A study of the use of group work in the teaching of English at MAN I Bungah

ABSTRACT

This study is focused on teaching and learning process in English class using group work technique. Group work technique is a teaching process in which students are divided into several small groups in order to get them leam together. The technique in teaching process is quite important to manage classroom for a convenient circumstance in learning. The application of this technique in the teaching of English is really helpful for students to use their language for communication and interaction among students. These two major aspects; using language expression and arriving at a solution; are the productivity value of group work» which cannot be done individually.

This study was conducted to answer the following two problems; (1) the use of group work technique in teaching English and (2) the most effective activity of group work for teaching and learning English. In this case» this study applied qualitative method to establish classroom research for analyzing process of teaching English and learning activity within group work technique.

In collecting data, several instruments were used, namely, observation, interview and document analysis. The data were organized into teaching language skills and components using group work and procedure of managing group session. Here» the writer established several steps including; analyzing the whole data based on group work technique in teaching and learning process, classifying the data based on group work activity and teaching English components and skills» taking some required data randomly, which involve teaching and learning English within group work application and discussing the data in detail.

Finally» the researcher found that (1) group work technique was effective in organizing and managing class activity in order to achieve an interesting and active learning climate and efficient to provide students with opportunities for practicing their language in communicating with others toward learning with group. In this case, English teachers applied a group activity to teach particular English materials by means of organizing and classifying particular English materials for students to leam with group work and practicing it in group activity and (2) the most effective group activity for learning English was round table technique because it enabled students to interact intensively when they sat face-to-face in circle. Teachers’ experience realized that round table was effective in giving students a chance to practice their language as they were in discussion session.