CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Problem

Each of teaching and learning process has goals to improve success in

learning. In it process, teacher participation as instructor and students as leaner are

needed. In other words, in learning activities the involvement of teacher and students

are needed. The important thing in teaching and learning process is located on

students. Besides accept the material from teacher, students also are hoped be active

participate to support it learning process. Example, student participation in reading

activity, discussion, answering teacher’s question, do the work task, look for subject

material, and do school task in order students can involve both of physically and

mentality. The students’ involvement in teaching and learning process is one of the

decisive factors in success learning. The higher the involvement of student in

teaching and learning process the result of study should be reached by easily.

In this case writer would implement Contextual Teaching and Learning

(CTL) as one of method in learning process. By assuming that student can more

understand easily about simple present tense concept and using of it. Contextual

Teaching and Learning (CTL) is a learning system based on philosophy that student

able to reserve the lesson, which if they can catch the meaning in academic material

they were accepted and they catch the meaning in school tasks.

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On the other hand, awareness needed in using contextual approach in leaning

process based on fact that the majority of student unable to correlate between what

they have learn and how they use it in life world. It’s caused by the understanding of

academicals concept they learn is just something abstract, doesn’t touch their life

need, even in environmental or society. The learning they were got just memorizing

from some topics, but did not followed by deep understanding that can implemented

when they ought to faced by the new situation in their life.

Therefore, there are many beneficial of implementing Contextual Teaching

and Learning (CTL) such as experiential learning, real world education, and work

together, active learning, sharing with friend, and joyful learning. In order words,

Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) is make student to be critical think and

creative think.

From the explanation above, the writer will discuss about “Contextual

Teaching and Learning (CTL) to Improve Students’ Understanding in Simple Present

Tense Concept” which is conducted at first grade of SMPN 13 Tanjung Jabung

Timur.

1.2 Identification of the Problem

Based on the background above, the writer identifies the problem as follow:

Using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) approach.

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1.3 Limitation of the Problem

In this research the writer limits only on:

1. Using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) to Improve Students’

Understanding in Simple Present Tense (Active) Concept at first grade of

SMPN 13 Tanjung Jabung Timur in academic year 2011/2012.

2. Discuss in Verbal Pattern of simple present

3. Which were limited on the result of answering questionnaire that given by

writer

1.4 Formulation of the Problem

Dealing with limitation of the problem, the writer would like to formulate

the problem in the following question: Is there Contextual Teaching and Learning

(CTL) to students in learning simple present tense?

1.5 Objective of the Research

The objectives of the research could be formulated as follow:

1. To find out simple present into Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL)

method.

2. To find out how many percents does Contextual Teaching and Learning

(CTL) useful to the students of learning simple present.

1.6 Significance of the Research

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1. For the English teachers of first grade SMPN 13 Tanjung Jabung Timur, the

research can be used as a means to improve the students’ involvement in the

English teaching-learning process in encouraging the achievement of students’

learning output in English.

2. For other teachers, either at SMPN 13 Tanjung Jabung Timur or at other

schools, the research can be used as a model in improving the students’

involvement in the English teaching-learning process.

3. For the writer herself, the research can develop her mind through the problem-

solving process and be a valuable experience related to her knowledge in

research on education and his life and experience.

1.7 Definition of the key Terms

1. Contextual Teaching and Learning

Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) is a holistic learning process

and aims to help students to understand the meaning of teaching materials by

linking it to the context of their daily lives (personal context, social and

cultural), so that students have the knowledge / skills to a dynamic and

flexible actively construct their own understanding.

CTL called contextual approach because the concept of learning that

helps teachers relate the content to be studied with real-world situations

students and encourage students to make connections between the knowledge

he has with the application in their lives as members of society.

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2. Students` Understanding Improvement

Understanding the student in question here is the ability of students to

understand the material on Simple Present. How students can improve their

ability to apply the Simple Present to speak or use English.

3. Simple Present

The simple present says that something was true in the past, is true in

the present and will be true in the future.

1.8 Hypothesis

The hypotheses of this thesis are:

a. Ho : There is no using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) as

independent variable to student of learning simple present tense as

dependent variable.

b. Ha : There is using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) as

independent variable to student of learning simple present tense as

dependent variable.

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