MASTERING OF TEACHING SPEAKING THROUGH

OPENING PLACE METHOD

PREPARED BY:

BAIHAQI, MA
Lecturer of English Teaching


















DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL EDUCATION
OF TEACHER TRAINING FACULTY
OF SAMUDRA LANGSA
UNIVERSITY
2012








ABSTRACT



Speaking is complex skill, required the simultaneous of number of different abilities
which of develop different rates either four of five components in generally
recognized in analysis of speech, there are including as the remembering system
pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.










































I. INTRODUCTION

To communicate to other people we need a language. Every nation has its own language.
Every language has unique system, there are no two language ever have the same system exactly. One
of the languages is English. As we know, English is as an international language. Because everything
are written in English now and it is used in many countries for any purposes. It is important and
become necessity to be studied and mastered by people in globalization era today because of that
reason.
Language is system, it means language is formed by different component in suitable pattern
and formula. According to Wardhough (1986: 3), says, Language is system of arbitrary vocal symbol
use for human communication. Information is gotten not always from printed material like books,
magazines, newspaper, etc. but we can also get the information from audiovisual such as computer,
internet, television etc. and by the change of the information with other people in other country, so we
have to understand what they speak by learning their language. We can learn a language by formal or
informal education.
Learning English speaking is one of skills to understand the other language. Probably, if we
are able to speak English well we can have big challenge to get nice job and salary. Because English
is as one of requirement getting many formal or informal job today. English is a head condition to get
it.
Today, almost school in this world teaching English as one of the main subject. English is
studying by all students in around the world including in Indonesia. English is taught as an obligatory
subject. It is taught from elementary school up to university level. It is used as a tool in improving the
students knowledge, so they can live in society with this skill.
Each skill listening, speaking, reading and writing need to be mastered by students; however,
as language the student demanded to be able to speak. Because when student can speak, show that
they have mastered the language. The goal of study a language is able to communicate. Speaking as
one of the skill in English becomes a biggest problem for almost all Indonesian students who study it.
It is caused as a foreign language, English has very different grammar and culture. The students face a
new situation that very different with their basic language.
There are many factors cause the problem. As we know the differences of structure between
Indonesia and English is one of the factors. Moreover, the culture background sometime becomes
another factor. Besides that, English is still as foreign language in Indonesia. Compare with our
neighbor Malaysia or Singapore, where English is as the second language, it means the people use
English for daily life beside their native language. It causes easier for students there to master English.
However, our government keeps trying to design suitable curriculum, provide facility, and train
teachers in order to increase students achievement in mastery English.
In fact, teaching speaking at school still faces many problems. Since the facility and
environment do not support learning process, Student as the object of study is the most sufferers in
English learning. They face trouble in study it because they feel that impossible for them to master it.
This situation made studying English has became something frightening for almost students who
study it. Ahmadi and Supriyono (2004: 77) state that, The situation where student cannot study as
should be, that is the trouble of study.
Looking to the development of teaching methods in the world, today the method and
technique tend to break the traditional rules and assumptions where study is not always going on
inside of the classroom but also outside or opening place. However, this way is not the new method
but just often to be done for long time in our education world. DePorter (2000: 78) states,
Environment will influence the students to focus and grab the information. Environment is
important because as connection to the brain. New or different situation will help learning become
more interesting and good for students to increase their concentration in receiving of the information
from the teacher.
Then DePorter (2000:67) also stated, Understand the connection between environment and
brain it is important to orchestrate supporting study environment. The environment will increase
confident and learning quality.
We have known that environment study most used for learning activities is in classroom.
However, the same similar situation everyday makes students or even teacher feel boring. Therefore,
the choice to make the situation fresher is through change the environment study from in classroom
into the out of classroom or at the opening place.
Study outside of classroom or at opening place such as in yard or school field will give
students new perspective because the atmosphere will influence the way they take the lesson. The
teacher also can take more advantage from the environment and connect the situation and everything
around them as the media to support the learning process. Especially for speaking, things around of
the environment will help much because they can see directly object. Concurrent to the growing
interest in promoting learner independence is a trend in learning studies to view language learning as
a group phenomenon rather than an individual process. There are many research conducted that
showed, most students believe that their learning is highly influenced by opportunities to have variety
experiences at the outside classroom or the opening place.
As stated by Polanyi et. al (1995: 271), Both nationally and internationally researchers claim
that learners, at various levels of proficiency and at various stages of study, continue to view their
successful and unsuccessful learning outcomes as related to their experiences outside the classroom.
In the field of English education, much effort has been put into developing teaching practices
that support the interactions of students in the classroom and encourage learning activities outside the
classroom or the opening place. However, little is known about what teachers perceive and believe
about out of class activity in the process of teaching and learning. This gap in our knowledge is highly
significant as it is often claimed that the ultimate goal of teaching English is to increase the learners
ability to interact successfully in the target language in real situations. As stated by Anderson (2000:
11) In the field of English education, much effort has been put into developing teaching practices that
support the interactions of students in the classroom and encourage learning activities outside the
classroom. Yet, little is known about what teachers perceive and believe about these out-of-class
activity in the process of teaching and learning. This gap in our knowledge is highly significant as it is
often claimed that the ultimate goal of teaching English is to increase the learners ability to interact
successfully in the target language in real situations.


II. DESCRIPTION OF TEACHING THROUGH OPENING PLACE
Definition of Opening Place
If we look into Opening Place term could be some interpretations occurred to it. The term is
consisted from two words that is opening and place. Each word has many interpretations and
various usage.
The word Opening has many definitions in many aspects. According to Collins Essential
English Dictionary (2006: 124) as noun Opening have four definitions namely:
1. the beginning or first part of something
2. the first performance of a theatrical production
3. a chance or opportunity: an opening into show business
4. a hole or gap
Meanwhile according to Mifflin in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English
Language (2003: 152) defines ten meanings for Opening namely:
1. The act or an instance of becoming open or being made to open.
2. An open space serving as a passage or gap.
3. A breach or aperture.
4. A clearing in the woods.
5. The first part or stage, as of a book.
6. The first performance: the opening of a play.
7. A formal commencement of operation: attended the opening of the new museum.
8. Games A specific pattern or series of beginning moves in certain games, especially chess.
9. An opportunity affording a chance of success.
10. An unfilled job or position; a vacancy.
Based on the Etymology it comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, open space,
from Latin platea broad street, from Greek plateia (hodos), from feminine of platys broad, flat; akin
to Sanskrit pthu broad, Latin planta sole of the foot (Wikipedia, 2006).
Unfortunately, most of the definition above far from the meaning that this written intended.
However, from WordNet 3.0 (2008) gave close meaning of the opening that is an open or empty
space in or between things and the Oxford Dictionary (1996: 288) define opening as open space.
For the word place, Wikipedia (2008) define it as A place is a location in space. From the
definition have some explanations which is has close meaning to the written intended namely:
1. physical environment
2. physical surroundings
3. an indefinite region or expanse
4. a building or locality used for a special purpose <a place of learning>
5. a particular region
6. center of population, or location
7. a building, part of a building, or area occupied as a home
8. a proper or designated niche or setting <the place of education in society>
From the explanation above the term of opening place could be interpret as an open location
in open space. Refer to the title of this written the opening place here means any places in outdoor or
out of the classroom. In another word, the study activity operated at place without wall boundary.
The places could take the place around the school or outside the school. The places around the
school such as in the yard, field or school garden. The opening place at the outside of school such as
in the field or city garden.

Why Opening Place?
A question for all teachers or educators in around the world, where is the right place to teach?
Actually, in the world history, school using the classrooms is a really new concept. It is because in the
past before all the teaching and learning processes took the classroom as the centre for study, nature
or the opening place was as the place where study activities held. The problem is teaching and
learning activities that held inside of the classroom could not guarantee that the process more success
than the teaching and learning activities that took at the opening place. There are many examples that
students feel uncomfortable because of the monotonous of classroom. The classroom even sometimes
look like a jail. It is time to ask that study in the classroom is the best way and still is the main forum
for the learning or we need to back as in the past. The condition of classroom that not support the
teaching and learning process will make the students even teacher feel numb. And the result for the
condition is failure. There are many proofs or cases show that students got nothing from their school
but only frightened and punishment. Because school as the place for study turn into place for giving
burden and punishment for students who cannot learn according their teacher. The exploiting of
school about 200 days per year, several hours in a day and only use 15% times is the wasting of the
worth asset. And using of big part of time for one way teaching is the bigger wasting from the 15%. It
needs to emphasize that most of people will in the best condition for learning through experimentally
and whole senses.
As stated by Dryden and Vos (2002: 109):

The exploiting of school about 200 days per year, several hours in a day and only use 15%
times is the wasting of the worth asset. And using of big part of time for one way teaching is
the bigger wasting from the 15%. It needs to emphasize that most of people will in the best
condition for learning through experimentally and whole senses.

Teaching and learning is the complex process. In the process, everything has they own
meaning. Every word, opinion, presentation, association, action that used in the process and how far
the teacher composes the surrounding that is the process is running. The importance of surrounding in
teaching and learning process it is parallel with their purpose to make teacher and students easier in
teaching and studying.
Another question is how to teach more many through more little effort? Through some
research and experiment some experts recommend that change the surrounding or situation will
answer the question. As state by DePorter et.al (2000: 64), You can transmit a lot and your students
will understand and memorize more. How? Through alter your class surrounding. The word class
here is not literal but it can interpret, as a place of study so it could be anywhere not only must in the
classroom.
In order to solve the problem regarding to the classroom issues, today the education world
start to change or combine the way of their teaching strategy. There are many schools or education
centers begin to use the techniques, which can support the teaching and learning process. One of the
techniques is through study outside of the class or at the opening place. This way is to not only move
study from inside to outside the class but also have serious intention in making student easier to grab
the study material. The place or environment is very important in learning process. Good place can be
a value medium in build and keep positive attitude.
Because supporting place will help student easier in developing their ability, keep their focus
in studying and winner mentality. The winner mentality will create success students. As stated by
DePorter and Hernacki (2002: 66), If you work in good ordering environment, then easier to develop
and keep the winner mentality. And the winner mentality will produce success students.


Definition of Speaking
Language is used to communicate with series of rule and the way to express it. As the quoted
that states, That language is communication, not simply a series of social and grammatical
regulations (Celce-Mursia, Downey and Thurrel, 1985).
Human expresses language through speaking generally. Before human create written system,
people communicate or interact through spoken. That is why if people say that language is primarily
spoken. Speaking is one problem that recurs and more frequently talked these days. Speaking is
ability of people to communicate with the other people. Through speaking, we are able to express our
feeling, opinion or get our necessity. Speaking cannot separate from human life that is why speaking
is one of abilities needed to learn.
Speaking is fundamentally and instrumental act, speakers talk in order to have some effect
on their listeners, they assert things to change state of knowledge states by Herbert and Ave (1980:
46). However, Speaking is complex skill, required the simultaneous of number of different abilities
which of develop different rates either four of five components in generally recognized in analysis of
speech, there are including as the remembering system pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency
and comprehension.
As stated by Haris in his book entitled Teaching the Spoken language (1997: 32):
Speaking is complex skill, required the simultaneous of number of different abilities which of
develop different rates either four of five components in generally recognized in analysis of
speech, there are including as the remembering system pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary,
fluency and comprehension.

According to Wikipedia (2008: 155), speaking can be described, As an act of producing
voice through the use of the vocal cords and vocal apparatus or other means, such as sign language, to
create linguistic acts in the form of language that communicate information from an initiator to a
recipient. In other more colloquial terms, speaking can be described in several different ways
(Onelook, 2008):
1. A linguistic act designed to convey information.
2. Various types of linguistic acts where the audience consists of more than one individual,
including public speaking, oration and quotation.
3. The physical act of speaking, primarily through the use of vocal cords to produce voice.
When we are speaking, we make interact with someone else and usually we need an action
from someone as the listener. As Hammond et al. (1992: 5) concluded speaking is interaction
language or language accompanying action. However speaking or speech can also take place inside
ones head, known as intrapersonal communication, for example, when one thinks or utters sounds of
approval or disapproval. At a deeper level, one could even consider subconscious processes, including
dreams where aspects of oneself communicate with each other as part of intra personal
communication, even though most human beings do not seem to have direct access to such
communication.
Because of speaking is the way of human to express their opinion it is need spontaneity when
do that. In addition, the spontaneity is the major problem of the students who learn the foreign
language particularly English. He also claims that many teachers often overlook the fact that in a
relaxed atmosphere, real learning takes place, and students use the language they have been exposed
to and have practiced earlier.

Teaching Speaking
The purpose of speaking can be used to convey meaning or to increase social bonds between
individuals or groups. For the latter, shallowness is not problem. The success of speaking depends on
numerous factors, including the presence or absence if a variety of speech disorders, the ability of the
speaker to express the intended message and the ability and willingness. Such of language education
is to prepare student in term to be participate in modern society life (Hammond et al. 1992: 56). In
other words, language education is life skill education that is the education, which give the skill to
student to be surviving in modern life patterned with globalization.
In practically level, generally Indonesian student cannot answer the global communication
challenge, whereas in theoretic language education needs to have obvious focus about what
competence need to develop if student targeted to be able to communicate in global era. In standard of
content of school-based curriculum stressed how important to looking of language product as an
instrument to communicate, is not only the language that received through explain by teacher. It
means in teaching speaking, student expected to be more active in express their speaking skill. They
are not just listen what the teacher said but demanded directly to practice.
It is very important to practice directly in their daily communication in oreder to make it as
their habitual. Because when an activity conducted directly, it helps them to master it better. As the
research presented that, We learn 90% from what we said and done (DePorter, 2000: 32).
To reach the target, curriculum designed need to settled the syllabus target that could be used
as benchmark as suggested by Wells (1987: 65). According to Wells, four literacy degrees exist that
is performative, functional, informational and epistemic.
1. Performative
In performative degree, people able to write and read, and speak through symbols that are
used.
2. Functional
In functional degree, people expected are able to use language to fulfill daily life such as
reading newspaper, magazine, manual reading etc.
3. Informational
In informational degree, people expected are able to access knowledge through his language.
4. Epistemic
In epistemic degree, people expected to able to transform knowledge in certain language.
Refer to standard of content of school-based curriculum, students of senior high school
intended to reach until the third degree that is informational, because they prepared to enter university
level.
Sequentially the purposes of teaching speaking for senior high school student formulated in
three of competence standard (Depdiknas, 2003: 5) following:
1. Able to communicate through spoken language using suitable language style, fluently and
accurate in interaction or monolog expression in shape of narrative, procedure, recount, report
and news.
2. Able to communicate through spoken language using suitable language style, fluently and
accurate in interaction or monolog expression in shape of narrative, descriptive, anecdote,
analytic and hortatory exposition. It intended to interpersonal meaning variation.
3. Able to communicate through spoken language using suitable language style, fluently and
accurate in interaction or monolog expression in shape of narrative, explanation, discussion,
commentary and review with emphasis on complex of interpersonal meaning.
Since the standard demand teacher to be able to achieve the target, it might be happened
teacher only teaches to run the target without care about the students capability or their intake in
study. With all the burden of study that mentioned above, the most suffer is students. Looking the
situation students is as the object of education, whereas nowadays they are not anymore.
Nowadays, students are not the education object, but they are as the subject. Because the
demand of curriculum that students must be active. They must inquiry the knowledge not only receive
or waiting teacher to give them. And teacher also should be realized and accustomed to treat the
students not as the object. Therefore, teaching and learning is collaboration working between all sides
especially teacher and students.
However, teacher as the main director in the field needs to design the scenario of study in
order the design will work successfully. It means, the teacher and students both gain their purpose in
study.

Teaching Speaking through Opening place
As development nation, Indonesia needs to run the fallen behind in any sectors. Especially,
when we are talking about education sector. The education in Indonesia still poor compared with its
closest neighbor nations such as Malaysia and Singapore. However, our government always tries to
improve our national education with many programs that could support accelerate of the education
progress. For example, the government builds facilities and infrastructure to supporting learning
process. Also held training for teachers in order to develop their perception and teaching skill. It tends
to create a competence teacher. Because how modern the facilities that had by a school without
competence teacher, everything is useless.
One of features that a teacher competence to do his job is the teacher should know and rich
with many approach, method and techniques in order to support his duty. The good mastery of
teaching techniques will help teacher and their student to accomplish learning target. In study a
language, the main target is making students able to communicate through spoken.
Today speaking ability is very important closer the globalization where English as the
international language urgent to be mastered. In this case, the teaching technique for speaking at
school is very important to make the students understand and easier master it. As we know, there are
so many teaching techniques old or new. In teaching process, a teacher could use one technique or
more and combine it.
However, it is depended on the learning necessity. For teaching speaking, teacher prefers to
choose the technique that make learning situation more active. Also, make student become braver to
express their speaking ability. Since the speaking is as the active skill that needs direct performance.
Because in many cases, sometimes we are trapped with the path that our predecessor have done which
not always correct or suitable with present condition where study situation is very serious and far
from fun. That situation will hamper the students in enjoying and developing their ability.
As according to Kim (1995: 35) states that, There is a common perception that all learning
should be serious and solemn in nature, and that if one is having fun and there is hilarity and laughter,
then it is not really learning. This is a misconception. It is possible to learn a language as well as enjoy
oneself at the same time and that gives more advantages .
Regarding to the opening place, it is one way in order to accelerate students developing in
mastering speaking. Through the different situation of study, hoped that the students would have
interesting and pay attention to what teacher teach. Moreover, by study at the open place the teaching
and learning process can be as a directly experience for students especially when the material of study
adjusted with the situation of the place. So the student can see, feel the atmosphere directly and it is
will help them much in memorizing and expressing their spoken ability. The energize place of study,
relieve a lot of tension students and it can be also motivate them in learning speaking.

The Role of Teacher
The role of teacher is central as an active explainer. Teacher dominates the teaching and
learning process. In other words, teacher is like an orchestra conductor. Cullingford (1995: 159)
states, Teacher makes a subject interesting, he sets up experiments, brings in interesting materials,
and is not merely bound by routine. This means that teacher become a source of knowledge.
When the teacher is an active judge, she make corrections, control the students performance
or answer. The teacher must judge the correctness of the students responses. Before the study is
started, the teacher should make sure that all the necessary material ready.
It is suggested that teacher prepares the material that have connection with the place or the
teacher should be able to design the material that can connected by student where the place support
them to look the thing directly or imagine it.
After that the study cannot be successful if the teacher does not explain the tasks and the rules
for students in studying at the open place. The rules must be made clear to the students in order to
prevent students take chance to play because they are at the free place.
Teacher should tell to the students what they can or cannot do. Teacher should maintain the
situation so that the teaching and learning process still in the path. Because for students, study at the
opening place quite different and strange for them. This is crucial for the success of the activity, so
every effort should be made.
Following things that teacher should prepared and do to teach at the opening place:
1. The selection of the place and time is very important. Study at the open place such as at the
football field at middle of the day is a stupidity.
2. The material that compatible with the place or can be supported with the place.
3. Clear rule for students along the opening place.
4. Clear task for students so that they know what they must to do and focus.
5. Teacher should be able maintain the situation from the beginning until the end of program.
6. Teacher should be creative and able to connect and relate the material with the place.
7. Teacher always motivates students to be brave and using the place as much as they can.

The Role of Students
Students play a reactive role by responding to teachers explanation. They should contribute
as much as they gain in the classroom. They are the real actor in this situation. It is because the real
purpose of this strategy in order to make students feel different situation but support them to develop
their ability through different way. However, this way will help sides, students and also teacher.
Students are hoped to be able to use the new situation in developing their ability. Students
need to be more active in practicing their speaking ability and using the place to help them memorize
and express their spoken. That is because if students do not active or less in using the place, the
process will be fail.


























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