IV: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS A. Research Methodology ... 24
1. Time and Place of the Research ... 25
2. Subject and Object of the Research ... 25
a. Subject of the research ... 25
b. Object of the research ... 25
3. The Writers’ Role on the Study ... 25
4. The Method of Research ... 25
5. The Technique of Collecting Data ... 26
6. Technique of Data Analysis ... 27
7. Design of Classroom Action Research ... 28
8. The Classroom Action Research Procedures ... 30
9. The Trustworthiness of Study ... 32
10.Criteria of the Action Success... 35
B. Research Findings ... 35
1. Description of Data before Implementing the Action..35
a. Data of Pre Observation ... 35
b. Data of Pre Interview ... 36
c. Data of Pre-Test ... 37
d. Data of Pre Questionnaire ... 37
2. The Implementation of Classroom Action Research .. 38
2.1. Cycle I ... 38
a. Planning ... 38
b. Acting ... 39
c. Observing ... 40
d. Reflecting ... 41
2.2. Cycle II ... 42
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3.1 The Result of Post Interview ... 45
3.2 The Result of Post Observation ... 46
3.3 The Result of Post Questionnaire ... 46
3.4 The Result of Post-Test ... 47
4. Interpretation of the Data ... 53
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION A. Conclusion ... 55
B. Suggestion ... 56
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 57
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LIST OF APPENDICES
1. Teacher’s Interview Before CAR ... 61
2. Teacher’s Interview After CAR ... 64
3. Sheet of Pre-Observation ... 66
4. Sheet of Post-Observation ... 67
5. Questionnaire of Students’ Response Before CAR ... 71
6. Questionnaire of Students’ Response After CAR ... 73
7. Field Notes ... 75
8. Lesson Plan of Cycle I ... 79
9. Lesson Plan of Cycle II ... 84
10. The Blueprint of the Pretest, Posttest1, and Posttest 2 ... 89
11. The Instrument of Pretest ... 92
12. The Instrument of Posttest 1 ... 95
13. The Instrument of Posttest 2 ... 98
14. Key of Pre-Test ... 101
15. Key of Post-Test I ... 102
16. Key of Post-Test II ... 103
17. The Item Analysis ... 104
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Table 2.2 Irregular Verb ... 9 Table 4.1 The Classification of Discriminating Power ... 33 Table 4.2 Item Facility Scale ... 34 Table 4.3 Comparison Scores of Pre-Test, Post-Test 1 and Post-test 2 ... 47
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LIST OF FIGURES
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1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents and discusses background of the study, the limitation and formulation of the problem, the objective of study, the significance of study and the organization of study.
A. Background of the Study
Nowadays, English is one of the important languages in the world, because it is widely used and studied all over the world. Many books of science, technology, art and other published issued are written in English. It facilitates our relationships with others and helps us understand world events and the art and sciences. In other words, English is an international language.1
In educational world especially in Indonesian school, English is a compulsory subject in the national curriculum. It is taught from Elementary school up to the university level. It means that English has important role so that it is taught in the schools.
To master English, someone has to master its skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The students also have to master grammar, one of the language sub skills. Grammar is simply a study of the rules that govern a
1
Jean Berko Gleason and Nan Bernstein Ratner, Psycholinguistics, Second edition, (Harcourt: Brace College Publisher: 1998), p. 2
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language. The study of grammar can greatly enhance understanding and fluency. As Penny Ur said, “there is no doubt that knowledge of grammatical rules is essential for the mastery of a language, the learners cannot use words unless you know how they should be put together.” 2
Many people would agree that in the English language some of the most troublesome yet fascinating problems are concentrated in the area of tense. While Simple Past Tense is one of the English language tenses that should be understood by the students. One of the difficulties which faced by the students in learning regular and irregular verb lack of remembering of the past tense and past participle change of whether that is regular or irregular verb. To know about regular and irregular verb well, teacher must continue looking for more effective and interesting technique in teaching especially teaching grammar. It is done to make students feel more interested in learning grammar, because learning grammar tends to make students feel bored because it is full of formulation that students are supposed to master it. So that, there should be an interesting way of learning grammar.
The Simple Past Tense which the students of the second grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta have to learn, is as a part of grammar rules sometimes also makes them confused because when they are demanded to speak based on the tense, they have to be aware about the time and the verb forms, unlike Indonesian language patterns where the time and the verb forms are regardless. Text then can help considerably by ensuring that language is used in appropriate context, no matter how fantastic this context may seem, and the kind of text that can be used in Simple Past Tense is narrative text. It is one of the texts studied by students in this era as school curriculum. It is also offered as aesthetic reading because one reads it not only for enjoyment and pleasure but also for getting knowledge by introducing to new people, exploring other culture and expanding the world.3
2
Penny Ur, Grammar Practice Activities: A Practical Guide for Teachers, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), p. 4
3
Fraida Dubin and Elite Olshtain, Reading by All Means, (New York: Adison Wesley Publishing Company, 1990), p. 477
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The story line which is the backbone of any narrative typically consist of a chronological sequence of events each represented by verbs in the Simple Past Tense, either with regular and irregular verbs and the use of connectors.4
Related with the cases above, the students can come to an assumption that learning English needs the knowledge of its grammatical rules that they learn to communicate well. And the teachers have to choose the best technique they will use in teaching English. Consequently, to make teaching and learning process run well especially in teaching the Simple Past Tense, the teacher has big responsibility to do it as well as possible. The teachers should have the ability to combine some techniques in teaching activities.
The writer chooses the narrative text in this research because text is a unit of meaning which coherent and appropriate for its context and the writer chooses text in narrative form because language feature of narratives text used Simple Past Tense. With narrative text, students can study the Simple Past Tense happily and they not only can write in English but also can speak with correct grammar to convey meaning accurately.
Based on the explanation above, the writer would like to conduct a research under the title:
“Developing Students’ Understanding of the Simple Past Tense by Using Narrative Text” (A Classroom Action Research at Second Grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta)”
4
Graham Lock. Functional English Grammar: An Introduction for Second Language Teachers, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 154
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B. The Limitation and Formulation of the Problem
In this “skripsi” the writer will discuss the students’ problem in learning Simple Past Tense. In this paper, the writer would like to limit the problem in developing students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text.
Based on the background above, the writer would like to formulate the problem as follows: “Is using narrative text as media effective to develop students’ understanding in learning Simple Past Tense at grade VIII-1 of
MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta?”
C. The Objective of Study
The objective of study is that the writer wants to know whether using narrative text is effective in teaching the Simple Past Tense.
D. The Significance of Study
This research is expected to give contribution for the related English education practicing, such as:
1. The writer, as the partial fulfillment of the requirements of Bachelor of Arts in English Language Education.
2. English teacher, to improve their skill in teaching narrative text especially Simple Past Tense as one of the language features of the text.
3. Other researchers, as a comparison and the starting point to make more comprehensive research at school.
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E. The Organization of Study
This paper is divided into five chapters:
Chapter I provides introduction which consists of background of the study, this is the main part of fives chapter as in this chapter the writer shows her acceptable reason why she runs her paper, then it also provides the limitation and formulation of the problem, the objective of study, the significance of study, and the last is the organization of study.
Chapter II covers theoretical framework which consists of definition and the form of Simple Past Tense, the use of Simple Past Tense, definition and purpose of narrative text, schematic structure and grammatical features of narrative text.
Chapter III the writer explains detail descriptive Profile of MTs Al-Falah Jakarta that including about historical background, vision and mission, objectives, academic and non-academic facilities.
Chapter IV is research methodology and finding. In research methodology, the writer explains time and place of research, subject and object of the research, role of the researcher in Classroom Action Research, technique of collecting data, technique of data analysis, design of Classroom Action Research, the Classroom Action Research procedures, the trustworthiness of study, and the criteria of the action success. In research finding, consists of data description, the implementation of Classroom Action Research and the result of data analyzing.
Chapter V is conclusion; Conclusion provided explanation above and the last is suggestion. It concern with in order to evaluate some must evaluated points regarding with this skripsi.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This chapter presents and discusses about the theoretical framework which is consist of what the Simple Past Tense is, the form of the Simple Past Tense, the use of the Simple Past Tense, definition of narrative text and its purpose, schematic structure of narrative, and grammatical features of narrative.
A. Simple Past Tense
1. Definition of the Simple Past Tense
Azar, in her book Understanding and Using English Grammar said, “The Past Tense indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.” 1
It means that past tense refers to an activity that occurs in definite time in the past. It is in line with Frank who said that “The Simple Past Tense represents definite time, whether a time word is given or not.” 2 So, Simple Past Tense talks about an action or situation that happened in the past whether there is the time signal or not.
1
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar, (New Jersey: Prentice- Hall, Inc, 1989), p. 24
2
Marcella Frank, Modern English: A Practical and Reference Guide, (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1972), p. 73
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In addition Geoffrey leech stated in his book “Meaning and the English Verb (Third Edition)” said:
“The Simple Past Tense shows the happening takes place before the present moment. This means that the present moment is excluded. …. With the past tense, the difference between „state’ and „event’ is less important than it is with The Present Tense. In fact, as The Past Tense normally applies only to completed happenings, everything it refers to is in a sense an „event’, an episode seen as a complete entity”3
According to A. J. Thomson and A. V. Martinet, “The Simple Past Tense in regular verbs is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive, verbs ending in -e add -d only, the negative of regular and irregular verbs is formed with did not (didn’t) and the infinitive, the interrogative of regular and irregular verbs is formed with did + subject + infinitive”.4
It can be said that the Simple Past Tense is formed by adding –d/-ed for regular verbs and for irregular verbs there is no rule on it and must be learned and mastered by the students.
Meanwhile, Swan in his book Practical English Usage defines, “The Simple Past Tense is the one most often used to talk about the past. It can be refer to short, quickly finished actions and events, to longer actions and situations, and to repeated happenings.”5 The Simple Past is used to express the idea that an action started and finished at specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.
From the several statements above, we can take the conclusion that the Simple Past Tense used to express a definite event in the past. Simple Past Tense also used if the event happened completely in the past and time period has finished.
3
Geoffrey Leech, Meaning and the English Verb (Third Edition), (Great Britain: Pearson Education Ltd., 2004), p. 13
4
A. J. Thomson and A. V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986), p. 161
5
Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), p. 469
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2. Form of the Simple Past Tense
The type of verb that simple past tense used is verb type 2 (past form). There are two types of verbs: Regular and Irregular Verbs.
For examples:
Table 2.1 Regular Verb
V1 V2
Want Wanted
Copy Copied
Watch Watched
Play Played
Jespersen in his book Essentials of English Grammar said, “The Preterit is formed in various ways; as its form is in most verbs either identical with, or closely similar to the second participle, it will be convenient here to treat the two together.”6
6
Otto Jespersen, Essentials of English Grammar, (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1979), p. 232
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In irregular verb, it is better to know all forms of it very well. For examples:
Table 2.2 Irregular Verb
V1 V2
Go Went
Write Wrote
Bring Brought
Take Took
The formula in Simple Past Tense contains three parts: affirmative, negative, and interrogative. Based on the statement above the writer can formulate it as follows:
a. Affirmative
1). The verb other than be:
S + Verb 2 + O + Adverb of time Examples:
My uncle went to Palembang two days ago.
It happened very quickly.
I posted the letter yesterday.
2). The verb be:
S + Was/Were + Substantive (Adverbial of Phrase) +… Examples:
Those cakes were nice last week
My father was a manager last year
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b. Negative
1). The verb other than be:
S + Did + Not + Verb 1 + Adverb of time Examples:
The car didn’t stop.
I didn’t buy many books in Gramedia last month.
They didn’t cook last night. 2). The verb be:
S + Was/Were + Not + Substantive (Adverbial of Phrase) + … Examples:
Opik was not in campus yesterday.
I was not glad this morning.
The doctor and the nurses were not in the operation room. c. Interrogative
1). The positive form of verb other than be: Did + S + Verb 1 + …?
Examples:
Did she study hard last semester?
Did you spend your vacation in Bali? 2). The negative form of verb other than be:
Didn’t + S + Verb 1 + …? Examples:
Didn’t you spend your vacation in Bali?
Didn’t you study hard last semester? 3). The positive form of verb than be:
Was/Were + S + Not + Substantive (Adverbial of Phrase) + …? Examples:
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Were you absent yesterday?
Was she farewell party last night? 4). The negative form of verb be:
Wasn’t/Weren’t + S + Not + Substantive (Adverbial of Phrase) + …? Examples:
Weren’t they at home?
Wasn’t Merry sick?
3. Use of the Simple Past Tense
The usage of Simple Past Tense is follows:
a. Completed Action in the Past
Use the Simple Past Tense to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind. For examples:
I saw a movie yesterday
Last year, I didn’t travel to Bali
He didn’twash his car
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We use the Simple Past Tense to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happened 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.
For examples:
I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
He arrived to the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the other at 10:00.
c. Duration in Past
The Simple Past Tense can be used with a duration, which starts and stops in the past. Duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, all day, all year, etc.
For examples:
They sat at the beach all day.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes. d. Habits in the Past
The Simple Past Tense can also be used to describe a habit that stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as “used to.” To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, etc.
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For examples:
They never went to school, they always skipped class.
She worked at the movie theater after school. e. Past Facts or Generalizations
The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations, which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression “used to.”7
For examples:
He was in the office yesterday.
We spent in Kuningan last month.
From several statements above, we can get the conclusion that the Simple Past Tense should be noted that use of the Past Tense located situation in the past, without saying anything about whether that situation continuous to the present and future. We also use the Simple Past Tense when the time is clear and giving older information. One of the most common uses of the Simple Past Tense is to convey any event or action which is done in the past.
7
Retrieved from http:www.englishpage.com/vervpage/simplepast.html, November 24, 2010 at 11.00 pm.
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B. NARRATIVE TEXT
Based on generic structure and language feature dominantly used, texts are divided into several types. They are narrative, news story, anecdote, recount and spoof, procedure, explanation, report, exposition, discussion, description, review, news item, and commentary. These variations are known as genre.
This genre is introduced in both of Junior High School and Senior High School. One of the texts that is taught in Junior High School level is narrative text. It is a kind of story genre.
1. Definition of Narrative Text and Its Purpose
Before turning into narrative text, someone should know what text is. People live in a world of words. When these words are put together to communicate a meaning, a piece of text is created. When people speak or write to communicate a message, they are constructing a text. When they read, listen to or view a place of text, they are interpreting its meaning.
Creating a text requires to make choices about the words is used and how to put them together. If people make the right choices then they can communicate with others. Their choice of words will depend on their purpose and their surroundings or the context.8
There are two main categories of texts; literary and factual. Within these are various text types. Each type has a common and usual way of using language.
Factual texts include advertisements, internet websites, current affairs shows, debates, recipes, reports and instruction. They present information ideas and aim to show, tell or persuade the audience. The main text types in this category are recount, response, explanation, discussion, information report, exposition and procedure.9 Literary texts include aboriginal dreaming stories, movie scripts, limericks, fairy
8
Mark Anderson and Kathy Anderson, Text Types in English 2, (Sydney, Australia: MacMillan, 1997), p. 1
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tales, plays, novels, song lyrics, mimes and soap operas. They are constructed to appeal to their emotions and imagination. Literary texts can make people laugh or cry, think about their life of consider their beliefs.
There are three main text types in this category: narrative, poetic and dramatic. Media texts such as films, videos, television shows and CDs can also fall in this category.10
A narrative is a story that is created in a constructive format (as a work of speech, poetry, prose and picture) that describes a sequence fictional or non-fictional events. The word "story" may be used as a synonym of "narrative", but can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. A narrative can also be told by a character within a larger narrative.11
According to Chatman, S. and B. Attebery (1993) “narrative is the telling of a story or communication of a chain of events, fictive or real. Aspects of narrative include how the story is told, the context in which it is presented and the construction of the story.”12
From several statements it concluded a narrative is a text that tells a story and in doing so, entertains the audience. The purpose of a narrative, other than providing entertainment, can be to make the audience think about an issue, teach them a lesson, or excite their emotions. Narratives can be presented as written or spoken texts. Written narratives often take the form of novels. The story is usually told by a narrator. If the narrator is one of the characters in the story, the story is said to be told in the first person. If a person outside the story is the narrator, then the story is being told in the third person. 13
10
Mark Anderson and Kathy Anderson, Text Types 2…, p. 1 11
Retrieved from http:<www.msu.edu/kruttlin/narrative.html>. November 26, 2010 at 12.00 pm.
12
Chatman, S. and B. Atterbery, Reading Narrative Fiction, (New York: McMillan, 1993), p. 15
13
Mark and Kathy Anderson, Text Types in English 3, (Sydney, Australia: MacMillan, 1998), p. 3
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Examples of narrative texts include:
Myths
Fairytales
Aboriginal dreaming stories
Science fiction
Historical fiction
Romance novel
The purpose of narrative text is to present a view of the world that entertains or informs the reader or listener.14
From the description above, it can be said that narrative text has many meanings. Narrative text has been learned since Junior High School until now. Actually, narrative text is same with the story. It is only different in term. When we were child, we have been read Cinderella story, it is kind of narrative text. It consists of fiction story.
2. Schematic Structure of Narrative
a. Orientation
In this paragraph the narrator tells the audience who is in the story, when it is happening, where it is happening and what is going on.
b. Complication
This is the part of the story where the narrator tells about something that will begin in a chain of events. These events will affect one or more of the characters. The complication is the trigger.
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c. Sequence of event
This is where the narrator tells how the characters react to the complication. It includes their feelings and what they do. The events can be told in chronological order (the order in which they happen) or with flashback. The audience is given the narrator’s point of view.
d. Resolution
In this part of the narrative the complication is sorted out or problem is solved.
e. Coda
The narrator includes a coda if there is a moral or message to be learned from the story.15
The most common schematic structure is: Orientation-Complication-Resolution.
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Sleeping Beauty
Once upon a time, there was a king and queen. They really wanted to have a baby. When the king finally gave birth to a daughter, they were very happy. They made a party in the castle to celebrate it.
Six good fairies came to the party. They gave the baby presents of intelligence, happiness, goodness, health and wealth. Before the sixth good fairies could give their present, a wicked fairy burst into the party. The fairy was so angry because the king and the queen did not invite her to the party. She cursed the baby, “on her sixteenth birthday, the princess will prick her finger on a needle from a spinning wheel and die!”
The sixth fairy used her magic to soften the curse. She said, “the princess will not die, but she will fall into a hole for a hundred years.” The king and queen banned all spinning wheels from the kingdom and hoped that the curse would never come true. Orientation
Complication
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3. Grammatical Features of Narrative
Narratives usually include the following grammatical features: 1. Nouns that identify the specific characters and places in the story
2. Adjectives that provide accurate description of the characters and settings 3. Verb that show the actions that occur in the story
4. Time words that connect event, telling when they occurred.16
From the explanation above, it can be concluded that narrative text is the text that tell a story and when the story only contains the beginning or just the middle or just in the end, it cannot be a good story because there must be the beginning, the middle and the end of the story. It is to make the story is good and easy to be understood.
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CHAPTER III
PROFILE OF MTs. AL-FALAH JAKARTA
This chapter presents and discusses profile of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta in brief, historical background, vision and mission, objectives and academic and non-academic facilities.
A.
Profile of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta in Brief
1.
Name of the school : MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta2.
Year of Establishment : 19533.
Address : Jl. Masjid An-Nur Grogol Utara Kebayoran Lama Jakarta Selatan4.
Status : Accredited “A”5.
Phone/Fax number : (021) 5490178/(021) 53032636.
No. of Statistic School : 212317110068(34)
B.
Historical Background of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta
MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta was established on 22 May 1953. It is located in Jl. Masjid An-Nur Grogol Utara Kebayoran Lama Jakarta Selatan. The establishment of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta revealed the story of struggle and journey of humankind, at which time Islamic School since its foundation in 1965 became the basic development of Islamic religious sciences. However, its existence becomes very important, in line with the demands of the time. On the basis of the motivation and the demands of various parties, then established in 1953.
Expectations and ideals of the founding of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta continued to be actualized as a direct response to the developments, challenges and demands of the time, by performing a series of changes, improvements and planning a systematic and integrated through redefining the vision and mission. To that end, MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta has done and partnership collaboration with other committee competent in that fields.
C.
Vision of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta
Vision of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta:
1. Having a firm belief and practice the Islamic religion correctly and consistently in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah .
2. To be able to think and act spontaneously and critical in solving the problem.
3. Having the skills, non-academic skills appropriate to their talents and interest.
4. Having a firm belief and practice the teachings of Islam correctly and consistently.
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D.
Mission MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta
Based on indicators of vision MTs MTs Al-Falah Jakarta, the mission of MTs Al-Falah learning Jakarta in 2010-2011 are:
Improving the quality of human resources, creative, innovative, responsible, and berakhlakul karimah.
Developing students' potentials in order to compete in achievement.
Improving learning to cultivate the ability to think and act spontaneously in solving the problem.E.
Objectives of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta
Improving the quality of Average Value of the UN in accordance KKM ideal quantity of at least 70% and 100% of graduates.
Improving the practice and appreciation of Islamic faith in everyday situation.
Improving the provision of information and services to students, parents, well community and proportionally based on IT in education so that people feel comfortable.
F.
Academic Facilities
All academic facilities of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta are based on the school curriculum program started by the government. Even so, as good school, MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta gives more facilities to all students, such as: Moral Education, Research Methodology, Computers and Motivation Training Program.
Remedial and enrichment are given to students who need, and it is done in planning. Another activity that supports the learning program in MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta is the study tour activity which has to be followed by all students of second grade.
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Graduation is a routine activity done every year to respect and congratulate students who have succeeded in finishing their studies in MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta.
G.
Non-Academic Facilities
Meanwhile non-academic facilities or extracurricular can be chosen by students. One of them is sport, like football and basket ball. Many sport events are being organized and facilitated by MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta, whether internal activities that involve other schools.
MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta has created program such as motivation building programs to develop the students’ potential, interest and prestige to gain future success. The motivation building programs consist of PASKIBRA and PRAMUKA.
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CHAPTER IV
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
AND
RESEARCH FINDINGS
This chapter deals with research methodology and research findings. Research methodology consists of time and place of research, subject and object of research, the writer’s role on the study, technique of collecting data, technique of data analysis, design of Classroom Action Research, the Classroom Action Research procedures, the trustworthiness of the study, and criteria of the action success. Research Findings consists of data description, the implementation of Classroom Action Research and the result of data analyzing.
A. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.Time and Place of the Research
The writer held the research at grade VIII of MTs. Al-Falah, which is located on Jl. Masjid An-Nur Grogol Utara Kebayoran Lama Jakarta Selatan. The writer did the Classroom Action Research started from July 2010 up to November 2010.
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2. Subject and Object of the Research a. Subject
The Subject of this study is students at grade VIII-1 class of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta in academic year 2010/2011. The number of students consists of 34 (thirty-four). It is chosen based upon unstructured interview result with the English teacher at that class proving that they have the lowest achievement in learning Simple Past Tense among the other eight classes.
b. Object
The object of the research is using narrative text an effective way to develop students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense.
3. The Writer’s Role on the Study
In this role, the writer is as not only the observer whilst the action but also makes a lesson plan and the assessment or test before Classroom Action Research (CAR) pretest and after Classroom Action Research (CAR) posttest in each final cycle. The English teachers’ role as observer who observes teaching-learning situation, student and teachers’ performance during teaching-learning process. Afterwards, the writer also collects and analyzes data with English teacher.
4. The Method of Research
The writer in this research used Classroom Action Research (CAR) method which is derived from the root an action research, because it occurs in the classroom frame, it is called CAR. John W. Santrock stated “CAR is a research that used to solve a specific classroom or school problem, improve teaching and other educational strategies or make a decision at a specific level.”1
1
John W. Santrock, Educational Psychology, Second edition (New York: McGraw, 2004), p. 23
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5. The Technique of Collecting Data
In completing the data, the writer used qualitative data and quantitative data, qualitative data consists of observation, interview and field note, quantitative data consists of pretest and posttest. 2
a. Observation
In this research, the writer used field note, sheet of pre-observation of teaching learning. Field note is done during implementing CAR. Sheet of pre-observation of teaching learning is done before implementing CAR, it is purposeful to know English teachers’ performance, and sheet of post observation of teaching learning is done during implementing CAR.
b. Interview
Interview is held with the teacher and students in order to know the real condition in applying the technique narrative text and how far the technique can motivate the students in improving students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense. The writer interviewed the English teacher and students. This interview conducted before and after the implementation of Classroom Action Research.
c. Test
The test used in this study is pretest, posttest I and posttest II. Pretest is done before implementing CAR. It is done to make sure whether the data of observation in line with the result pretest or not. Meanwhile, the posttest is implemented after using narrative text technique. In this study, the test is done in form of multiple choices. The test is held on every second action of each cycle.
d. Questionnaire
The writer conducted questioner to 34 students. Questionnaire is done before implementing CAR; it is purposeful to know students’ difficulty in English learning. Questionnaire is done after implementing
2
Suharsimi Arikunto, Penelitian Tindakan Kelas, (Jakarta: Bumi Aksara, 2009), p. 127-132.
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CAR; it is purposeful to know students’ response about narrative text in learning Simple Past Tense.
6. Technique of Data Analysis
The writer uses the observation of teaching-learning activity and the interview before and after CAR in the analyzing of qualitative data. In the other hand, the analysis quantitative data used is numerical data. In analyzing the numerical data, the writer used this formula:3
_ X : mean
x : individual score n : number of students
Then, the writer tried to get the class percentages which passed the KKM (70) of English lesson at MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. It is the formula:4
P : the class percentage F : total percentage score N: number of students
3
Sudjana, MetodaStatistik, (Bandung: PT. Tarsito, 2002), p. 67 4
Anas Sudjiono, Pengantar Statistik Pendidikan, (Jakarta: PT. Raja Grafindo Persada, 2008), p. 43
�=
�
�= �
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To identifying improvement of students’ score from pretest up to posttest score in cycle I and cycle II, by using the formula:5
P : percentage of students’ improvement y : pre-test result
y1 : post-test 1
P : percentage of students’ improvement y : pre-test result
y2 : post-test 2
7. Design of Classroom Action Research
According to Niff, “CAR encourages teacher to be reflective of his own practice in order enhance the quality of education for himself and his pupils.”6
It means that CAR is one of researches that requires teacher to practice and give him or her new opportunities to reflect on and asses their teaching.
In this design classroom action research (CAR), the writer used Kurt Lewins’ design, this concept consists of planning, acting, observing, and
5
David E. Meltzer, The Relationship between Mathematics Preparation and Conceptual Learning Gains in Physics: A Possible Hidden Variable in Diagnostic Pretest Scores, (Iowa: Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2008), p.3.
6
Jean Mc Niff, Action Research: Principles and Practice, (New York: MacMillan Education Ltd., 2002), p. 1.
�= − � %
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reflecting7. The relationship among those concepts formed one cycle. Basically, amount of cycle depends on with the issue or issues happened in teaching and learning activities and also the achievement. The writer describes the scheme of action research designed by Kurt Lewins’ design.
Figure 4.1
Kurt Lewins’ Action Research Design
7
Kunandar, Langkah Mudah Penelitian Tindakan Kelas Sebagai Pengembangan Profesi Guru, (Jakarta:PT Raja Grafindo Persada, 2008), p. 42
Planning
Cycle I
Planning
Reflecting Acting
Observing
Reflecting
Observing Cycle II
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8. The Classroom Action Research Procedures
Based on the design above, the researcher decides to use two cycles in her action research, each cycle consists of four phases. Those are planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The research will be probably found a new problem or the previous unfinished problems yet. Therefore, it is necessary to continued to the second cycle in line with the same concept of the first cycle. Here are the explanations of its phases.
CYCLE I 1. Planning
In this phase, the writer as English teacher makes lesson plan based on the issue in classroom, chooses the topic based on syllabus, reviewing related literature, the writer also makes the evaluation to know students’ achievement at the end of cycle, and then prepares the instrument to notice all activities in the classroom. In this cycle, the writer decides to choose two meetings.
2. Acting
In the acting phase, the writer implies the planning that is made by her. The writer gives material based on the lesson plan that has been made. Later, the writers begin the research process more deeply based on her lesson plan. The teacher presents the topic that will be learned by using narrative text, explained the material and gave students exercises. Then, at the end of this phase, the writer gives a pretest to students.
3. Observing
During the writer conducts the activity in the classroom, the teacher as an observer, observes and records all of activities using the field note and structured observation sheet. It may be about the teacher’s performance, the students’ activity, the students’ participation, the students’ attention, the
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students’ response, and the class situation. In addition, the observer also collects the data from the posttest given to the students.
4. Reflecting
Reflecting phase is designed to reflect researcher action in teaching learning process, it is based on data that have been collected. After collecting data, the writer has to analyze data and reflect with English teacher by using result of the observation. The teacher and English teacher will discuss and analyze the data of teaching-learning process and also identify less of teaching Simple Past Tense by using narrative text and how to improve it at classroom.
However, if there is found problems it should move to the next cycle regarding re-planning, re-acting, and re-observing. Consequently, the writer and the teacher should work out uncompleted problems that have been solved yet.
CYCLE II 1. Planning
In cycle one, the writer identifies and analyzes the issue then finds the problems based on issue that are appeared in the classroom. So, in this phase the teacher will revise and modify lesson plan and reselect narrative text material that will be taught selectively.
2. Acting
In this phase, the writer taught the lesson based on lesson plan has been modified. The writer explained the Simple Past Tense pattern and some examples and then gives narrative text and the students have to analyze the schematic structure, language feature that consist of Simple Past Tense. After that, the writer gives the students exercises related about Simple Past Tense. Then the writer asked to read the text carefully, and asked the students about schematic structure of narrative text from that passage. The question has done in pairs.
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3. Observing
In this phase, after the teacher does the acting in cycle II, she observes and notices all of activities that occur in the classroom. The writer also notices the class situation using the field note and structured observation sheet.
4. Reflecting
Reflecting phase is designed to reflect the writer’s action in cycle II, it is based on data that have been collected. The writer has to analyze data and reflect with English teacher by using result of the observation. The writer also analyzes observation data, interview data, pretest and posttest based on criteria success. If the result of cycle II has reached the main goal, thus the writer should stop her research. In the other hand, if the result of cycle has not reached the main goal, thus the writer has to direct to the next cycle until the main goal is reached.
9. The Trustworthiness of study
In analyzing the test items, there are two ways that will be used to know the trustworthiness of the data, and it is explained as follows:
1. Discriminating Power
The discriminating power of a test item is an index that shows its ability to differentiate between pupils who achieved well (the upper group) and those who have achieved poorly (the lower group). It is supported by the theory of Norman E. Gronlund in his book, Constructing Achievement Test, he stated that “discriminating power is the comparison between the number of students in the upper group and lower group who answered the item correctly”.8 To find out the discriminating power index, it will be used the following formula: 9
8
Norman E. Gronlund. Constructing Achievement Test, (New Jersey: Prentince-Hall, Inc. 1982) , p.103
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D : The index of discriminating power
Ru :The number of pupils in the upper group who answered the item correctly
RL :The number of pupils in the lower group who answered the item correctly
½ T : One half of the total number of students included in the item analysis
Then, the criterion of discriminating power is rated as follows:
Table 4.1
The Classification of Discriminating Power
DISCRIMINATING
POWER REMARK
0.6 – 1.0 Very good
0.4 – 0.6 Good
0.1 – 0.3 Ok
-1 – 0.0 Bad
Ru – RL
D = ────
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2. Item Facility
Item facility refers an index of how easy an individual test item was for the people who took it.10 Item facility is typically printed in a decimal number and it represents the proportion of people or test takers who got the item right. The reason why item facility must be concerned by test makers is to know whether an item is too easy or too difficult to answer.
To count the item facility of a test item, it will be used the following formula:
After the item facility has been counted, it can be known the rate of the difficulties and the easiness by using the item facility scale as follows:
Table 4.2 Item Facility Scale
ID REMARK
0 – 0.14 Difficult 0.15 – 0.85 Moderate
0.86 – 1.00 Easy
10
Kathleen M. Bailey, Learning about Language Assessment: Dillemas, Decisions, and Direction, (London: Heinle & Heinle Publisher, 1998), p. 132
IF = The number of Students who answered the item correctly Total Number of Students
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10. Criteria of the Action Success
Classroom Action Research is called successful research if the criterion that has been determined is reached. Meanwhile, if the criterion has not been reached yet, thus the next cycle has to done. The criterion is fixed by teacher and researcher.
In this research, teacher and researcher determine when there are 70% of students achieve any improvement; started from the pretest until the second posttest in cycle two. It can be stated that successful CAR and next action will be stopped. Meanwhile, there are no 70% of students achieve any improvement; it can be called unsuccessful CAR. Thus, the next cycle has to done.
B. RESEARCH FINDINGS
In this part, the writer presents the data of the research that have been collected. It is divided into three parts: data description, data analyzing, and interpretation of the data. The data discusses developing students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text at VIII-1 grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. Data description consists of observation before implementation the action, observation, interview, and also test (pretest), data analyzing consists of posttest 1 and posttest 2.
1. Description of Data before Implementing the Action
Before the implementation of the action, the writer has divided three parts of data description in order to know the obstacles of teaching learning in reading activities selectively, those are data of observation, data from interview questionnaire and the test.
a. Data of Pre-Observation
Based on the observation was conducted by the writer on Monday, 4th October 2010. It was held at VIII Grade MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. There were 34 students in the class and was started at 6.45 A.M up to 8.05 A.M.
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from the observation, the writer saw that the teacher used the traditional method in teaching Simple Past Tense. The teacher explained the grammar (Simple Past Tense) inductively. Which is she gave the rule first, and then she gave example based on the rule, after that she asked the students to make another example according to the rule. The teacher only focused on the rule of grammar, she didn’t ask the students to do another activity like reading or speaking. At the first, she explained the rule of the simple past tense and wrote it down on the whiteboard, and made several examples based on the rule. Next, the teacher asked the students to do the exercise in LKS (workbook). After the students finished it, the teacher asked some students to wrote their own answers on the whiteboard while the other students checked their work. In the end of the teaching learning activity, the teacher gave homework to the students.
b. Data of Pre-Interview
This interview was conducted as unstructured interview, it was held on Thursday, October 7th 2010, and started 10.00 A.M up to 11.00 A.M. In this interview, the writer asked some questions related English teaching learning activity, emphasized on grammar material. The English teacher taught grammar inductively, she explained the rule first and then she gave examples based on the rule. Besides that, the English teacher also never used other method and never gives any media in teaching the Simple Past Tense. According to the teacher, students’ understanding of grammar especially tenses is still low, their English score also not good.
Then the writer asked about how many KKM (Criteria of Minimum Completeness) that concerning with school program. The students should get 70 (seventy) score in English subject. The next interview discussed the problems faced the student when the teacher taught the material. Most of students felt boring when the teacher conveyed the material.
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c. Data of Pre-test
In completing the data, the writer did the pretest before conducted Classroom Action Research, it was held on Friday, 15th October 2010, and it began from 6.45 A.M up to 8.05 A.M. There were 34 students of VIII-1 grade followed the test. The test was 20 questions in multiple choices and the students did it during 30 minutes. From this pretest, it is known the mean score of pretest that was done by students was 55.29.
The data above showed nine students who obtained the score above the KKM (Criterion of Minimum Completeness), while KKM of MTs. Al-Falah was 70. So, twenty five students were below the standard of KKM. From the data, there were five students gained the higher score and one student gained the lowest score which the higher score was 75 and lowest score was 35.
d. Data of Pre Questionnaire
Before the teaching action would be implemented, the writer gave questionnaire to the students. Pre Questioner was done on Monday, October 11th 2010 at 10.15 A.M. It was conducted to ask students at MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta by using rating scale. The writer took 34 students to answer the questionnaire. The questioner is about students’ feeling during English lesson and their responses toward English teacher’s technique in teaching-learning process at VIII-1 grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. The result of pre questionnaire can be seen in appendix V.
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2. The Implementation of Classroom Action Research
After knowing the data from observation and interview above, the writer knew that the students had some difficulties and learning in Simple Past Tense, such as the transformation of the verb forms, especially irregular verb, the negative and the interrogative form of the Simple Past Tense.
The teacher also had a problem when she teaches English in the classroom. The problem was the background knowledge of students was different each other, the students felt bored and not interest in studying English. To overcome the problem, the writer used narrative text in teaching the Simple Past Tense to support the teaching learning-process.
This Classroom Action Research was held from 22nd October 2010 up to 13th November 2010 at VIII Grade MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta, there were 34 students followed this implementation. The writer conducted this research two cycles which each cycles was conducted two meetings. After doing each cycle, the writer conducted posttest to know improvement of the students understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text.
2.1 CYCLE I
a. Planning
In this phase, the writer made the lesson plan and selected the appropriate material that based upon the students’ problem in the Simple Past Tense. In this phase also the writer determined selected material and exercises to students. Moreover, the writer choose narrative text as the text to be delivered for students in which it was needed to break down into specific material, that was discussing the schematic structure and language feature of narrative text including Simple Past Tense itself, the title of the narrative text in this cycle were “the Fox and the Rox” and “Roro Anteng and Joko Seger”. The first meeting discussed about the form and pattern of the Simple Past Tense (included positive, negative, and interrogative form), the verb 2 forms (both regular and irregular), the time signal, and asked them to make sentences in the Simple Past Tense.
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In the second meeting the researcher combined the teaching learning process of Simple Past Tense by using narrative text. She asked the students to analyze the Simple Past Tense sentences form the text and then discussed it together. Besides that, she also gave reading comprehension activity from the text that was given, she asked the students to read aloud in front of the class while checked their pronunciation, determine the topic and the title of the text, found the main idea, supporting idea, and specific information from the text. Next, she asked them to underline the verb two and found out the sentences of the Simple Past Tense form from the text.
In this phase, the writer the writer not only made planning for teaching learning activities but also prepared some activities and exercises; like made a sentence in the Simple Past Tense and then asked them to changed it into negative and interrogative form, fill in the blank with the appropriate words in the parentheses. The writer gave exercise and assessment to the students in each meeting to know the students’ progress and also prepare posttest 1 after she conducted the cycle I.
b. Acting
The action of the cycle 1 was done on October 23rd and October 30th 2010. The teacher implemented the teaching and learning process based on the lesson plan had been made. In the first meeting, the writer explained about the form of Simple Past Tense (positive, negative, and interrogative), the time signal, and the verb 2 forms (both regular and irregular). She gave explanation about the regular and irregular verbs and also gave them a list of irregular verbs. Next, she asked the students to make a sentence using Simple Past Tense and then changed it into negative and interrogative form.
In the second meeting, the writer emphasized on reading and writing activities. She asked the students to read the text aloud, and then she asked them to find out the sentences in Simple Past Tense and underlined the verb 2 forms and to be in the text that was given. She also asked them to read the text aloud. Each student had turn to read the text (only one paragraph not the whole text) to
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knew and checked their pronunciation. After that she asked them to determine the topic and the title of the passage, finding the main idea, supporting idea, and specific information from the text. After doing those activities, the writer together with the students made a discussion about the material. In each meeting the writer made evaluation and gave assessment to the students by giving mini exercises.
c. Observing
In this phase, the writer together with the English teacher of class VIII-1 observed the teaching learning process by monitoring the students’ activities in each cycle. The writer and the English teacher saw that most of the meetings were not good and still had much lackness, the students still had difficulties in teaching learning activities.
In the first meeting, the English teacher saw that many students had difficulty of the verb two form; they still confused about the irregular verb forms. They also had a problem with negative and interrogative forms of the Simple Past Tense, some of them often used verb 2 in negative and interrogative forms. For example: My father did not asked me to study hard, it should be “My father did not ask me to study hard”. “Did you saw that movie last night?” It should be “Did you see that movie last night?”.
In the second meeting, the writer focused on reading comprehension, writing and speaking. According to the English teacher observation, the students had problem in determining main idea and supporting idea, they could not distinguish between them and schematic structure itself. In writing activity, they did not do it well. They could not write grammatically, they did not know the use of part of speech, and did not know when to use to be in a sentence. The other problem was the lack of vocabularies and practice, so it made the students hard to write what on their mind.
After teaching and learning process finished, the observer gave them to posttest 1 exactly on the second action of the first cycle to measure how well the students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense used narrative text that had been studied.
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d. Reflecting
After analyzing the data by observing and evaluating the result of the teaching learning process and students’ pretest and posttest scores in cycle I, the writer and the English teacher of class VIII-1 concluded that the first cycle was not good; so it is very important for her to give more activities, exercises, and practice to the students to get a better result. Most students had difficulties in negative and interrogative form of Simple Past Tense, they confused when they must use the verb 2 forms, most of them used verb 2 in negative and interrogative forms. They also still confused about the irregular verbs forms. In reading the writer found that the students still had difficulties in determining the main idea and supporting idea from the text.
Based on the observation above, the writer saw that there were many lacks in the first cycle, such as the students have not mastered the irregular verbs yet, they still confused whether use verb 1 or verb 2 in negative and interrogative forms. In reading, they could not differentiate between main idea and supporting idea. In writing, they could not make write coherently. In speaking, they still need much time to find some words and their pronunciation also still bad.
To solve the problem above, the English teacher suggested the writer to make new evaluation and renewed the plan for the next cycle, and after having discussion with the English teacher, the writer together with the English teacher found the solutions. For misusing the verb in negative and interrogative form, she would give more explanation and exercises to the students. She would ask them to analyze the Simple Past Tense sentences from the text, so they knew the form and pattern correctly. The writer would give task to them to read a text in the house in every meeting; they had to determine the main idea and supporting idea in each paragraph and then summarized the text. In the last, the writer should give more attention and exercises to the students, especially the students who have low knowledge and understanding in the Simple Past Tense.
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2.2 CYCLE II
a. Planning
After finding the result from the cycle I that the students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense still had some problems, the writer and the English teacher discussed about the result of the recent cycle, and found the solution of the students’ difficulties. After the discussion, the writer and the English teacher agreed to give some additional to the plan that has been made before and revised it to be the better one. In this cycle the writer gave new topics and emphasized in practice. She used different activities in each meeting to avoid students’ boredom and to refresh the situation in the classroom.
In the first meeting, the writer gave a new text to the students and then asked them to read aloud the text while checked their pronunciation, and asked them to find out the Simple Past Tense sentence in the text. Then, she gave a reading comprehension activity to them (find out the main idea, supporting idea, specific information, etc).
In the second meeting, the writer still had the students to discuss the text that was given. After the discussion, the writer asked them to summarize the text read it aloud in front of the class and then retell the other students’ stories. By doing these kinds of activities, the students became more active. They not only could memorize the form of the Simple Past Tense and the verb two forms (especially irregular verb) from the text directly but also the use of the Simple Past Tense in the real communication, so it made the teaching learning process became fun and easy to understand it.
Beside of that, the writer also prepared unstructured observation sheet to makes note the classroom activity during teaching learning process in acting of cycle II and she prepared the posttest 2 too.
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b. Acting
The acting of cycle II was done on 5th and 12th of November 2010. In this phase, the writer conducted the teaching learning activities to get the better result to improve the students understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text, while the English teacher observed the teaching learning process, the writer reviewed the material briefly and then explained new activities and exercises as stated in planning phase above.
In the first meeting, the writer reviewed the last lesson. Then, she gave them a new text (The Five Footed Bear), she asked them to read aloud the story while checked their pronunciation. After that, she asked them to find out the simple past sentences in the text.
In the second meeting, the writer gave the text (with different title) to the students. She still made the students to do the same activity like in the first meeting (made a summary of the text). After summarizing the passage, the students had to read their summary in front of the class, and then the other students should ask question orally to her/him based on the text.
In the last meeting, the writer asked the students to read the text aloud. After that she divided the students into six groups (each group consist of 6-7 students) to discuss the text and determine the main idea and supporting idea in each paragraph, and then summarize it. After that the writer would ask some students to retell the story with their own words. It gave them more chance to speak and share their opinion, so they could use the Simple Past Tense both written and spoken.
c. Observing
In this phase, the writer and the English teacher made observation and discussion together. It saw that the students’ responses in cycle II were well. They were very enthusiast during the class. The students looked master the lesson, they can understand what did the text talk about, and they did not have difficulty to make a sentence in the Simple Past Tense (both used verb or to be), they also can
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retell the story well and confidently although sometimes they stuck in some words, but it was a good progress for them.
In the first meeting, the English teacher saw that there was a progress in students’ reading, their reading comprehension pretty good; they could understand what did the passage talk about and could answer some question well.
In the second meeting, the writer and the English teacher realized that the students’ grammar (especially Simple Past Tense), reading, writing, and speaking skills were good enough. They could understand the forms (positive, negative, and interrogative) and usage of the Simple Past Tense well. For example, usually before the lesson started, the writer always asked them “what did you do last night?”, and in this meeting they could answer correctly like “I studied English”, students B answered “I cooked with my mother”, and so on. Their reading comprehension is also good, they had no difficulty to determine the main idea and supporting idea, they also understand what the story talked about. In speaking, they did it well enough because of the discussion activity regularly. One problem in speaking was pronunciation, the students just need more practice to make it better.
After teaching and learning process have finished, the observer gave them to posttest 2 exactly on the second action of the cycle II it is to know whether the students’ achievement in cycle II was improved or not. Based on the result of posttest II, it showed the students who passed the KKM in cycle II were 29 students or 85.29%. It concluded there were improvements in their understanding of the Simple Past Tense when the technique was conducted by the teacher.
d. Reflecting
In this phase, the writer and the English teacher evaluated the teaching learning process that has been conducted together. The result showed that the students got a good progress in understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text. They knew the past forms correctly (especially the irregular verbs), their understanding of reading a passage improved too; they knew and understand what did the story talk about so they could retell the story well. Moreover, their
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writing skill was better although it was not really good and there were some mistakes on it, but they could make their own stories and activities bit by bit. They understood the simple past tense well and could use it both written and spoken.
The observer and the teacher discussed about the improvement of the students’ score from pretest, posttest I and posttest II. It is proven from pretest students who passed the KKM were 5 students or 14.70%, in cycle I were 21 students or 61.76%, and then in cycle II were 29 students or 85.29 %. Then the teacher and the observer concluded the implementation of this cycle was successful and they decided to stop continued the next cycle.
3. Data Analyzing
After conducting the action research, the writer gained three data; those were the result of post interview, the result of post observation and the result of posttest observation. In this case, the writer gave the report concerning the data analyzing according to post interview and the result of posttest.
3.1The Result of Post Interview
The result of this interview was taken from the English teacher as observer who helped the writer for this research and the students of VIII-1 grade MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. This interview was held on Saturday 13th November 2010 started from 08.00 A.M up to 09.00 A.M. From the interview, it was known that there was improvement for the students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense by using narrative text. The students’ skills like reading, writing and speaking also had progress. The students mastered the verb forms both regular and irregular verbs, they could make sentences in the Simple Past Tense form (positive, negative, and interrogative). Moreover they also could apply the Simple Past Tense in speaking and writing.
The English teacher of class VIII-1 satisfied enough with the students’ progress. She agreed that folktale is a suitable media in teaching the Simple Past Tense.
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In this interview, the writer explained that the classroom activity more active than before the implementation of Classroom Action Research. It could be seen from the students’ enthusiasm in learning Simple Past Tense using narrative text.
The improvement of students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense could prove from by the improvement of students’ score. The result of pretest, posttest I and posttest II showed a significant improvement. Based on the explanation above, the writers concluded that the Classroom Action Research has done successfully.
3.2The Result of Post Observation
After the implementation of the Classroom Action Research, the writer
also took the result of post observation to support the implementation of Classroom Action Research. From the post observation, the teacher and the observer knew whether the using of narrative text to develop students’ understanding of the Simple Past Tense was successful or not. In this case, the writer and the teacher collaboratively discuss the how far the technique can improve the students’ understanding.
3.3 The Result of Post Questionnaire
After the teaching action had been implemented, the writer gave questionnaire to the students. The questionnaire was given at the end of meeting after school time, in order that it will not disturb the teaching learning process. The writer took 17 students to answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire is about their feeling during English lesson and their responses toward the implementation of narrative text as a medium in learning the Simple Past Tense at VIII-1 grade of MTs. Al-Falah Jakarta. The result of post questionnaire can be seen in appendix VI.
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B. Suggestion
Based on the classroom research result, the writer gives some suggestion as follows: After concluding the result of this study, the writer would like to offer some suggestions. First, it would be better for the teachers to use story, like narrative text as an effective way to learn in learning the simple past tense because it could make learning more enjoyable. Second, the students should be more confident and active in teaching learning process, and then the teacher and the students should work together in teaching and learning process, the teacher should think the various techniques and students should actively contribute in teaching-learning process. Hopefully, there will be any further research of how to complete this technique.
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