Utami Dewi K. (0708066047)

English Department

Post Graduate Program

University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. HAMKA

Jakarta 2007

Lecturer: Hartoyo, Ph.D

ICT IN COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING

MID-SEMESTER TEST

1. Assignment

BEGINNING ENGLISH WITH YOUNG LEARNERS

The development of our educational system in formal or informal scope is always being renewed and become more progressive. Of course, it is kind of a huge responsibility not only for teachers but also parents and government itself. Then, there is an effort which has been done by the ‘doer’ of pre-school such as; increasing the motivation of pre-schooler in learning language especially English and implementing it into daily life. One of the effort is by holding music as a tool of learning and communicating process which is specialized for children age between 4-5 years old.

As we know that music can stimulate children’s growth in increasing the function of brain such as; memory, language, and analysis. It is a moment whenever children are having social interaction among their peers. According to Santrock and Yussen:1992 stated that there are three domains of growing process which are related and influenced each other; a. Biologcal process (physical growth involves brain, neuron system, bones, hormonal, and five senses), b. Cognitive process (capability in the way of thinking, communicating, and absorbing knowledge from the surroundings), and c. Psycho-social process (The changes of emotional, feelings, and personality aspects also how the children can deal with those changes when they are communing with others to find and build their self-identity). Furthermore, in the term of music as a tool which is very helpful in learning process, the writer is going to describe deeper about the strengthness and weakness also advantage and disadvantage of music for kindergarten age.

The writer thinks that Suggestopedia methodology is the most suitable for this learning process. Hartoyo remarked:

“The rationale or considerations are the process of learning how to use a FL/ target language can be accelerated through tapping the learners’ mental powers. In this respect, building up learners’ attitudes towards their teacher is essential. The focus is speaking (being able to use a target language/ foreign language for everyday communication)”.

First, the strengthness of music as a tool in learning English for children is they can effectively learn rhymes easily and quickly and they appearing to enjoy learning and reciting them. Rhymes are prefabricated language. Most are made up of prefabricated phrases; and ones where new words are slotted into the same verse or a different verse, are similar to prefabricated routines (Opal Dunn:1979).

Second, the weakness of music as a tool of learning English for pre-schooler is sometimes if there is a way of giving children a complete text with a complete piece of meaning from the very first lesson there will be isolated items of language, especially if not linked to situations, are often much more difficult for young beginners to understand, use or remember (Dunn 1979: 10).

Third, Dunn said that the advantages of music as a tool of learning English for kindergarten are when the children know the rhyme, it can be used for teaching other plurals, eg. one cat-two cats and as a game which any child who adds the name of an object after saying four, drops out the game. Young beginners seem to feel that when they can speak a lot of English quickly rather like an adult and this is something that they appear to want to do. Moreover, rhymes can be bonus in language learning whereas language learned in a rhyme can often be transferred to another situations in the classroom.

Finally, the disadvantages of music as a tool of learning English for them are if the rhyme is playing slowly beat in reciting words it will be easier for them to follow and understand but, if the beat of rhyme is little bit faster it will be quite difficult to know the words and the meanings. Next, the system disturbance might be happened suddenly when when they work with the rhyme, for instance the rhyme is not clearly enough to recite or quite long to remember because of the electricity or the sound system.

Actually, all the methodologies of learning English are very helpful and important in encouraging children to speak up and communicate especially in daily life. In summary, utilizing music as a tool of language learning for children age has strengthness and weakness also advantages and disadvantages.

References:

Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D. Individual Differences in CALL. UPT UNNES Press. Semarang, 2006.

Dunn, Opal. Beginning English with Young Children. Macmillan Publishers LTD. London and Basingstoke, 1983. 

Toddler Magazine, vol. 8/ 2007 page. 9

The article of University of Paramadina in ‘Children’s Seminar’