The Essential of Direct Method

Direct method is a natural method which describes that a foreign language could be taught without translation or the use of learner’s native language.
A language could best be taught by using this method actively in the classroom. Teachers must encourage direct and spontaneous use of foreign language in the classroom. Learners would then be able to induce rules of grammar. Teachers replaced the textbook in the early stages of learning. Speaking began with systematic attention to pronunciation. Known words could be used to teach new vocabulary, using mime, demonstration, and pictures.

In practice, it stood for the following principles and procedures :
1. Classroom instruction was conducted exclusively in the target language.
2. Only everyday vocabulary and sentences were taught.
3. Oral communication skills were built up in a carefully graded progression organized around question-and-answer exchanges between teachers and students (in a small, intensive class).
4. Grammar was taught inductively.
5. New teaching points were introduced orally.
6. Concrete vocabulary was taught through demonstration, objects, and pictures. Abstract vocabulary was taught by association of ideas.
7. Both speech and listening comprehension were taught.
8. Correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.

These principles are seen in the following guidelines for teaching oral language :
Never translate: demonstrate
Never explain: act
Never make a speech: ask questions
Never imitate mistakes: correct
Never speak with single words: use sentences
Never speak too much: make students speak much
Never use the book: use your lesson plan
Never go too fast: keep the pace of the student
Never speak too slowly: speak normally
Never speak too quickly: speak naturally
Never speak too loudly: speak naturally
Never be impatient; take it easy

Direct method, however, required teachers who were native speakers or who had native-like fluency in the foreign language.
(Jack C. Richards and Theodore S. Rodgers. Cambridge University Press. USA. 2002. p. 11-12)

A TRIP TO KALIURANG

Yesterday, I had more than enough sleep and home study. So, today I want to do better activity than just sleeping and home studying. Because the lessons in my faculty only 4 days; from Monday to Thursday, I can spend the other days of the week to do something as I like. It’s not as tight as the school days.

Saturday morning the sun looks so clear, its warm light greets people friendly. I get up happily to see the nice day. I take my towel to take a bath. It’s an early bath I do. On other days I prefer taking a bath when the sun light is a bit warmer, especially in weekend or vacation. But today I want to do it earlier.

A housemate says nice comment for my early bath when I hang my towel on the laundry wire. We usually dry up our laundry on the wire to let the sun heat it. I respond her comment with a smile. I know she has waited for me to take a bath too. She goes into the bathroom afterward.

When I get dressed, I think about refreshment I can do today. Then, I contact Lyn to ask a possibility for going sightseeing. She knows more about this city because she has been living in this city for two years. She can take me to recreation places if she is not busy. Fortunately, She is free today and she agrees to take me to Kaliurang, a mountainous area which is popular for its beautiful view and fresh air.

I inform my plan to my housemates, and Wendy wants to go with me, So, I give a ride to her to go to Kaliurang and Lyn tells me that she rides a motorbike with her friend Dree. Four of us ride motorbikes to go there because Lyn says it’s only about 25 miles form my boarding house.

Along the way to Kaliurang, I keep riding my bike behing Lyn’s because she knows the way to go there. And I keep my distance close to her bike in order not to get lost the way. If Wendy starts chatting and I respond her, I am left far behind Lyn’s bike. Therefore I decide to talk a little on the way.

About 10 miles from Kaliurang, we start to see the top of the mountain. It’s beautiful, and the cool air starts to touch our skin. Wendy and I yell cheerfully to feel the cool fresh air. Yeeepppyyyy …!! She takes a picture with her camera cell phone through my shoulder. I am so excited to get there as soon as possible.

We have to pay for the entrance ticket of the recreation place, and it has some entrance gates, so we have to pay for some time too. However, the payment is very cheap; only 2000 to 5000 rupiahs for each ticket. After that, we arrive at the parking lot. The beautiful view is around us, fascinating !

The first thing I need to find there is the toilet, I need to piss, before going hiking. It is down the hill, I also find the

Musholla nearby. I am so happy to feel the mountain water touch my skin, so clear and fresh.

Three of us pray Dzuhur there, Lyn waits for us at the edge of a small lake, busy taking pictures.

There is a warung behind the musholla, an old woman sells pecel and water plus wajik and jadah, traditional Javanese food. The vegetable for the pecel looks delicious, and I want to try the food, I invite all my friends to join me eating, but Lyn and Dree refuse politely. They prefer eating a kind of meatball sold by another vendor. There are so many vendors in the area. Wendy and I have the pecel. It is delicious but the peanut sauce has to much chili in it. The hot taste touches our tongues sharply. We complain to the mama vendor about the chili, but she says that all of the peanut sauce has the same taste.

The four of us start hiking, Lyn shows us the route. We pass many warungs selling delicious food which is so inviting, but I’m still full. I try to ignore the food’s invitation. We go up the rock stairs between the warungs. Then we go up and up. We come to the mountainous area. Rock is everywhere. My God ! It’s a rocky mountain ! I can see the huge rock around us. And the amazing thing is ; all the trees grow on the rock ! I praise God for the wonderful thing. I can’t stop thinking how big trees can grow well on the rock. But this fact has proved me that nothing is impossible when God has His will.

Lyn warns us about some monkeys which might follow us. I’m a bit surprised to it. Because I thought only Kalimantan has monkeys. So, we are alert for their appearance. We step up the stony pathway till we get to the water fall. I feel funny to see how Dree and Ly act like models on the catwalk when each of them take their pictures in turn with their camera cell phones. They look professional in their action, unfortunately they’re not models. Well, at least they’ve been models in their cell phones…  He he..

A small monkey appears. My friends start worried, but I try to be calm. I look into its eyes, they remind me of my pet cats in my hometown. I say hi to it. This female monkey is tame. She wants the wajik and jadah I bought from mama vendor behind musholla. Lyn tells that if I gives it the food, it will always follow us wherever we go. So, I tell her that I will give the food to the monkey on the way home. Then, a bigger one appears. It sounds something, trying to take the food from my hand. I hold the food tighter. The male monkey shows a gesture using his hand, similar to a little beggar when asking some money from people. I almost give him some food as a reward for his ability to show the gesture but then I remember what Lyn has warned me. So I delays the gift till the way home.

We are busy taking pictures in front of the water fall, together with some other visitors. I ask Wendy to take my picture with the water fall behind. When I am taking action, the male monkey takes all of the food out of my hand. I try to stop it, but it’s useless. The monkey moves so fast, getting away from me. I can only sigh unhappily because there’s no food left for the female one. It’s funny to see how the big monkey eat the food greedily meanwhile the small one can only watch him. I wish I gave it to the female one earlier.

Some visitors hike to the top of the mountain. I ask my friends to do the same thing, however Lyn and Dree decide to wait for us near the waterfall. Wendy and I hike further, following some teenage hikers. They move fast and turn to the other part of the slope, leaving us behind, exhausted. Wendy’s face looks pale and my step gets heavier. We decide to sit on the pathway up. We see view below us, Wendy takes some pictures. Lyn and Dree look small from where we are. I sit right under a big tree which its roots can be seen clearly attach firmly on the rock around the mountain slope like hundreds of rope. Fantastic !

A teenage couple go up and come toward us. I ask them how long more to reach the summit. The boy tells me that it’s only about 15 minutes and go down to the other side of the mountain, to the musholla where we prayed few minutes ago. We want to follow them, but we know that it won’t be this time because our energy won’t be enough. Both of us decide to back down.

We get together again, four of us. It’s late afternoon, we move down, preparing to go home. Lyn informs us that on the other part of the mountain, there is a old cave, a place where Japanese soldiers used to hide themselves after they lost in the second world war. I’m quite interested to go there but I tell her that it is time for us to go home. We agree to be back someday.

We see two unique teenage couples, the boys are foreigners and the girls are Javanese. Dree expresses her opinion to us. She says that similar couples she has observes for two years, show her that foreign boys mostly date with Javanese girls who have dark skin, not the bright-skinned ones. I’m surprised with it. I asked her if her thesis is about the thing. She says the thing is just opinion. She observes other thing for her thesis.

On the way home, we pass other area which suits for family recreation place. It is like a playground, completed with slides, glides, see-saw and others. What a fun place !

The fresh air of Kaliurang gradually disappears because we move away from it, back to our homes. It, however, gives nice impression to us, university students who need refreshment which is inexpensive. I’m sure I’ll go there again to see places I haven’t seen yet.

( Written by: Sumaronly, finished on July 30, 2010 )

Pink will not be beautiful if …

During a self-introduction in a class of a junior high school, the student who was introducing himself in front of the class got a question about color from his classmate. ” What’s your favorite color?” A girl asked. ” White.” He answered. When the classmate continued, ” Why?” He replied: ” Because white is clean. It also feels cool in the sunny day.” For the next turns, most girls in the class answered ” Pink … !” when their classmates asked them about their favorite colors. One of the girls gave the reasons why she liked pink. She said, ” Pink is sweet.  It makes me beautiful.”

Is it  so ? Well, any color will not be interesting if it stands alone. Take for example pink color. Will pink be beautiful if everywhere we see is pink ? Imagine if the street you are walking is pink, the cars which are passing by are pink, the houses along the street are pink, the electric poles are pink, people everywhere are in pink, everything in the world is pink, just pink, no other colors.  Is it beautiful that way ?

Pink will only be beautiful if it is among other colors. We can see it beautiful because we can compare it with other colors. Can we see it beautiful if we can not compare it with other colors ? Or Can we say that pink is beautiful if we compare pink with pink ?

Therefore, we should treat all colors equally because one color will not be favorite color if there is no other colors to compare with. Different colors will harmonically beautify our life. They make our life so colorful and beautiful as well.

For that appreciation, we should say that all colors are our favorite colors when someone asks us what our favorite color is.

Sumaronly

February 24, 2009

I only know a little about Exposition Text.  Is my article above exposition ?

A Story About The Test

It was raining when I left my house for the test. This test was given free for about 20 teachers of our school. I had almost decided not to follow it because of the unfriendly weather. I even had sent two SMS-ies to few friends telling them my possibility not to come to test. But, one of the friends strongly stated that the test was important for all teachers of bilingual classes, especially me, an English teacher. Therefore I rode my motorcycle in the rain. I could not stop to take a shelter because I was already late. A long the way to the institution, I hoped that my jacket was thick enough to let my inside clothes dry.

I got to the English institution after riding around looking for the address. I saw motorcycles were parked in front of it. I recognized some of them as my friends’ . I assured me that I came to the right place. But, when I saw nobody through the door, an uncertainty appeared. Then, I saw somebody in the room. I asked her if I came to right place. She replied me affirmatively. I introduced her that I was one of the test participants form junior high school 1 of  Banjarbaru, and I apologized for being late. From the door of a classroom she gave me a sign with her fingers a direction for me to go to. So, I walked to the direction. I was a bit confused because I could not find what I was looking for. I smiled at some women in the waiting room and asked them if they were also the test participants. They shook heads. My mouth automatically said; ” Oh ? ” as the sign of a big question in my head. I had no choice but sat myself on the chair near them. I took off my wet jacket and tried to open a conversation with them. Thank God, a lady came toward me and I recognized her as an English instructor. She smiled at me and led me to a closed room. It was the room I was looking for !

I entered the room with the undried-clothes. I saw my friends had been there, doing the test. I smiled at them shamefully, felt guilty for being late. But no one cared, they seemed so serious with their test. The lady instructor pointed a chair for me to do the test. I sat at the chair and started to the test. She informed me that the listening section would be in the end of the entire test. I began to answer the questions about the English structure. I felt relaxed that time although I knew I was late and would not get additional time to do the test. English structure was the part I liked to do better than the other parts of the whole test. So, I answered question by question in relaxed feeling. The half-wet-clothes and the cool wind of the AC should have given me inconvenient condition, but I found out that they helped me focus my concentration well instead.

The lady instructor informed us that the time for doing the English structure was up, and that we had to start to do the reading section. It was 35 minutes to do the reading part. But I did not finish the structure test yet, so I decided to continue doing it and let the reading test delayed. I preferred doing the easier ones first.

It was time for listening section. The instructor briefly told us the reason why the listening was in the end of the entire test. She said it was because there were some test participants who came late. And, in order to give complete listening test for all participants equally, the listening tape was played in the end. I silently approved that policy. I would not be able to follow that TOEFL test completely, unless they had the policy.

The tape of the listening test was played. It sounded clearly. I understood well what the speakers said. I don’t always listen well in each of listening test, but the good sound system and good concentration helped me much do that listening test well.

The day still rained, although it was not as heavy as it had been. All of us finished the test. I found out that some other friends of mine had done the test in different room. They said they had the listening test played in the beginning of the whole test. They still talked about it while they were going home. I chatted a little with them because the day was almost dusk. I asked permission to leave for home earlier.

Days went by normally in our school. No one talked about the test. I also did not think about it, but one thing I knew for sure; I could do the test better than what I had done many years before in my old job, at the bona fide private English course.

The day of the announcement came. Some of us seemed like they did not care. Perhaps, they could guess the result of their test. Some of us were curious enough to know it. They were mostly from from the group of teachers who were involved in our school bilingual program. Where did I stand ? Well.., I think I was in the second group of us.

A friend told me that I got the highest score. “Really ? ” my heart said. i was not so sure because in our school there were two teachers who had  the master degree. I had the university degree only. To make everything clear, I contacted the English institution which had held the TOEFL test for us. And their answer was;”Yes, you get the overall score 540,  and that’s the highest score among all test participants from your school.”  When I went there, they gave me an envelope with my name on it. I could see my detailed score in it. Only my score ? I impatiently asked them the test score of my friends’. But they calmly replied;”Sorry, Ms. It’s confidential …”

Now what? 540 as the highest score. It doesn’t mean I don’t thank God if there’s still dissatisfaction inside. Because I heard that 550 is the minimum requirement to study abroad, so mine is still lower ! For junior high high school teacher, the score might be good enough. But, for sure I know that my teenage students who were once in my class can get higher than me.  Anyway…, that’s what it really is. Hopefully, it will be better next time. As it is said in a song ” Tomorrow will be better … “

Sumar

September 5, 2008

I’m glad I have enough time to write again

YOU HAVE MANY THINGS IN COMMON (Especially for Dita and Didin )

Reading the comments you have written for my article on this weblog, made me thinking about you; two great young ladies who were once in my class. Then, I started to think about you one by one. How surprising ! I found many similarities between you both ! It might be just a coincidence or is it really a wonder ? I don’t know for sure. Both of you do not know each other and you both have never met (hopefully, you both will meet someday). But let me show you the following list to make you see how similar you really are :

1.   You are both at about  the same age ( 21 and 22 years old )

2.   You both have similar birthday ( April 15 and March 13 )

3.  You are both Javanese descendants

4.  Both of you are the oldest child in your family

5.  Both of your nicknames begin with letter ‘D’ ( Dita and Didin )

6.  You both are excellent English debaters

7.  You both are students with excellent achievements

8.  You have ever taken English course with native speakers

9.  You celebrated your seventeenth birthdays specially

10. You are in America now

11. You know me well ( You both have ever told me your crush, and I have told you mine as a return he he.. Don’t worry Girls, the secrets of yours are safe with me )

12. You like Indonesian food ( and familiar with cendol, dodol and pentol )

13. You have ever shared your candy to me ( as I have shared one to you )

What else? Oh, ya!

14. You care me much ( Dita, you’ve ever looked worried to see some pimples on my face and you suggested me a way to get rid of them, you were still elementary school student at that time ! And Didin, you never forget to visit me every Lebaran, and take some friends with you to visit me. Once, you helped me prepare drink for them and you undeliberately poured unboiled-water into the syrup ! We both realized it when it was too late to tell them. So, we just let it be. Thank God they did not get stomachache. Well, that’s just one example of the kindness of yours )

I know there are millions of people similar in the world but I do not know them, so i do not pay attention on their similarities. However, finding out the similarities between make me really concerned.  The fact is new discovery for me, although I have known  you both since a  long time ago.  And I am amazed to know this.  So far,  I know you as  two  special  girls  with their own  strengths and  weaknesses . I see you as two separated individual in different moment  and situation. So, it never matters  whether you are similar or not. But seeing your names and comments together on my article every time I open my web, made me think . And, this is the result of my thinking…  Well,  HAPPY BIRTHDAY WONDERFUL GIRLS … ( although it’s late )!! KEEP GETTING ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOUR STUDY .. !

Sumar

April 30, 2008

What an ordinary teacher can do for extra-ordinary students

MIPA BILINGUAL PROGRAM IN SMPN 1 BANJARBARU

   In the end of 2007, our school headmaster started to introduce new program in our school, SMPN 1 Banjarbaru. It is a program of using English language not only for English subject but also for mathematic and science subject (MIPA). It is a government program for certain high schools in Indonesia. And our school is the first junior high school in the district which starts to apply this program. It is not an easy job for a school to have bilingual program. Therefore, the former headmaster of our school chose not to apply this program, although it has been offered to us since two years ago. Fortunately, the new headmaster of our school agreed to start this program in our school. But actually, the beginning idea came from teachers to have it applied in SMPN 1 Banjarbaru.

In November last year, all English and MIPA teachers of our school were so busy attending some trainings of bilingual program. We invited some speakers who had known more about this program to share their knowledge to us. There were speakers from The Educational Department, from Unlversity of Lambung Mangkurat, also teachers from school that had applied bilingual program earlier. Then, we also held an urgent English course. English teachers of our school had to give English lessons for our mathematic and science teachers. We can actually send the MIPA teachers to follow an English course at a bona fide English course in town, but because our school has very limited budget for this program so we prefer to use our own human resource, that English teachers, to do this job. Later, when the government have supported our school with enough budget, we will send our MIPA teachers out to learn English.

As one of the English teachers in our school, I take part seriouslyto have this program run successfully. During the preparation of this program last year, my English colleagues and I helped the MIPA teachers up grade their English by giving them extra lessons after school. These lessons included the material about common English language used in teaching and learning process. Also, material of general English to help them accustomed to speak English in daily activities.

In January this year, our headmaster chose some English and MIPA teachers to be in a core team of the bilingual program. Mrs.Fakhriati, the first English teacher, was chosen to assist two mathematic teachers, Mrs.Dasmi Nil Wardah and Mrs.Titi Wahyu. And I,the second English teacher, was chosen to assist two science teachers, Mrs.Rusmilu Gaya Murti and Mrs.Lisna Fara Wahdini. Each of the English teachers has to help the MIPA teachers to teach mathematic and science lessons well in English.

I, automatically, have double jobs now, my main job as a second grade English teacher and my additional job as English colleague in science team. I have 28 teaching hours a week now; 16 hours from the main job and 12 hours from the additional job. I try to cooperate well with Mrs.Rusmilu and Mrs.Dini. They mostly need my help in translating the Indonesian science material into English. They also need me to help the students to use correct English answers for each questions from them.

Compared to mathematic team, science team have more English language to comprehend. It is because in mathematics there are more numbers to deal with than language to deal with. Fortunately, symbols of number are the same both in Indonesia and in English. I give my salute to my science colleagues who have good enthusiasm in doing their jobs. They really work hard to perform science lesson in English language. Mrs.Rusmilu might feel this job is a big respondsibility for her, that is why she thinks hard of it most of the time. And it might be the reason why she is not in her fit condition now. Mrs.Dini and I are very sorry for her. A week ago Mrs.Fakhriati from the mathematic team, was also similar. She had to get a medical treatment for over a week, for her unhealthy condition. She works very hard for this bilingual program. from the beginning she was one of the teachers who made a hard effort to have this program applied in our school. Now, she also has 28 hours to teach in a week. In the future, we hope we will be able to be strong enough to do this job well, so that in the year 2010 our school will have the real bilingual program that requires all teachers of all subjects to speak English during the teaching and learning process. Amiin…

Sumaryani

February 28,2008

NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

Learning things are started since someone is a baby. He learns how to communicate with others by using his cry. Then, as his age

increases, the ability to communicate also increases. A toddler starts to be able to use a language, it is usually the language of his mother (mother tongue). At the same time, the very young child learns about things around him. He learns how to play with toys, balls, games etc. And the learning process will continue on and on, till the unlimited time.

Now, it is the era of sophisticated technology. Electronic things, as the examples of technology, are developed year by year, month by month, week by week, or even day by day. Things which might not exist yesterday, might exist today. Things which were not needed yesterday, are needed today. Therefore, as an human being who lives in the era of sophisticated technology, someone has to learn how to deal with those things (if he does not want to be left behind). The problem is the ability to learn of old people is not the same as young people. In at about 40 years old, someone might have different enthusiasm, courage, or ability from a teenager or a young person. The effect is shown in the process of learning technology product. A 40-year-old-person tends to learn things slower than a teenager or a young person.

I am, personally, not a young person and live in the era of sophisticated technology. I, like it or not, have to learn how to use the product of technology. Frankly I tell you that I need longer time to learn it. And it gets worse because I cannot afford to buy the product, right now (I hope I can afford it soon). I might be able to go to public places where I can learn to use the things, but it, of course, spends more time, especially when I have lots of things to do after work ! What I actually want to say is, I can’t learn how to use internet faster. My students seem like they can do it more quickly and easily. Some of my friends can also learn it quickly. Some members of my family have also been able to operate it well, too ! So, Why do I learn slowly? Well, I don’t have to push myself that hard. I know I learn this thing quite alright, I just need some time more because I can’t learn thing which must be done in certain time required. I can’t learn thing under pressure. I can 0nly learn thing relaxingly. So, I’m sure I will be able to operate internet very well someday. It’s never too late to learn ……

February 26, 2008. while watching students doing their try-out examination.

Sumar