Identification of the Problems

8

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW

This study aims to improve the speaking skills of the second grade students of SMP N 3 Mertoyudan using comic strips. To support the understanding of the problems formulated in Chapter 1, some theories that are related to the concepts of speaking skills and comic strips are reviewed. This chapter presents some relevant research studies. Once those theories have been presented, a conceptual framework is drawn for this study.

A. Literature Review 1. English as Foreign Language

People can communicate with others by using language. Language is a means of communication in which people express their feelings, idea`s, opinion and desires. In line with this, Brown states that language is able to create communications among members of a community because language is a system of arbitrary conventionalized vocal, written, or gestural Brown, 2000:5. Based on this statement, it is known that people can communicate with others by using vocal, written or gestural which are expressed through language. English is an international language which is used broadly in the world. It has function as means of communication means so that people from different 9 nations can interact and communicate each other. That is why English is crucial to learn. The importance in learning English in learning is highlighted by some experts, such as Harmer and Brown. Harmer 1992: 1-2 on his book says that in many countries, most of the students learn English as their foreign language. As a result, they have to learn English in a formal education, because the urgency to learn English is stated in the school curriculum. To get advancement in professional lives in this globalization area, some people also want to study English because English has become an international language that is necessary to learn. Brown 2001: 116 states that English is taught in some countries such as Egypt, Japan and Venezuela, in which English is not major language of commerce and education. It means that English is as foreign language in those countries. In addition, English is accessible in language clubs, special media opportunities, books, or an occasional tourist, but they have to make efforts to get opportunities to learn English. From the theories above it can be concluded that English as foreign language means language is not normally used for communication in daily life.

2. Teaching English as Foreign Language

Teaching and learning processes are two things which complete each other. According to Brown 2000: 7, teaching and learning cannot be defined separately. Teaching is an activity which involves guiding, facilitating learning, enabling the learner to learn, and setting the condition for learning. Furthermore, 10 teaching is an activity for helping someone to learn, giving instruction, guiding to study something and providing with knowledge. Also, it is stated that teaching can be a guide the learners to acquire a new knowledge, skills or attitude. In accordance with that, Tomlinson 1998: 3 defines teaching as anything which is done to facilitate the learning process by the teacher. There are two ways in doing teaching as stated by Tomlinson; they are direct teaching and indirect teaching. Direct teaching is a teaching process in which teachers do transmitting materials to the students as the receivers of the materials. Meanwhile, indirect teaching, the teacher lets, guides and helps the students to learn and discover things or knowledge for themselves. In teaching English for foreign language, it is important for the teacher to provide effective classroom activities, media or teaching technique in learning language to get the objectives of the study. As stated by Cameron, because of the lack of opportunities in using English outside classroom even in daily life, the teacher is responsible to provide media and opportunities for the students to learn the language through classroom activities Cameron, 2001: 11-12. Therefore, teaching English means anything done by the teacher to facilitate the students to learn English. In line with her, Brown 2001: 116 states that teaching English as foreign language is a teaching process of English in which students do not use English or the students use their mother tongue outside their classroom to communicate with others in their daily activities. In addition, Madya 2000: 1