The Implementation of Quantum Teaching Method to Improve the Vocabulary Achievement of the Fifth Grade Students

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Problem

In the globalization era, English as an international language has become very important for the object of study. Everybody knows that language is one of the ways to communicate. Predictably, those who are able to communicate well using English will get a lot of advantage in future. In Indonesia, English is one of the compulsory subjects which is taught in junior high school, senior high school and university as the first foreign language. In addition, it is taught in elementary school as one of the local content.

Karsidi (2007:14) states that in the application of KTSP English becomes a local subject and it must be taught from the first grade until the sixth grade for the students in the elementary school. It means that English becomes an important subject which is taught at elementary school. The aim of teaching English in the elementary school is to motivate them to be ready and have self confidence in learning English at higher level of education. The students of elementary school just learn English in the simple pattern (vocabulary, grammar, etc.) since they learn it for the first time.

According to Harmer (2001:38) in Octaviany (2007:2), young learner especially those up to the ages of nine to ten years learn differently from the older learners, adolescents, and adult. They easily get bored, lose interest after ten minutes or so. So in teaching activity, teachers have to be able to present an interesting material for the students and they have to know how to apply it especially for young learners. The teachers should try to revive the student’s attention and make them creative and active.

In learning English students have to learn four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and wrinting. They also have to learn about three language elements; structure, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Vocabulary is one of the language components that has a role in the mastery and use of language skills. Tarigan...