Article INTRODUCING ENGLISH TO THE CHILDREN THROUGH SINGING

Name:                         Andrayani

Registered Number:    A 121 10 016

Class:                         A’10

Subject:                     Writing IV

INTRODUCING ENGLISH TO THE CHILDREN THROUGH SINGING

A.    Background

Lately, the popular of English has spread. All people around the world know English. In each country English is not a strange language but consider it either as a second language or foreign language. One of the factors that influence the outstanding of English is technology’s advanced. As we know that now is a globalization era where all things can easily find by using technology. In using technology the user should know first about English because most of them are use English. That is why, now people (adults) are vie to learn it either join a course or take it as a major in college. Then especially for children the parents have many techniques in teaching them about English.

In Indonesia, English as a foreign language so the way to teach it is little difficult if we compare between the country where English as a second language. So, in attracting the children’s attention, the parents should have many methods that are going to use. Some common ways are play games, tell a story, persuade the children to enroll English course and through singing.

       Of course, it is different between teaching adults and children. Facing the adult might not need extra efforts but not for children. So, a creative parent should choose what the appropriate way is for the child in learning English. Sometime, some children do not like play a game especially when they have a problem, in another word they are bad mood or feel tired after doing something. Jeremy Harmer (2000:1) indicate “in order to be a good teachers, they should make their lesson interesting so you don’t fall asleep in them”. Based on the Jeremi Harmer state, we can conclude that the parents as a teacher should choose what the best way in the condition is like that.

       One of the common techniques in studying English for the children is singing. Singing can be done everywhere and every time. Almost all children like singing because by singing they will be happy and more interested to study. Kaka Zepe (http://www.lagu2anak.com) (online, retrieved on April 2012) states “Lagu adalah bahasa yang universal. Dengan lagu seorang seniman bisa membius banyak orang dan mempengaruhi perasaan pendengarnya. Lagu yang menggunakan lirik dengan bahasa yang tidak kita kenal pun bisa menyentuh perasaan kita, apalgi bila kita memahami makna yang terdapat di dalam lagu tersebut”.

       Based on explanation above, singing is the best way to do in teaching the children about English because singing has melody which can change the children feeling from boring to glad even though the parents sing an English song. The way of parents use this method also gives influence toward the result later on. So, the more creative parents are needed here.

       The researcher chooses this topic, Introducing English to the children through singing because singing is the easy thing to do and almost all people either men or women ever singing even though not in the stage. That is why, singing is the best way. In this method the role of parents is needed. The researcher thinks that the children of course close to their parents. This opportunity should be used by the parents in order to teach their children about English. Besides that, when the parents sing together with them they will be more close to the parents. Also, the feeling of loving each other will be increase.  

Teaching native language must be different with foreign language. For instance, between Indonesian and English. Abdul Kadir Mubarak (2002:52) stated Pembelajaran bahasa Inggris berbeda dari pembelajaran bahasa Indonesia. Perbedaan yang paling signifikan adalah pada aspek pemerolehan bahasa.

Based on the explanation above, the researcher can conclude that studying native language is easier than foreign language. For the children, they can learn it through their enviroment while English not. In order to make them accustom to the English, the parents must do this technique regularly because it is an easier thing to do.

B.    Method

This study tries to prove that singing is the best way that the parents should apply in introducing English. Not only introduce even make them understand what the song is talking about. Singing of course has melody that can attract children’s attention to the song. In applying this method of course the parent as teacher at home should choose some songs that she/ he thinks are appropriate song for the children at the age like them.

Abdul Kadir Mubarak (2002:53) stated ...metode pendekatan yang tidak sesuai akan mengakibatkan hasil belajar yang tidak memuaskan. Misalnya, dalam pembelajaran bahasa Inggris dikenal metode Suggestopedia. ...Pendekatan ini sangat memepertimbangkan faktor emosi, perasaan, dan sikap anak didik.

The researcher aware that right now there are many English songs either for adults or children. That is why, the parents should be selective one. In choosing some English songs, the parents also pick the songs that adjust to the children’s ages. For instance, if the children still at the early ages the Alphabet song (a, b, c, etc.) might be appropriate. If the parents have picked out an appropriate song for their children, the result will be satisfied. Take the example, the parents teach the children with English alphabet songs. The parents in singing that song can provide the picture of the alphabets per each character. If like that, the children can get four benefits in one technique they are, know the alphabet, singing as well, study, and entertain their selves. There are many benefits that the children can achieve if the parents use this technique, those are some of them.

C.     Findings and Discussion

In Indonesia, the more common way to teach English is by using game means that use singing technique is rarely aplly in some kindergarten, etc. That is why, the researcher try to prove that by singing the children can easily understand English as well. In this technique the parents’ role are needed because parents are the one who closer to their children. Also, can make this technique more effective because singing can be done anywhere and anytime. The parents can singing while they are going to bed, take bath, playing, etc.

English has some components that the people who want to learn English should master them first eventhough not all. In this research, the researcher try to prove that by using this technique the children slow down can understand them espesially in mastery the vocabularies.

The role of vocabularies in mastering a language is very significant. Without vocabularies we can do nothing because vocabularies like the heart of the language. In mastering English vocabularies of course we have to memorize all of them. That is why, introducing English at the early age is very important because it can make them easy to understand when they are going to be adult one.

The researcher realize that English has many vocabularies. Also, it has class of words that divide the word to be a verb, adjective, noun, adverb etc. So, in teaching children those things are considered important. The parents do not need to explain more detail but only introducing. As the result, the children will know that actually English has some rule like that. In order to make clear the explanation, the parents are permitted to combine between Indonesian and English. For instace, the song Twinkle- twinkle litle star

Twinkle, twinkle litle star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle litle star

How I wonder what you are

In the song above there are twenty-one words that have different cllass of words. Some of the classes word in English are noun, adjective, adverb, article, preposition, etc. Take the example, the first contains nouns (twinkle, star) and adjective (litle). Then, in the second line composes  adverb (how), nouns (I, you, wonder). Furthermore, in line three there are adverb (up, so), nouns (above, world), article (the) and adjective (high). Then for the fourth line contains verb (like), articles (a, the), nouns (diamond, sky) and preposition (in).

Of course, in teaching them about the English’s class of words, the parents do not need to teach them very detail. But, it just for additional knowledge about English for them. Furthermore, the parents should give another example in Indonesian, such as tell the Indonesian’s noun like meja, kursi, papan, etc.     

By singing that song the parents have already introduced English to their children. Not only introducing but also developing their mastery of English vocabularies. In applying this technique the parents are expected to make a gesture in order to make their’s comprehension more complete. For instance, when the parents mention star, they can directly point the star out in the sky in outside  or provide the picture of the star.

Teaching English through singing also train the children’s ability in pronouncing the words. As we know that English has different way between spelling and pronouncing it self. So, the parents should singing with a good prononciation. Take the example, the Alphabet song

A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
ei:	bi:	si:	di:	i:	ef	ji	eith	ai
J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R
ji:	kei	el	em	en	ou	Pi:	kyu	a:
S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
es	ti:	yu:	vi:	dablyu	eks	wai	sed

           

            The way to pronounce the words in English is very importance. If we missspeak or the way we pronaunce the word is incorrect the meaning will be change. There are many words in English have similiar pronounciation for instance, Back and Bag. That is why, the way to pronounce English’s words must be done at the beggining. The song above is an Alphabet song that the parents use not only for introducing but also train children’s tongue to pronounce the letter in English as well.  It can help perents in teaching them about the pronounciation. Bellow are some English songs for children:

Animal

Anjing dog, kucing cat, kupu- kupu itu butterfly,

Ular snack, semut ant, capung itu dragonfly

The Part of Body

Head, shoulders, kness and foot 2x

Eyes, ears, nose, mouth

Litle Monkey

Five litle mongkey jumping on the bed

One fell of and bumpkiest head

Mamy called doctor and the doctor said

No more mongkies jumping on the bed

D.    Conclusion

There are many techniques in introducing English to the children. One of them is through singing. In applying this way the role of parents as the people who are near to them is needed. Also, the parents must select the appropriate songs for their children because now there are many English songs that have spread in Indonesian. Those songs  could not educated that is why are not match for the children.

Almost all children like singing. It is becaused singing can be done every where and every time. Besides that, there are many benefits that the parents particularly for the children in applying this technique. Some of them are the children not only know the English but this tecnique also guide them in introducing the class of word and the prononciation.

In teaching children about English, the parents should choose the appropriate time and do it regularly or routine. Because this technique is really need practice as well like many people says the more you are practice the better you will be. So, always ask them to sing together even though only a simple song. Finally, do not surrender to teach them about English in using an interesting technique.  

E.     References

Zepe. 2012. Lagu- lagu anak. <http://www.lagu2anak.com> [27/3/10]

Heremy, J. 2001. ____________ . The Way to Teaching Children. Essex: Longman.