How To Approach New Preschool Pupils at Tumble Tots Preschool Bandung 2008.
ABSTRACT
Pendidikan merupakan hal yang sangat penting di dalam
kehidupan kita. Tanpa pendidikan manusia akan menjadi bodoh. Pada
saat ini, khususnya di Indonesia, pendidikan merupakan hal yang penting
dan orang tua sangat mementingkan pendidikan bagi anak-anaknya.
Bahkan saat ini sebagian orang tua telah menyekolahkan anaknya sejak
berumur 8 bulan.
Orang tua tentunya ingin anaknya mendapatkan sesuatu yang
sangat berguna untuk perkembangannya melalui sekolah. Tapi
bagaimana jadinya apabila anak tidak dapat mengikuti pelajaran karena ia
menangis akibat takut akan seseorang yang belum dikenalnya atau juga
takut karena melihat guru laki-laki. Hal ini harus dapat diatasi oleh
pengajar agar anak bisa mengikuti pelajaran dengan baik. Pengajar perlu
mencari tahu alasan-alasannya dengan berbicara dengan orang tuanya.
Setelah kita mengetahui permasalahannya, maka kita dapat
menerapkan cara-cara untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Ada beberapa
cara yang bisa dilakukan untuk melakukan pendekatan dengan anak
tersebut misalnya, pengajar bisa mengacuhkan anak tersebut tuntuk
sementara waktu, memberikan mainan atau membacakan cerita yang
menarik. Apabila pengajar langsung berinteraksi dengan anak itu maka
anak akan semakin takut. Hal yang paling tepat untuk mendekati anak
tersebut adalah dengan membiarkan anak menghampiri kita terlebih
dahulu, walaupun pendekatan ini membutuhkan waktu yang cukup lama
akan tetapi dapat membuat hubungan pengajar dan anak menjadi dekat.
i
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………….………i
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY…………………………………………....ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………….…………………..iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………..iv
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study………………………….1
B. Statement of the Problem…………………………2
C. Objectives and Benefits of the Study.……………3
D. Description of the Institution………………………3
E. Limitations of the Study……………………………4
F. Organization of the Term Paper ..……….…...…..4
CHAPTER II : PROBLEM ANALYSIS………………………………………..6
CHAPTER III : POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS……………………………………9
CHAPTER IV : CONCLUSION……………………………………………….12
BIBLIOGRAPHY
iv
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of study
Every country in this world has its national language. Language is
very important in this life. Normally, if there is no language in this world,
there would be no communication. As there are hundreds of languages in
this world, it is hard for us to learn all the languages. However, nowadays,
as English has become the international language, communication among
people throughout the world may be carried out by means of using English
as the language of communication.
Many people want to learn English to be able to communicate with
other people from other countries in the international language. In many
schools in Indonesia, English has become one of the main subjects. (Even
many preschools have started to include English as a subject to be taught
at school.)
At present, many parents try to find the best preschool because
they realize that English is a very important language for their children’s
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
future, and one of the best preschools in Indonesia, especially in Bandung,
is Tumble Tots.
I choose Tumble Tots as the place for my internship because, at
Tumble Tots, English is introduced to preschool pupils. The preschool
teachers must also speak English every time they teach the pupils.
I did my internship there for four months and I taught pupils of age 1
to 4 years old. During that time I had difficulty to approach some of the
pupils because I did not know how to approach them. Therefore, in this
Term Paper, I am going to write about how to solve this problem because
it is important for me and for teachers to have good relationship with the
pupils.
B. Statement of the problem
Approaching preschool pupils is not an easy job as we must know
suitable strategies. When I did my internship, I faced a problem while
teaching the pupils.
There are some questions which refer to my problem:
How can I approach new preschool pupils?
Why are there some pupils who are afraid of a male teacher?
What should the parents do when their child is afraid of a male
teacher?
The situation I faced when I did my internship made me depressed and
confused because I did not know how to handle the pupils. I always felt
guilty if there was a pupil who cried because she was afraid of me. Some
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
parents blamed me and told the owner that I should not stay in the class
and that I should avoid meeting the pupil for one or two weeks.
If a pupil cried, the situation in the class became very noisy
because the other pupils would cry too. I became more confused because
I was still a new teacher and did not know how to deal with it.
C. Objectives and benefits of the study
My purpose in writing this paper is that I can point out the best
solution to approach preschool pupils who are afraid of a male teacher. I
will analyze how to get closer to them.
The advantage for the readers is I expect that after they have read
my term paper they can get more knowledge about how to approach
preschool pupils and can handle them properly.
The advantage for the institution is the teachers at Tumble Tots can
know how to handle this kind of problem so that the pupils will enjoy the
lesson.
D. Description of the institution
Tumble Tots was established by a former teacher of Olympic
Gymnastics from England, Bill Cosgrave, in 1979. He created an English
course for children that was not only suitable for learning but also for
playing. Now, Tumble Tots has a lot of branches, such as in Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Tumble means rolling and Tots means
children, so Tumble Tots means children who roll. Tumble Tots is a
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
preschool institution which teaches English using interesting indoor and
outdoor activities, including gross and fine motor skills to educate pupils of
6 months up to 5 years old.
There are four classes at Tumble Tots:
1. Gym babes (6 month – walking)
2. Walking to two (walking – 2 years old)
3. Two to three class (2-3 years old)
4. Play group (3-5 years old)
Tumble Tots has a motto “Skills for Life”, which means Tumble Tots
has a purpose to build the personality of the children to become more
confident, independent and disciplined. Tumble Tots now has two
branches in Bandung, at Maulana Yusuf Street no. 8 and Buah Batu
Street no. 18.
E. Limitations of the study
In this Term Paper, I got the data from two books about psychology
and child development. The titles are Psikologi Anak Bermasalah and
Psikologi Perkembangan Anak dan Remaja.
Besides these books, I gained the data about children and their
problems and the solutions for their problems from an eHow article on the
Internet.
Besides those sources, I also got more data from my experience
when I taught the pupils, from my colleagues and from the parents of the
pupils who study at Tumble Tots preschool.
4
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
F. Organization of the Term Paper
I would like to divide this Term Paper into four chapters. The first
chapter is Introduction, which contains the Background of the Study, the
Statement of the Problem, the Objectives and Benefits of the Study, the
Description of the Institution, the Limitations of the Study, and the
Organization of the Term Paper.
The second chapter is Cause and Effect, in which I will analyze the
causes and effects of the problem that I faced. The third chapter is the
Potential Solutions, which gives solutions to my problem and the positive
and negative effects of those solutions. The fourth chapter is Conclusion,
where I will write about the best solution to the problem based on the
analysis in Chapter II and III.
5
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
Approaching new pupils is not always easy, especially if you do not
have enough knowledge about the pupils and do not have an experience
as a preschool teacher. I faced this problem when I did the internship.
After I observed my problem, I noticed that the problem I faced has causes
and effects. In the previous chapters I have written about causes and
effects of the problem and also the potential solutions to solve the problem
based on the data and my experience.
In this chapter I will write about the best solution for the problem as
my chosen solution. I chose the solution based on the data that I got. The
chosen solution is letting the pupils approach the new or male teacher
first, with the teacher then talking to the students in a gentle voice. This
solution has been discussed by Gunarsa in her book. She believes that
the students who feel unsafe or unfamiliar with a person must be handled
by the teachers by ignoring them for a few weeks and letting the pupils
approach first. (94)
Based on the article called “eHow with Deal Childhood Fears”, the
teacher and the parent must understand that all children become fearful
during the preschool age of 8 months to 4 years. It is a development stage
they have to go through.
12
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
This solution is really effective although it needs quite a long time to
make the pupils feel comfortable with the new male teacher. The parent
also has to encourage the pupil by telling them that the teacher is nice and
not a bad person. The pupil will not be afraid of a male teacher if both the
parent and the teacher can have good cooperation. If the parent cannot
cooperate with the teacher, it will be hard to solve the problem.
After I analyzed the problem, I conclude that the pupils who are
afraid of a male teacher have different causes. Some of the pupils lost a
father’s figure and the best solution to approach the pupils is letting the
pupils approach the teacher first. I also suggest that the teacher must be
sensitive to their problem and solve it as soon as possible before it is too
late. The parent should not react too much like overprotecting the pupil by
asking the teacher to stay outside the class and avoid meeting that pupil.
This situation will make the teacher feel guilty and can influence teacher’s
performance. The parent must also have a lot of information about the
problem that her child faces and be able to find the best solution together
with the teacher. Good communication between the parent and the
teacher will be helpful to solve the problem because the teacher will be
willing to help that pupil.
13
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Printed Sources
Gunarsa, Yulia Singgih D. Psikologi Anak Bermasalah. Jakarta: PT. BPK
Gunung Mulia, 1976.
Gunarsa, Singgih, and Yulia Singgih D. Psikologi Perkembangan Anak
dan Remaja. Jakarta: PT. BPK Gunung Mulia, 1986.
Electronic Sources
“eHow Relationships and Family Editor: How to Deal with Childhood
Fears.”ehow.com. 2005. 14 May 2008
.
Seminar
“Australian Education International.”Australia Embassy,Jakarta.April 3rd.2008.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Pendidikan merupakan hal yang sangat penting di dalam
kehidupan kita. Tanpa pendidikan manusia akan menjadi bodoh. Pada
saat ini, khususnya di Indonesia, pendidikan merupakan hal yang penting
dan orang tua sangat mementingkan pendidikan bagi anak-anaknya.
Bahkan saat ini sebagian orang tua telah menyekolahkan anaknya sejak
berumur 8 bulan.
Orang tua tentunya ingin anaknya mendapatkan sesuatu yang
sangat berguna untuk perkembangannya melalui sekolah. Tapi
bagaimana jadinya apabila anak tidak dapat mengikuti pelajaran karena ia
menangis akibat takut akan seseorang yang belum dikenalnya atau juga
takut karena melihat guru laki-laki. Hal ini harus dapat diatasi oleh
pengajar agar anak bisa mengikuti pelajaran dengan baik. Pengajar perlu
mencari tahu alasan-alasannya dengan berbicara dengan orang tuanya.
Setelah kita mengetahui permasalahannya, maka kita dapat
menerapkan cara-cara untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Ada beberapa
cara yang bisa dilakukan untuk melakukan pendekatan dengan anak
tersebut misalnya, pengajar bisa mengacuhkan anak tersebut tuntuk
sementara waktu, memberikan mainan atau membacakan cerita yang
menarik. Apabila pengajar langsung berinteraksi dengan anak itu maka
anak akan semakin takut. Hal yang paling tepat untuk mendekati anak
tersebut adalah dengan membiarkan anak menghampiri kita terlebih
dahulu, walaupun pendekatan ini membutuhkan waktu yang cukup lama
akan tetapi dapat membuat hubungan pengajar dan anak menjadi dekat.
i
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………….………i
DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY…………………………………………....ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………….…………………..iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………..iv
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study………………………….1
B. Statement of the Problem…………………………2
C. Objectives and Benefits of the Study.……………3
D. Description of the Institution………………………3
E. Limitations of the Study……………………………4
F. Organization of the Term Paper ..……….…...…..4
CHAPTER II : PROBLEM ANALYSIS………………………………………..6
CHAPTER III : POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS……………………………………9
CHAPTER IV : CONCLUSION……………………………………………….12
BIBLIOGRAPHY
iv
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of study
Every country in this world has its national language. Language is
very important in this life. Normally, if there is no language in this world,
there would be no communication. As there are hundreds of languages in
this world, it is hard for us to learn all the languages. However, nowadays,
as English has become the international language, communication among
people throughout the world may be carried out by means of using English
as the language of communication.
Many people want to learn English to be able to communicate with
other people from other countries in the international language. In many
schools in Indonesia, English has become one of the main subjects. (Even
many preschools have started to include English as a subject to be taught
at school.)
At present, many parents try to find the best preschool because
they realize that English is a very important language for their children’s
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
future, and one of the best preschools in Indonesia, especially in Bandung,
is Tumble Tots.
I choose Tumble Tots as the place for my internship because, at
Tumble Tots, English is introduced to preschool pupils. The preschool
teachers must also speak English every time they teach the pupils.
I did my internship there for four months and I taught pupils of age 1
to 4 years old. During that time I had difficulty to approach some of the
pupils because I did not know how to approach them. Therefore, in this
Term Paper, I am going to write about how to solve this problem because
it is important for me and for teachers to have good relationship with the
pupils.
B. Statement of the problem
Approaching preschool pupils is not an easy job as we must know
suitable strategies. When I did my internship, I faced a problem while
teaching the pupils.
There are some questions which refer to my problem:
How can I approach new preschool pupils?
Why are there some pupils who are afraid of a male teacher?
What should the parents do when their child is afraid of a male
teacher?
The situation I faced when I did my internship made me depressed and
confused because I did not know how to handle the pupils. I always felt
guilty if there was a pupil who cried because she was afraid of me. Some
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
parents blamed me and told the owner that I should not stay in the class
and that I should avoid meeting the pupil for one or two weeks.
If a pupil cried, the situation in the class became very noisy
because the other pupils would cry too. I became more confused because
I was still a new teacher and did not know how to deal with it.
C. Objectives and benefits of the study
My purpose in writing this paper is that I can point out the best
solution to approach preschool pupils who are afraid of a male teacher. I
will analyze how to get closer to them.
The advantage for the readers is I expect that after they have read
my term paper they can get more knowledge about how to approach
preschool pupils and can handle them properly.
The advantage for the institution is the teachers at Tumble Tots can
know how to handle this kind of problem so that the pupils will enjoy the
lesson.
D. Description of the institution
Tumble Tots was established by a former teacher of Olympic
Gymnastics from England, Bill Cosgrave, in 1979. He created an English
course for children that was not only suitable for learning but also for
playing. Now, Tumble Tots has a lot of branches, such as in Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Tumble means rolling and Tots means
children, so Tumble Tots means children who roll. Tumble Tots is a
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
preschool institution which teaches English using interesting indoor and
outdoor activities, including gross and fine motor skills to educate pupils of
6 months up to 5 years old.
There are four classes at Tumble Tots:
1. Gym babes (6 month – walking)
2. Walking to two (walking – 2 years old)
3. Two to three class (2-3 years old)
4. Play group (3-5 years old)
Tumble Tots has a motto “Skills for Life”, which means Tumble Tots
has a purpose to build the personality of the children to become more
confident, independent and disciplined. Tumble Tots now has two
branches in Bandung, at Maulana Yusuf Street no. 8 and Buah Batu
Street no. 18.
E. Limitations of the study
In this Term Paper, I got the data from two books about psychology
and child development. The titles are Psikologi Anak Bermasalah and
Psikologi Perkembangan Anak dan Remaja.
Besides these books, I gained the data about children and their
problems and the solutions for their problems from an eHow article on the
Internet.
Besides those sources, I also got more data from my experience
when I taught the pupils, from my colleagues and from the parents of the
pupils who study at Tumble Tots preschool.
4
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
F. Organization of the Term Paper
I would like to divide this Term Paper into four chapters. The first
chapter is Introduction, which contains the Background of the Study, the
Statement of the Problem, the Objectives and Benefits of the Study, the
Description of the Institution, the Limitations of the Study, and the
Organization of the Term Paper.
The second chapter is Cause and Effect, in which I will analyze the
causes and effects of the problem that I faced. The third chapter is the
Potential Solutions, which gives solutions to my problem and the positive
and negative effects of those solutions. The fourth chapter is Conclusion,
where I will write about the best solution to the problem based on the
analysis in Chapter II and III.
5
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
Approaching new pupils is not always easy, especially if you do not
have enough knowledge about the pupils and do not have an experience
as a preschool teacher. I faced this problem when I did the internship.
After I observed my problem, I noticed that the problem I faced has causes
and effects. In the previous chapters I have written about causes and
effects of the problem and also the potential solutions to solve the problem
based on the data and my experience.
In this chapter I will write about the best solution for the problem as
my chosen solution. I chose the solution based on the data that I got. The
chosen solution is letting the pupils approach the new or male teacher
first, with the teacher then talking to the students in a gentle voice. This
solution has been discussed by Gunarsa in her book. She believes that
the students who feel unsafe or unfamiliar with a person must be handled
by the teachers by ignoring them for a few weeks and letting the pupils
approach first. (94)
Based on the article called “eHow with Deal Childhood Fears”, the
teacher and the parent must understand that all children become fearful
during the preschool age of 8 months to 4 years. It is a development stage
they have to go through.
12
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
This solution is really effective although it needs quite a long time to
make the pupils feel comfortable with the new male teacher. The parent
also has to encourage the pupil by telling them that the teacher is nice and
not a bad person. The pupil will not be afraid of a male teacher if both the
parent and the teacher can have good cooperation. If the parent cannot
cooperate with the teacher, it will be hard to solve the problem.
After I analyzed the problem, I conclude that the pupils who are
afraid of a male teacher have different causes. Some of the pupils lost a
father’s figure and the best solution to approach the pupils is letting the
pupils approach the teacher first. I also suggest that the teacher must be
sensitive to their problem and solve it as soon as possible before it is too
late. The parent should not react too much like overprotecting the pupil by
asking the teacher to stay outside the class and avoid meeting that pupil.
This situation will make the teacher feel guilty and can influence teacher’s
performance. The parent must also have a lot of information about the
problem that her child faces and be able to find the best solution together
with the teacher. Good communication between the parent and the
teacher will be helpful to solve the problem because the teacher will be
willing to help that pupil.
13
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Printed Sources
Gunarsa, Yulia Singgih D. Psikologi Anak Bermasalah. Jakarta: PT. BPK
Gunung Mulia, 1976.
Gunarsa, Singgih, and Yulia Singgih D. Psikologi Perkembangan Anak
dan Remaja. Jakarta: PT. BPK Gunung Mulia, 1986.
Electronic Sources
“eHow Relationships and Family Editor: How to Deal with Childhood
Fears.”ehow.com. 2005. 14 May 2008
.
Seminar
“Australian Education International.”Australia Embassy,Jakarta.April 3rd.2008.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha