CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter presents and discusses about the background of the problem, statement of the problem,

objective of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, and definition of key terms. 1.1 Background of the Problem As we know that English is one of the most important international language. In spoken form, English language is used in international conferences, workshop, business, meeting, discussion, and broadcasting. English is the most widely used language in the world. It plays very significant roles in any aspects of international affairs as a means of international communication. There are million people speaking English as their second language, and million people learn English as their foreign language. Until now English plays the main role in the international interaction and relationships among people from foreign countries. The openness of one country to be visited by other people from other countries encourage them to learn English. As a result, the relationship among the nations will be more realistic because there will be many things to be communicated. Learning a language is not a matter of accusing a set of rules and building up many vocabulary items. The teachers effort should not be directed to inform students about language,

but enable them to use it. The students must be trained to use four basic language skills such as: listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Speaking language is the most popular expression among the linguistics. Some of them also say that speaking is gold and silent is silver. Those expression show us about the importance of speaking skill. Finnochiaro and Brumfit in Richard and Rodger (1995: 65) state that language learning is to communicate. It means that learning language automatically learnt to speak. English is widely spoken. This means that speaking skill would be a major goal of learning English as a foreign and second language. Tarigan (1985: 4) states that each of language skill is closely related to the other skill with their own variation. In acquiring any language skill, one usually passes each skill one by one accordingly. First of all, they learn to listen the language uttered by their adults, from their parents and then they learn to speak. At his particular phase, they then tries to produce the simplest sound that they have ever heard by imitating their adult. When they grow up and want to enter kindergarten, they learn to read, try to recognize and to know the written symbols, and finally, they learn to write those symbols. The students ability in expressing gratitude and appreciate is one of the focus or objective of the language learners. Their ability is not only determined by the teaching and learning process in the classroom, but it is also influenced by some factors such as facilities, purposes, motivation, and learning environment. So, the environment plays an important role in improving students ability in learning language, especially speaking. Therefore, this study tries to concern with the background of students environment in learning language, especially speaking.

In teaching speaking, most teachers wish their students could speak fluently, but it is not as easy as they hope; it needs various ways in reaching the target. In this case, one of the ways of speaking is using gratitude and appreciation. The researcher is interested in investigating this title because she wants to know the students ability in expressing gratitude and appreciation in speaking. Gratitude and appreciation can be designed for foreign language teaching because she thinks that gratitude and appreciation can provide the students motivation and enthusiasms. Example in conversation form: Student Teacher Student Teacher Student Teacher : Excuse me, Sir. : Yes, what can I do for you? : I dont understand this sentence. Could you explain me again? : Certainly. : Thank you for you help. You are very kind. : Im glad I could help.

Based on the above description the researcher decides to investigate this phenomena entitled The students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking.

1.2 Statement of the Problem 1. To what extent is the students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking for the second year students of MA Unwanul Falah NW Pao Lombok in the school year 2007/2008? 2. To what extent is the achievement levels of students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking for the second year students of MA Unwanul Falah NW Pao Lombok in the school year 2007/2008? 1.3 Objective of the Study Based on background of the problem and statement of the problem above, objective of the study as follows: 1. To know the students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking for the second year students of MA Unwanul Falah NW Pao Lombok in the school year 2007/2008. 2. To know the achievement levels of students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking for the second year students of MA Unwanul Falah NW Pao Lombok in the school year 2007/2008. 1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study In order to the researcher focus on the problems of this study, she needs to describe a certain scope of her investigation. The researcher limits the study on the subject and object of the study.

1.

Subject

The subject of the study is about the second year students of MA Unwanul Falah NW Pao Lombok in the school year 2007/2008. 2. Object

The object of this study is limited on the students ability in using gratitude and appreciation in speaking. 1.5 Assumption of the Study The assumption is a basic supposition about the research until the researcher formulates some of the supposition toward the research as follows: 1. Gratitude and appreciation will be more effective to increase students ability in speaking. 2. In teaching speaking, there are many various efforts to increase the students motivation which will be applied by the teacher. 1.6 Significant of the Study This study is expected to be of any use in the process of teaching and learning theoretically and practically. 1. Theoretically The result of this study are expected to be able to give the addition information toward the English teaching generally and teaching of speaking particularly by using expression of gratitude and appreciation. The results of this study also are expected to give motivation to the other researcher to do the better research.

2. Practically The results of this study are expected to be able to enrich the teachers knowledge and learners knowledge in expressing of gratitude and appreciation in speaking. For example, conversation between a teacher and a student in classroom as follows: Student Teacher Student Teacher : Can I borrow your pen, sir? : Certainly. : Thank you very much. Thats very kind of you : You are welcome.

1.7 Definition of Key Terms To avoid ambiguity, misunderstanding, or misinterpretation of the terms used in this study, the following key terms or concepts are defined: 1. Speaking ability refers to the skill of the students to communicate or say anything orally in transferring their ideas by using English and which is emphasized on the students skill to use the target language effectively and appropriately which they are communicating. 2. Gratitude is the general expression used to express thankful. Or gratitude is ones feeling of being grateful or the desire to express ones thankful. 3. Appreciation is the expression used to appreciate gift of people. Or appreciation on ones feeling to show gratitude in appreciating gift from people.