SECOND LANGUAGE AQCUISITION

SCHOOL OBSERVATION: SMA NEGERI 1

KUPANG BARAT

Compiled By:

MICHAEL ADITYA AMALO

(1601020119)

CLASS: C
SEMESTER: VI

ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND
EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF NUSA CENDANA
2019
 INTRODUCTION

Indonesia is the 6th large country in Asia with a great number of people which more
than 300 million population live and settle in many islands of this country. The official
language known as Bahasa Indonesia unifies the diversities of cultures and local languages as
a whole genuine identity, thus the language exists for linking the differentiation.
Beside the official and local languages, there are also foreign languages known by the
people, such as English as it is the most language learned and also taught since elementary
school up to university degree in Indonesia. Instead of using it for daily conversation, people
use the language for specific purposes. Academically, English helps learners to expand their
knowledge as the language is widely used by international residents throughout the world, so
they may easily communicate with learners from another country and also understand what
famed experts saying. Most literatures are written and translated into English. This kind of
situation forces learners to acquire this language if they want to have an advanced thinking.
There are four skills of language learning that must be mastered by learners, which are
known as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These skills are very important as it allows
them to have a complete comprehension to a language, especially English. As a foreign
language, a teaching strategy applied to learners must be arranged in very effective way by the
teacher in order to make learners reach their achievements with great results.
However, an admission arises when we know that learners still find difficulties while
studying English. This is also known as obstacles that can hold up the development of learners.
It will decrease learners’ interest when they do not know how the way to solve their learning
problems. Lack of vocabulary, have no confidence to speak in English, lack of capability in
arranging sentences, lack of reading comprehension, and many more are the problems often
found on English learners. The role of teachers hold the solution to lead back learners to the
right way. A teacher roles as a motivator, tutor, prompter, and resource, thus he/she has to
provide method, technique, and media as tools of teaching strategy adjusted to the needs of
learners. Responsibility of teachers is really big. They are the root of any successfulness of
their learners, so either good or bad results depend on the teachers. Eventually, good
relationship among the people involve in academic field should be intertwined in order to create
a harmonious learning environment that benefits both parties.
Acquiring a foreign language is not an easy work. It also applies to English. All efforts
must be put since we have pointed our goals, thus letting it to be gone away is not what we
want. As learners, we have to understand and look into ourselves what we can do and not. Do
not ever be afraid to admit our lacks as if we tell our needs to appropriate people, which are
teachers, they will help us to fulfill our deficiencies related to study English.
Based on the statements above, the writer has done making small observation to an
English teacher and five first grade students of science major of SMA Negeri 1 Kupang Barat
in order to get their attention, responses, and opinions about English as a compulsory subject
taught in the school. The school was established in 1997. There are 52 teachers and 535 students
are currently working and studying at this school. The method that the writer used was by doing
interview and giving questionnaire which had been filled with four behavioral questions. The
language the writer used in doing this observation was Bahasa Indonesia, since it is more
understandable. At the end of this paper, the writer includes evidences in form of scanning
questionnaires and photos with the responders.
 CONTENT

[The writer took this observation in school-field of SMA Negeri 1

Kupang Barat located in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur in
Kupang District on Kupang Barat Sub-district at Tuapala St. It takes
around 30 minutes to reach the school by vehicles. It is not far from the
location of the well-known waterfall, Oenesu.]

To start this report, the writer would like to describe the six responders that the writer
has chosen to get interviewed. It is started with the English teacher namely Mrs. Swastisari Y.
Oematan, S.Pd or well-known as Mrs. Sari. She has been working at the school since 2010.
She is one of four English teachers which everyday teaches students of the school sincerely.
When the writer tried to ask some students (not the main responders) there about her, they gave
good impression. Lidia, first grade student of science major, said that she was the best English
teacher of the school. She continued that even though the school recently had a native English
teacher being volunteer from America, she was still the best. For reference, the American
Teacher is doing her job as one of volunteers teaching students of some public schools which
have been selected due to a kind of collaboration between the local government of this province
and America government in order to assist in increasing the quality of human resources as it is
a tourism program launched by the government aside from restoring tourism places itself. Lidia
confirmed to the writer that in doing teaching inside the classroom, Mrs. Sari always tried to
attract the students with attractive games to stimulate students’ desire to study English. It is a
kind teaching teqhniques that can be applied in any English classes, especially for EFL
students, before the main lesson is being taught. Shortly, the teacher is admirable by the
students.

The next responders are the students. The writer only took five students as samples
giving their ideas came from the same class. They are studying in science major at first grade.
The teacher helped the writer to choose the students which were considered as the appropriate
responders to be interviewed. Two boys and three girls were firstly given questionnaires to be
filled out only based on their own opinions and comprehension or simply giving their
arguments. The following are the questions the writer has prepared for the students (those are
written in Bahasa Indonesia).
 1. Menurut anda, seberapa pentingkah siswa mempelajari bahasa Inggris sebagai salah
satu mata pelajaran wajib di sekolah? (According to you, how important is students to
learn English as a compulsory subject in school?)
2. Apakah ada kesulitan yang anda temui saat mempelajari bahasa Inggris? (Are there
difficulties you encounter when learning English?)
3. Seberapa menarikkah mempelajari bahasa Inggris bagi anda dan apakah anda
menikmati proses pembelajaran tersebut di sekolah? (How interesting is learning
English for you; and do you enjoy the learning process at school?)
4. Menurut anda, pembelajaran seperti apa yang harus dikembangkan dan diterapkan
saat mempelajari bahasa Inggris oleh guru anda di sekolah? (In your opinion, what
kind of learning should be developed and applied when learning English by your
teacher at school?)

For the teacher, the questions were given with different compositions. It can be seen as
below.

1. Seberapa pentingkah bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa ke dua untuk diakuisisi dan
dipelajari oleh siswa di suatu negara non-English native? (How important is English
as a second language to be acquired and studied by students in a non-English native
country?)
2. Apakah ada kesulitan yang anda temui saat mengajari bahasa Inggris kepada siswa?
(Are there any difficulties you encounter when teaching English to students?)
3. Seberapa menarikkah mengajari bahasa Inggris bagi anda dan metode apa yang anda
pakai untuk diterapkan pada pembelajaran bagi siswa-siswi anda? (How interesting is
teaching English for you; and what method do you use to apply it to learning for your
students?)
4. Seberapa besar motivasi dan partisipasi siswa dalam mengikuti proses belajar-
mengajar bahasa Inggris di kelas? (How much motivation and participation of students
in following the process of teaching and learning English in the classroom?)

There was no specific time for the responders to answer all the questions. They were
free to write down their ideas and opinions without considering the time. Eventually, it took
around 30 minutes to finish the questionnaires.
Analysis

The next part is doing analysis to the answers of all responders. The responds they give
are various. As this becomes the main part of this writing, the writer will start discussing one
by one, question to question from each responder.

1. Swastisari Y. Oematan, S.Pd (Teacher)

a. The first question points to the important of English as a second language to be
acquired and learned by students in a non-English native country. Considering
as the first responder, she tells that English is very important to be mastered by
students as it is the most spoken language in the world. She assumes English
can bring students to have great futures. Competition that now is happening in
this globalization era forces people to be capable in competing each other or
even having rival in order to make and have better life. It means that people
should not only have good thinking skill, but also must have creativity,
innovation, and leadership. All the things can be really useful if someone can
wrap it into a scientific order which will then be conveyed through the use of a
language as the media that can be understood by everyone.
b. Difficulties that are often found by the English teacher. She points to the four
skills of language learning, which are listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Those skills must certainly be mastered by students who learn English as it will
develop their effective communication. Simply, without the skills being taught,
students will get stuck or have no development in learning, using, and
comprehending a language. As the four language skills are related one another,
however, students usually have struggle to at least one or two skills. In this case,
students of SMA Negeri 1 Kupang mostly need huge encourage in mastering
writing skill rather than others as it requires a different kind of organization then
speaking, and much more detailed organization. Writing is also less forgiving
of grammatical and other technical errors. Students with lack of vocabulary
mastery will be difficult improve all the language skills. The teacher
consciously know the problems affecting the students, thus by planning and
implementing good teaching method will overcome all the students’ learning
troubles.
c. The third question is about how interesting English is to be taught to SLA
students and the method that the teacher used. She writes simple answer
 actually. For her, English is very interesting as she has been loving with this
language since child. Becoming English teacher is her dream and now she is
surrounded by an educational environment in a school institution where she can
share knowledge to other people called students. She considers herself not only
as a teacher but also a role modeling. Being a role model however can be a
positive or negative effect depending on the teacher. She is there not only to
teach her students, but also to love and care for them. Another consideration is
about the teaching method that she usually applies to students. Active-learning
is a method that she likes to use while doing teaching in classroom. It focuses
on how students learn, not just on what they learn. With active learning,
students play an important part in their own learning process. They build
knowledge and understanding in response to opportunities provided by their
teacher. A game is often inserted to the learning process as it also helps students
to have more understanding to a lesson.
d. The last question talks about the motivation and participation of students in
following the teaching and learning English within classroom. She gives
percentage as a value to measure the students joining the English class, which
is 90%. The score proves that the students really put themselves to study English
earnestly. The school has English club divided into two categories, specifically
for students and another for all the teachers working at the school. No doubt if
all academicians have high intention with English.
 2. Students
Name of
No. Important of English as a
Students
Compulsory Subject at School
“English, as an international
language, should be known by
all residents of this country,
1. Reycal Silla especially for us as students
have to know that too, so we
will not only stand before other
countries.”
“English as an international
language teaches students to
have more understanding about
the language. As in this
millennial era, by learning the
Nekkidin S. A.
2. language, it helps us to
Pong
communicate with native
speakers; enhancing knowledge
in pronouncing English words;
writing, reading, and translating
English to another language.”
Students’ Response
Learning and Teaching
Difficulties in Learning
How English is Interesting Experiences that Should be
English
Developed by English Teacher
“I am really interested to learn
“The English teachers should
English. By learning the
“As English is not learning have their own learning-tricks in
language we are able to adjust
everyday, it forces us to order that during the English
ourselves to communicate with
study the language deeper. lesson we are not feeling tense
people come from other
My difficulty is to and bored that can make us lazy.
countries. I enjoy studying
pronounce English words Playing games or having quiz
English due to various lessons
which are different from the with prizes can stimulate
that we can get; and the way the
way it is written.” students to be more excited to
words pronounced are really
study English.”
interesting.”
“Thing that should be noticed is
students understanding that
“Learning English is very assume English is difficult to
“Listening skill, lack of
interesting and I enjoy every learn. By showing and applying
vocabulary, difficulty in
process of fun, creative, and fun, creative, and innovative
distinguish English tenses,
innovative learning. During the way of teaching can break up
pronouncing English words,
learning and teaching process that kind of thought. Active roles
and writing unwell-known
of this international language between students and teacher,
words are kinds of learning-
there should be more provided having critical thinking, and
weaknesses that I have to
completely, comfortably, and providing most updated learning
more serious to study.”
digitally learning materials.” materials can increase students’
desire to learn English with no
doubt.”

“In my opinion, learning
English is very important as it
Victor Haba can increase our knowledge and
3.
Radja develop our interest and ability,
so we can well learn the
language.”
“I think as the most spoken
language in the world, English
is very important. In the 21st
century, students really need to
4. Priska Tosi
study English in order to have
better communication with
foreigners and also have better
future.”
“English is very important,
since it has become as an
international language,
automatically, all countries are
obliged to study the language,
5. Mardiani Bani
especially as students, we are
required to study the language
as it is a compulsory subject in
school that can also affect our
life now on and future.”
“The way to pronounce
English words, memorizing,
reading, writing, and
understanding the language
itself are what I have to
effort from now on.”
“English grammar and
pronunciations are still
challenging for me. Other
students are also difficult to
pronounce English words as
it is a foreign language. The
way the words written is
different the way it
pronounced can make
students confused and
difficult to study.”
“I am still difficult to learn teaches is not boring, so that I
English grammar, master can become more active in
vocabulary, and pronounce class. Teacher with impressive
English words.”
“English is very interesting as
the way its learning is different
from another subject. The way
to pronounce English words is
quite confusing, but it is still
interesting if coupled with a
unique way of learning.”
“English is very interesting,
since it is most learned and used
by foreigners and local people.
I feel challenged to learn the
language as well as I love it.”
“English is very interesting,
especially if the teacher who
teaching material makes me
easier in understanding an
English lesson.”
“I like to have fun quiz as it can
attract me to learn English
comfortably, so I can understand
a lesson rapidly. Having games
can also avoid students to get
bored during an English lesson.”
“I think English teachers should
teach students enjoyably and
interestingly, such as playing
games during English lessons as
it helps students to have better
understanding to each lesson
being taught. English teachers
also have to explain to students
about how important English is
for students’ future, so they can
be motivated to learn the
language.”
“Students will more enjoy the
English class if the teacher
teaches them casually, invites
students to be more active in
learning process, and uses
impressive techniques, such as
playing games and learning
outside the classroom.”
 The table above shows the direct responses of the five students as those are written
within quotation marks. The responses are actually written in Bahasa Indonesia, but the writer
has translated it into English as it is more compatible to be put in this paper. The responses
look various, but if it is observed further we will see relative same writing compositions. The
analysis can be seen as follows.

a. As the first question requires the students to give their arguments about the important of
English as a compulsory subject at school, they argue that English is really important for
them. The language is the most spoken in the world necessitates them to also study the
language as its benefits are plentiful, such as increasing knowledge, having better
communication with foreigners, creating great futures, being confident, able to master all
language skills, and so forth. They seem agree that the English subject should be taught in
schools by English teachers.
b. They consider English as a subject that still needs a lot of courage to learn. The difficulties
have been haunting them since the first time learning the subject. They assume that not only
them finding the troubles, but also other students, such as in pronouncing English words
which it is literally different from the way it is written, English grammar, making formal
writing, lack of vocabulary, and so forth. However, it is what they say as ‘challenges’.
c. There is no hesitation to say that English is really interesting. It becomes more and more
fascinating if it is taught with fun, creative, and innovative learning materials. The aims are
to avoid laziness from students, make students easier to receive English lessons, and become
confident and more active to use the language within and outside the classroom.
d. English teachers are hoped to have better competences to teach their students. They have
prepared all things related to students’ needs in studying before going straight to the direct
teaching. It refers to methods used to help students learn the desired course contents and be
able to develop achievable goals in the future. Thus, an English teacher should recognize
their students really well in order to adjust a kind of teaching styles matches to class
condition. Playing games are believed to arouse students' enthusiasm for learning. Games
lower the students’ level of stress and anxiety, thereby improving the acquisition of
language; break the ice between the teacher and his or her students; and games are the best
way to make students revise language elements they have already practiced and been
exposed to. English teachers can freely create their own teaching strategies, which include
teaching methods, techniques, and media that, eventually, it makes more benefits for
students.
 CONCLUSION

Not only stated as the most spoken language, English is also the most studied language
in the world. It is the only language that tallies more than a billion students. It is no surprise
that English is so popular or heavily studied. Students of Indonesia acquire English as a foreign
language, since the language has been a compulsory subject in almost all school levels. In SMA
Negeri 1 Kupang Barat, the school that the writer did his observation, had given special view
to English. Six responders have been the samples the writer took from this school. They are
definitely agree if English is stated as an important subject to learn. It does not mean that they
only learn English as an obligation to pass tests or final examinations to be promoted to next
grade, but they consider the language sometime bring them to have better life in future and
unlimited access to the world. Even though, throughout the time they still find difficulties to
learn the language, but with great support from their teacher in form of fun, creative, and
innovative teaching strategy, they can get out from the hard zone. But, it sometimes needs to
keep students challenge their comfort zones in order to awaken their motivations to solve a
problem by themselves. Thus, an English teacher has a big responsibility to make sure the
students get well-learning supplies and become independent. At the end, only good
relationship between students and teachers can create conducive learning environment.
APPENDIX