a. Age-Orientated Concepts and Psychology
According to Leontiev 1981, there are three periods of age development of learners. Those are: the earliest-school age at the age of seven up to eleven or
twelve, the middle-school age or growing up period at the age of eleven or twelve up to fifteen, and the upper-school age or adolescence at the age of
fifteen up to eighteen. Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory as cited by Berk, 1989 divides
the children’s cognitive development into four stages. The first stage is sensorimotor. This stage is found on the children at the age 0-2 years old. The
second stage is preoperational. This stage is found on the children at the age 2-7 years old. The third stage is concrete operational. This stage is found on the
children at the age 7-11 years old. The fourth stage is formal operational. This stage is found on the children at the age 11-16 years old.
Age as a psychological concept is a period characterized by a whole complex of mutually interdependent features in the performance of various
activities. These mutually interdependent features are personal distinctive, unfolding modalities of mental process, and specific attitudes to the object of the
activity, to activity itself, to oneself, to other people, etc Leontiev, 1981. The foreign language teachers have to deal with the characteristic features
of the students. This discussion focused on the middle-school period. According to Leontiev 1981, the middle-school period is a period of rapid socialization of
the learner’s personality. His communication span widens, and society’s opinion of his personality and activity grows more significant for him. Some
22 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
characteristics of the learners in this period are they see themselves reflected in other people, think more about themselves, compare himself and their behaviors
with other people and their behaviors, and select a model which they try hard to imitate. At this stage a pupil grows aware of his personality and a common
conflict is the clash between this growing personal self-awareness and the way adults still treat him as a child.
Leontiev 1981 also states that the members of the middle-school period looking for involvement, interests, and obsession. These involvements, interests,
and obsession are particularly achieved from evident and permanent hobbies. However, will and persistence at this period are very selective. This will and
persistence depend on the person guiding motives and interests. In other simple words, a schoolchild at this stage is able to do what he wants to do.
b. Importance of Human Drives and Urges
Kategori