The perception of Stella Duce I Yogyakarta senior high school students on the use of yahoo masengger as a tool for English Language Learning - USD Repository
THE PERCEPTION OF STELLA DUCE 1 YOGYAKARTA SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE USE OF YAHOO MESSENGER
AS A TOOL FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By Ignatius Indra Kristianto
Student Number: 051214041
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2009
ABSTRACT
Kristianto, Ignatius Indra (2009). The Perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta
Senior High school students on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English
language learning . Yogyakarta: Sanata Dharma University.The internet has become the primary needs for most students. Many students rely on it to obtain information and establish connection or communication with others. The growing needs for direct communication with foreigners, primarily with those who come from English speaking countries, has made chat program, such as Yahoo Messenger, become a trend among the high school students. Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students also have the habit of accessing Yahoo Messenger.
This is the major reason that encourages the writer to carry out the research. Investigating a phenomenon in English language learning that is still incomprehensible to many teaching practitioners is an obligation. Moreover, by comprehending the habit, the English education practitioners, especially the English teachers in Stella Duce 1 Senior High School, are able to acknowledge of the habit to the benefit of English teaching.
The problem to be uncovered is: What are the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students’ perceptions on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning?
The writer conducted research by distributing questionnaires and interviewing students. The participants of the study were the students of class XI
IA 1 and XI IA 4. The writer employed descriptive research combined with mixed method approach. The purpose of the research was to uncover the perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning.
Based on the result of the questionnaires and focused interview it could be concluded that Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students possess positive or good perception toward Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning. The writer could draw the conclusion because the students experienced many advantages and positive effects after they used Yahoo Messenger to communicate with native speakers of English.
The advantages or positive effects that the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students experienced were: First, the students were more fluent in speaking. Second, the students knew how to communicate in English.
Third, the students felt that their English improved. Fourth, the students were accustomed to communicating in English. Fifth, the students’ vocabulary increased. Sixth, the students knew when to use the right expression for certain situations. Seventh, the students’ grammar mastery increased after using Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning.
Based on the findings, the writer suggested that it is better for English teachers to apply Yahoo Messenger as a practice tool for their students. The writer also suggested that the students make use of their habit of accessing internet chat proficiency. Finally, the writer suggested that further research be conducted due to the fact that this thesis merely focuses on the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning. This thesis can serve as the basis of further research.
ABSTRAK
Kristianto, Ignatius Indra (2009). The Perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta
Senior High school students on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English
language learning . Yogyakarta: Universitas Sanata Dharma.Bagi sebagian besar murid sekolah, internet sudah menjadi kebutuhan pokok. Banyak dari mereka yang mengandalkan internet untuk memperoleh informasi dan berkomunikasi. Kebutuhan untuk berkomunikasi dengan orang asing meningkat. Apalagi dengan mereka yang berasal dari negara berbahasa Inggris. Hal ini membuat program chatting seperti Yahoo Messenger menjadi tren di kalangan murid sekolah. Murid SMA Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta juga mempunyai kebiasaan mengakses Yahoo Messenger.
Inilah yang menjadi alasan utama yang mendorong penulis untuk menjalankan penelitian. Bagi penulis menyelidiki fenomena yang masih belum dipahami oleh praktisi pendidikan ini merupakan suatu kewajiban. Lagipula, guru Bahasa Inggris dapat mengambil manfaat dari fenomena ini
Masalah yang diselidiki dalam skripsi ini adalah: Bagaimanakah persepsi murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta terhadap penggunaan Yahoo Messenger sebagai alat pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris?
Penulis melaksanakan penelitian dengan mendistribusikan kuesioner dan melakukan wawancara terfokus kepada murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta. Murid kelas XI IA 1 dan XI IA 4 SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta menjadi responden dalam penelitian ini. Dalam melaksanakan penelitian, penulis mengaplikasikan metode deskriptif yang dikombinasikan dengan metode campuran. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan untuk mengetahui persepsi SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta terhadap penggunaan Yahoo Messenger sebagai alat pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris.
Berdasarkan data yang diperoleh dari kuesioner dan wawancara, dapat disimpulkan bahwa murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta mempunyai persepsi yang positif terhadap penggunaan Yahoo Messenger sebagai alat pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris. Penulis dapat menyimpulkan demikian karena berdasarkan data yang diperoleh diketahui bahwa murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta merasakan banyak sekali dampak positif. Apalagi setelah mereka berkomunikasi dengan orang asing menggunakan Yahoo Messenger.
Dampak positif yang dirasakan oleh murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta adalah: Pertama, mereka lebih lancar dalam berbicara Bahasa Inggris. Kedua, mereka mengetahui bagaimana berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggris. Ketiga, Bahasa Inggris para murid meningkat. Keempat, mereka terbiasa berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggris. Kelima, kosakata Bahasa Inggris mereka meingkat. Keenam, mereka menjadi tahu kapan menggunakan ekspresi yang benar untuk situasi tertentu. Ketujuh, grammar para murid meningkat setelah menggunakan Yahoo Messenger sebagai alat pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris.
Berdasarkan fakta-fakta yang ditemukan, penulis mengusulkan agar guru Bahasa Inggris menggunakan Yahoo Messenger sebagai alat latihan bagi murid mengakses Yahoo Messenger sebagai sarana untuk meningkatkan kemampuan Bahasa Inggris mereka. Akhirnya, penulis juga mengusulkan agar diadakan penelitian lanjutan karena skripsi ini hanya terbatas pada persepsi murid-murid SMU Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta. Skripsi ini dapat berfungsi sebagai landasan bagi penelitian yang lebih lanjut.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank God and Mother Mary for the enormous blessings and grace.
My biggest gratitude goes to Drs. Concilianus Laos Mbato, M.A., my sponsor. I thank him for his guidance, patience and worthy suggestions in guiding me in finishing this thesis. He is very attentive in helping me to finish the study.
I would like to thank all of the lectures and staffs of English Language Education Study Program. I thank them for their support and guidance.
For Sr. Petra CB, S.Pd., the headmaster of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School, I would like to thank her for her help and permission to conduct a research in her school.
For the students of XI IA1 and XI IA4, I would like to thank them for the participation and help. Without them the research could not be conducted.
I would like to thank my beloved parents, Bapak Tarcisius Winarto and Ibu Lusia Maria Anis Endar Sarwindah. I thank them for their endless encouragement, never-ending love, advice and prayers. Without their support I will not survive until this stage. They are the best parents in the whole world.
I thank my brother and sister, Ninus and Nana. I thank them for their encouragement and help. Their smile and outrageous behavior always make me feel cheered.
I would like to express my gratitude to Monica Ella Harendita, my soul mate. I thank her for her encouragement, never-ending love and prayers. Her words and action made me feel that I am blessed.
To my dearest friends; Itok, Iwan, Aan, Ncit, Hana, Nina, Mega, Tunjung, and all year 2005 students, I thank them for the unforgettable moments that they and I have shared together.
I would like to thank all people that I could not mention here. I thank them for their support, help and prayers.
Ignatius Indra Kristianto
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page TITLE PAGE ……………………………………………………………... i APPROVAL PAGES …………………………………………………….. ii DEDICATION PAGE …………………………………………………..... iv STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ………………………........ v
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ILMIAH UNTUK
KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS …………………………………………….. vi
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………….... vii
ABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………..... ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………. xi TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………… xiii LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………... xv LIST OF APPENDICES ………………………………………………..... xvi
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1 A. Research Background ……………………………………………..
B. Problem Formulation ……………………………………………...
4 C. Problem Limitation ………………………………………………..
4 D. Research Objectives ………………………………………………
5 E. Research Benefits …………………………………………………
5 F. Definition of Terms ……………………………………………….
6 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE A. Theoretical Description …………………………………………...
8 1. Perception ……………………………………………………..
8 2. Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Internet ……….....
12 3. Curriculum in Language Teaching and KTSP ………………..
15
b. Writing ……………………………………………….........
17
5. Netspeak ………………………………………………………
18 B. Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………
19 CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY A. Research Method ………………………………………………….
21 B. Research Participants ……………………………………………...
22 C. Research Instruments ……………………………………………...
22 1. Questionnaire ………………………………………………….
23 2. Focused Interview …………………………………………….
24 D. Data Gathering Technique ………………………………………...
25 E. Data Analysis Technique ………………………………………….
25 F. Research Procedure ……………………………………………….
26 CHAPTER IV. DISCUSSION
A. The Perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School Students on the Use of Yahoo Messenger as a Tool for English Language Learning ………………………………………………..
28 1. Data Presentation of the Questionnaire ……………………….
28 a. The Results of Closed Questions ………………………….
29
b. The Results of Open Questions ……………………………
39 2. Data Presentation of the Focused Interview ………………….
42 B. Discussion …………………………………………………………
45 CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS A. Conclusion ………………………………………………………...
48 B. Suggestions ………………………………………………………..
49 REFERENCES ………………………………………………………........
50
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
Table 3.1 Questionnaire Blueprint23 Table 3.1 Questionnaire Blueprint
24 Table 3.2 Interview Blueprint
24 Table 3.2 Interview Blueprint
25 Table 4.1 Questionnaire Distribution
29 Table 4.2 Questionnaire Result of Part A
29 Table 4.3 Questionnaire Result of Part B
31 Table 4.4 Questionnaire Result of Part C
33 Table 4.5 Questionnaire Result of Part D
36 Table 4.5 Questionnaire Result of Part D
37
LIST OF APPENDICES
Page APPENDIX A PERMISSION LETTER
53 APPENDIX B QUESTIONNAIRE
54 APPENDIX C INTERVIEW
58 APPENDIX D THE INTERVIEW DATA
59 APPENDIX E THE CHATTING TRANSCRIPT
61
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter presents the introduction of this study. This chapter is divided
into six sections; they are research background, problem formulation, problem limitation, research objectives, research benefits and definition of terms.
A. Research Background
The rapid and advance development of technology, especially the founding of the internet, has made communication become easier and faster to do (Castells, 2007: 1). The internet has become the primary needs for most students. Many students rely on it to obtain information and to establish connection or communication with others. The growing need for direct communication with foreigners, primarily with those who come from English speaking countries, has made chat program, such as Yahoo Messenger, become a trend among high school students.
The prevalent language for communication on the internet is English. “This may be a result of the internet origin’s, as well as English’s role as the
(Castells, 2007: 1) This condition leaves senior high school
lingua franca.”
students with no other choices. They must implement their English skills when using chat program in the internet. Similar to other people, senior high school students may use chat, messaging and e-mail to stay in touch with worldwide friends, sometimes in the same way as having pen pals. However, chat through Yahoo Messenger is faster and cheaper.
Being aware that there are many benefits that internet may bring to the educational environment, many of senior high schools in Indonesia, nowadays, have sophisticated internet connection in their area. The condition makes it easier for teachers in elaborating material for teaching English to their students.
Therefore, some schools have equipped their area with hot spot facility which makes their students who own notebook computers or even mobile phones find it easier to access the internet. The students are able to access many web sites in the internet. The students, however, may have different purposes in accessing the internet. Some students are fond of accessing the internet to obtain information and data in order to accomplish the assignments from their teachers, while some others are quite fond of accessing chatting web sites such as YM (Yahoo Messenger). The Internet according to Crystal (2001: 129) allows people to engage in a multi-party conversation online, either synchronously, in real time, or asynchronously, in postponed time.
It is true that the students write the conversation in the Yahoo Messenger. The following is one of the examples of the conversation in the Yahoo Messenger according to Crystal (2001: 158):
<ashna>: hi jatt <jatt>: ashna: hello? <ashna>: how are u jatt? <jatt>: I’m ok how are you
This kind of conversation in the Yahoo Messenger, according to Crystal (2001: 17) is called “Netspeak”. This kind of conversation, however, has the same purposes as daily speaking. According to Martyn (1987), as cited in Nunan (1999: 228), “the purposes of speaking are to gain information and to correspond with others.”
In addition to the previous statements, Muehleisen (1997: 1) stated that “students are quite interested in joining the internet revolution for three reasons.” On a very basic level, students see the internet as trendy and they want to be a part of it. Others are also drawn by the practical aspects of job skills acquisition and on learning skills that will be useful in life. Whatever reasons are at the root of this motivation, it is clear that many students are excited about it.
By accessing the Yahoo Messenger the students are able to communicate directly with native speakers from all over the world. In the communication they surely use English as the lingua franca. This situation is very interesting to be investigated. This is the major reason that encourages the researcher to carry out the research. Investigating a phenomenon in English language learning that is still incomprehensible to many teaching practitioners is an obligation. Moreover, by comprehending the habit, the English education practitioners, especially the English teachers in Stella Duce 1 Senior High School, are able to acknowledge of the habit to the benefit of English teaching in Indonesia.
B. Problem Formulation
In order to achieve the purpose of the research, the research was conducted in the basis of a research question. The research question is: What are the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students’ perceptions on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning?
C. Problem Limitation
Relating to the use of internet and English teaching is a very little task to be accomplished, since in recent years many English teaching methods use the internet as a source of information. There are many unexplored domain in the context of internet and English teaching.
The internet and many programs in it have been considered as another kind of useful mean to teach English to the students. Muehleisen (1997: 1) suggested that “the Internet use also offered a more practical real life language experience, providing students with functional communicative experience that serves the learners’ needs as well as motivates them to use English in their daily live.”
This research will only focus its investigation on the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger, since internet use in English teaching in Indonesia are still fresh and new. In order to view the future of Internet and every program in it, the first thing to do is to uncover the students’ perception.
D. Research Objectives
This research is conducted to obtain some new understanding about the perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English Language Learning. Furthermore, this research is conducted to uncover the Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger and to uncover the advantages and disadvantages on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English Language Learning.
E. Research Benefits
This research has some benefits in its implementation. In this advanced information and technological era this research will give significant support to the Indonesian English teaching and learning process. The result of this research will not only be beneficial to the English teachers but also to the senior high school students in Indonesia, especially from Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School.
The significance of the research to the senior high school English teachers is that it will accommodate new perspective on students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English Language Learning. Then, the teachers will make use the students’ habit of using Yahoo Messenger as a new kind of technique or supplementary way to teach English. This will be a new interesting and motivating English teaching technique.
Hopefully the outcome of this research will encourage the students to maintain and develop their habit. The students will be provided with a new perspective on the use of Yahoo Messenger so that they will be aware that the habit provides positive impact to their English learning.
F. Definition of Terms
Learning According to Burns (1995), “learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior including both observable activity and internal processes such as thinking, attitudes and emotions.” It is not only the acquisition of certain knowledge but also the acquisition of skill-physical and mental, interest and establishment of principles system. In this study the kind of learning being investigated is English learning. It is because nowadays English is considered as one of basic skills to be mastered. The kind of English learning being investigated is focused on learning English by using Yahoo Messenger.
Netspeak According to Crystal (2001: 17), “it is a term that succinct and functional enough to describe the conversation which takes place in the internet, since speaking here involves writing as well as talking.” In this study, the term “Netspeak” emerges since the students uses program such as Yahoo Messenger to communicate with foreigner from all over the world. In doing the communication the students will write what they want to express. In a simple way the students write what they want to convey when using Yahoo Messenger or other chat program.
Perception Sternberg (1988: 8) defines perception as “the way human perceives the world. Furthermore it is the ability to see, hear or understand things; awareness.” A deeper understanding and awareness than is usual. It requires a cognitive shift which the following “thought experiment” might help to achieve. Operationally, perception, in this research is defined as a way people perceive, see, understand and interpret something by involving cognitive process; this way happens as the response to a certain stimuli. In this study the perception being investigated is the perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English learning.
Yahoo Messenger According to Wikipedia (2008), “it is a popular advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!.” Yahoo! Messenger is provided free of charge and can be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo! ID" which also allows access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo! Mail, where users can be automatically notified when they receive new email. Yahoo! also offers PC-PC, PC-Phone and Phone-to-PC service, file transfers, webcam hosting, text messaging service, and chat rooms in various categories. In this research the perception of Stella Duce 1 Yogyakarta Senior High School students on the use of messenger program is the primary problem to be studied.
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter presents theoretical writing and research that underlie this
study. This chapter consists of two parts, i.e. theoretical description and theoretical framework.
A. Theoretical Description
In this section, the theories that are mainly discussed are the theories on perception, computer assisted language learning, curriculum in language learning, the basic language skills which are developed and netspeak.
1. Perception The understanding of the perception can be derived from some experts.
According to Borger and Seaborne (1996: 105), “perception is an awareness of the environment, through which a person processes incoming sensory data in a certain way to arrive at useful impression of his surroundings.” Huffman and Vernoy (1997: 79) state that, “the perception is the process of selecting, organizing and interpreting sensory data into usable mental representations of the world.” Kreitner and Kinicki (1992: 126) add that, “perception is a mental and cognitive process that enables people to interpret and understand the surroundings.”
Meanwhile, Cook (1994: 150) remarks that, “perception is the selection, organization and interpretation of sensory data.” It shows that perception is important process that helps people define their world and guide their behaviors.
Robbins (2001: 122) adds that, “perception can also be defined as conscious mental process of observing, viewing, responding and understanding, in which someone gives a meaning on the stimulus he receives.” Perception does not solely involve sensory process for it is also a mental process. In addition Hardi and Heyes (1988: 85) states that, “the basic form of perception is people’s born talent, meanwhile perceptional ability is the result of learning, which is determined by the environment.”
Robbins (2001: 122-124) states that, “perception has three components.” The components are a perceiver, target and the situation in which the perception is occurring. Each of these components influences the perceiver’s impression or interpretation of the target.
First impressions are important in forming the perception toward certain stimuli. When someone is interested in perceiving certain stimulus at the first time, he will intend to know and learn more about it. Having good impression can encourage someone to learn about it. These impressions will ultimately lead to the positive perception, in which the person feels happy and like the thing. In contrary, having bad impression will lead people to develop negative perceptions, in which people will feel unhappy and dislike the thing. Therefore, if the Stella Duce 1 Senior High School students have good impression toward Yahoo Messenger, it is expected that they will perceive Yahoo Messenger positively.
The students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger is really strong since they experience it by themselves. The experience occurs when they have a chat with native speakers using Yahoo Messenger. It will be different if the perception is received from the other person. The students are really doing the conversation with the native speakers using the Yahoo Messenger. Their perception on the use of the Yahoo Messenger is based on their experience when doing the conversation. The students will have positive perception if their first impression of using Yahoo Messenger is good. On the contrary if the students’ first impression on the use of Yahoo Messenger is bad, they will have negative perception. Then, it can be inferred that the students’ positive perception toward the use of Yahoo Messenger encourages the improvement on the students’ speaking skill. On the other hand, the negative perception will discourage the speaking skill improvement.
During the process of shaping the perceptions, an individual might be influenced by some factors which possibly obstruct his or her perception.
According to Warga (1983: 210-213), the factors influencing perceptions are stated as follows: a. Stereotyping
Stereotyping is a kind of judgment. Everyone will have different perception from the others since each person has different point of view to stereotyping. Stereotyping can influences perceptions because of an individual’s restricted amount of information about what he or she has experienced and observed. b. Self-concept An individual may think that he or she is qualified, intelligent and patient.
This belief on his or her qualification may take an important role as it affects how an individual perceives what he or she is facing. The way how an individual sees and feels about him or herself is called self-concept.
c. Situation Situation cannot be separated from perceptions since the habits familiar with an individual and expectations desired by an individual affects his or her perception. For instance, when someone has been accustomed to one situation, he or she will find some difficulties if he or she faces another situation which he or she never experiences.
d. Needs If an individual finds needs of what he or she has experienced and observed, he or she must shape positive perception in his or her mind.
However, when he or she does have certain purposes of what he or she has experienced and observed, he or she can shape the perception more naturally.
e. Emotion Emotion has significant influences on perceptions as strong emotion tends to block out stimuli. It means that when an individual is angry. He or she tends to send away the situation that is opposite to his or her emotion. An individual cannot feel two emotions at a time. The dominant one will exist.
In order to form a perception, there are three steps needed in process of perception; those are the awareness or attention to the incoming stimuli, recognition and interpretation of incoming stimuli into some messages and translating or deciding on the appropriate action or behavior in response to the message. Thus perception is a form of behavior that allows individual to interact with and adjusts to the varying demands of environment.
2. Computer-Assisted Language Learning and the Internet
According to Levy (1997: 1), “Computer-Assisted Language Learning may be defined as the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning.” CALL has been made possible by the invention and subsequent development of the computer. For educators, the rapid and continuing introduction of new technology into education has outpaced the ability of teachers and developers to evaluate it properly. Yahoo Messenger is considered as one of the new technology.
Levy (1997: 171) states that, “from the point of view of conceptualizing CALL, the traditional bounds of the classroom and the class group are broken.” Teachers and their students are now able to reach beyond the learning environment as it is defined locally, and thereby native speakers of the target language are able to become active participants in the learning process. This is the significant advance.
Computer Assisted Language Learning cannot be separated from the use of internet. Nowadays, most of the computers are already connected to the internet. Internet becomes cheaper and everyone has the ability to use it. Grey (1999: 1) has identified four ways in which the Internet can function as an educational tool in schools. These can also be considered four basic ways in which the Internet can be used in ESL/EFL classrooms.
1. Search for and receive This category comprises activities that are based on using the Internet as a huge virtual library. In these activities students search for and retrieve information from this library.
2. Publish and provide These activities involve not the retrieval, but the publication of information. This publishing is done on web pages, which are the basic places where information is stored on the Internet.
3. Talk to and reply These are conversational activities that take place via the Internet through email correspondence and in ÒchatÓ rooms. Strictly speaking, this category could also include Internet phone conversations.
4. Collaborate and learn This category includes joint projects that involve students in two or more classrooms that might be thousands of miles apart.
One of the programs in the internet that is suitable for CALL is Yahoo Messenger. According to Gary (2003: 1), “Yahoo Messenger is a very versatile program.” It provides both one-to-one audio and video conferencing. Yahoo Messenger can be used in three different environments: Instant Message, Conference and Chat Room. Using Yahoo Messenger, a teacher can easily set up a private chat room for students that cannot be entered by others. Yahoo Messenger provides capabilities that have good potential for second language learners. Second language learners will acquire the opportunity to practice with native speaker of the language.
According to Teresa (2003: 3), “Yahoo Messenger is the ‘all in one’ type tool that allows its member to be in permanent contact all times whether in real time or not.” Teresa (2003: 7) also suggests some skills that the students will use in using Yahoo Messenger as a tool for language learning. The skills are: a. Communicative skills (carrying on a conversation, interviewing and negotiating meaning).
b. Social and socialization skills, including proper etiquette (greeting others, introducing oneself, making choices, etc).
c. Technological skills or computer literacy.
d. Personal skills (independence and autonomy).
e. Interpersonal (asking, listening, interviewing, debating, discussing, suggesting, etc).
f. Organizational skills (setting objectives, time and project management).
Yahoo Messenger is a tool for the development of an online group that will centralize communication, stimulate interaction and encourage collaboration. This type of conversation in the Yahoo Messenger is contextual since it happens in the reality with the native speaker. The potential Yahoo Messenger as a tool for language learning and professional development is enormous and motivating. It can be enlarged and enhanced.
3. Curriculum in Language Teaching and KTSP
According to Richards (2001: 2), “curriculum includes the processes that are used to determine the needs of a group of learners.” Curriculum develops aims or objectives for a program to address those needs. It determines an appropriate syllabus course structure, teaching methods, and materials, and to carry out an evaluation of the language program that result from these processes.
Here are several key assumptions about goals that characterize the curriculum approach to educational planning proposed by Richards (2001: 112): a. People are generally motivated to pursue specific goals.
b. The use of goals in teaching improves the effectiveness of teaching and learning.
c. A program will be effective to the extent that its goals are sound and clearly described.
Teachers considered the previous key assumptions as the basis of Yahoo Messenger as English language learning. The students will develop perception as they experience the use of Yahoo Messenger.
According to Muslich (2007: 10), “KTSP is the improvement of 2004 curriculum (KBK).” It is an operational curriculum which is developed and executed by each educational institution or school. National Education Department expects that at least in 2009/2010 all school has carried out KTSP.
Muslich states that (2007: 11) KTSP is developed by considering the following principals, they are: a. It centers on the learners’ potential, development, needs and importance.
b. Various and integrated.
c. Aware to the development of science, technology and art.
d. Relevant to the needs of life.
e. Thorough and continuous.
f. Learn through life.
g. Balance between national interest and regional interest.
According to Muslich (2007: 48-51) there are five principals of learning and teaching in KTSP, they are: a. Students centered activities.
b. Learning by doing.
c. Developing intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social intelligent.
d. Learning as long as life.
e. Learn to be independent and learn to cooperate.
4. The Basic Language Skills which are Developed
a. Speaking
According to Richard et.al (1985: 49), as cited in Nunan (1999: 226), “speaking is a skill that requires some knowledge.” Those knowledge are; (1) knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary of the language, (2) knowledge of rules of speaking, (3) knowing how to use and respond to different types of speech acts, such as request, apologies, thanks, and invitations, and (4) knowing how to use language appropriately.
According to Tay, Mary W. as quoted by Canale and Swain (1980: 31), “oral skills are the ability to understand English spoken in class and everyday situations.” The students are likely to experience, the ability to speak so that one is easily understood by people: the ability to understood, to understand and to use more common speech conversations of English.
By using the Yahoo Messenger the students can communicate directly to the native speakers from all over the world. The theory of speaking suggested by Richard et.al underlines the knowledge that the students must possess in order to make the communication run well, including the communication in the Yahoo Messenger.
b. Writing
“Besides speaking, writing is seen as the medium of conveying message,” (Hughey, 1983: 33). He sees writing as a means to learn about the writers themselves and the world around them, as well as important means to express themselves. “As a medium of delivering message, writing has some functions,” (Hughey, 1983: 33-38). The first function of writing is as a means of communication through which people can express their feelings, ideas, plans, recommendations, values, and commitments. The second function is an aid for critical thinking and problem solving. Writing is seen as a means to sift and refine the perception of surroundings. People can define themselves and their problems. Clarify knowledge and ideas, understand and solve their problems. The third role of writing is self actualization. Writing helps people to discover and develop themselves, that is, help them to realize their individual potential and to achieve personal goals. The last function of is that writing helps people control the personal environment. Writing is a tool for survival in the real world. Through writing people not only can convey message but they can also communicate from distance.
According to Harmer (1998: 79), “there four reasons for teaching writing to students, they are: reinforcement, language development, learning style and, most importantly, writing as a skill in its own right.”
However the most appealing reason of teaching writing in regard of this research is writing as a skill. According to Harmer (1998: 79), “it is by far the most important reason for teaching writing, of course, is that it is a basic language skill, just as important as speaking, listening and reading.” Students need to know how to write letters, how to put written reports together, how to reply to advertisements – and increasingly, how to write using electronic media. The students need to know some of writing’s special conventions (punctuation, paragraph construction, etc) just as they need to know how to pronounce spoken English appropriately.
5. Netspeak
According to Crystal (2001: 17), “it is a term that succinct and functional enough to describe the conversation which takes place in the internet, since speaking here involves writing as well as talking.” In this study, the term
“Netspeak” emerges since the students uses program such as Yahoo Messenger to communicate with foreigner from all over the world. In doing the communication the students will write what they want to express. In a simple way the students write what they want to convey when using Yahoo Messenger or other chat program.
B. Theoretical Framework
The habit of using Yahoo Messenger is mostly related with leisure activity. The thing that people do not usually know is that it is a part of Computer- Assisted Language Learning. According to Levy (1997: 1), “Computer-Assisted Language Learning may be defined as the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning.” According to Jaroslaw Krajka (2007: 1), “computer assisted language learning is a language learning in which the internet and computers are used in some way in the learning process.” It has authenticity (since the learning process is in the English community), recency (it always up to date), variety and choice (many sources and knowledge are available).
According to Garner and Gillingham (1996: 1), “Internet conversations can be intensely social activities.” This sometimes will be the case, for example, if a chatting correspondence evolves that the people’s writing to each other becomes close friends. Probably most chatting conversations, however, are casual. But even casual conversations are occasions for which the ESL/EFL students must try to make himself or herself understood to another actual person (other than teacher or classmates). This makes the act of communicating in English not just a theoretical problem, but a practical one. The requirement to solve that practical problem can be a strong motivator for students to try hard to construct clear, grammatical messages that communicate their thoughts.
The students’ habit of accessing Yahoo Messenger can be considered as CALL. The students develop their English skills by using Yahoo Messenger. This research will focus its investigation on the students’ perception. It will see the students’ perception on the use of Yahoo Messenger as a tool for English language learning. The students who have the habit of using the Yahoo Messenger will provide meaningful perception on it.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY This chapter clarifies information on how this study is conducted. There
are six parts in this chapter, namely research method, research participants, research instruments, data gathering technique, data analysis technique and research procedure.