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