Language teaching and
learning deal with many factors in principles. This may cause several questions
related to it. Before we understand on the principles of language teaching and
learning, we must know about language learning. What do we know about language
learning? In outside of context any classroom, all children who are repeatedly
exposed to a language will in normal circumstances learn it (Jeremy Harmer,
2002:24). Basically, the children who learn a language, they will do
unconsciously rather than a form a study. And adults who learn language without
studying, they will be able to use language. In one side, it will be a point
that sometimes they still have more trouble in pronunciation and grammar, but
at least they still able communicate fluently than younger learners.
And still in Harmer’s state, the students who learn
and acquire language in outside classroom, they will share certain similarities
in their learning experiences. It is caused of they are usually exposed to
language that they more or less understand, and they are also motivated to
learn the language in order to be able to communicate and the last they are
given a chance to use the language they are learning.
It seems complicated, but in reality the children who
acquire language outside of classroom (from their milieu) will share it when
they learn a language in the classroom. Like as in my experience when I got
English language class in senior high school. When I learnt it in the class, I
tried to share my words or vocabulary that I know from my reading or get from
outside of classroom to my friend. Actually, I did not know how to say it. But
the condition (in language class) forced me and other students to use and
produce it. We are exposed and motivated to learn language and in the last we
are expected to use it. But unfortunately, the teacher did not give us many
chances to use it well.
What elements are necessary for successful language
learning in the classroom? Harmer said in his book, How to Teach
English (2002:25) that there are three elements that are needed to be
present in language classroom to help students effectively, Engage, Study, and
Activate. Engage is the point where the teacher acts to raise the students’
interest, involving their emotions. While, study is a point for the
students are asked to focus language (or information). And activate is
an exercises and activities which are designed to get students using language
communicatively.
In this case, the teacher are demanded to composite
these elements. They hope to teach students in language learning with those
elements compactly. In other words, every element connected each other. It is
mean that one element can not be deleted from others. It may be modified and
has different order, but of course the whole language learning process are
necessary need all those elements.
In fact, so many teachers who design their language
learning process in the classroom with few elements from those elements. In
other words, they only do engage and study without activate. In
line with my experience in English language class, my teacher usually does engage
us to learn well, even sometimes give us support, and doing study. But,
for doing activate was rarely done. Actually, teacher gave us the input in a
learning process but, they are seldom design what good exercise that would be
given for us.
And the question related to language teaching, what
are the principles in language teaching? Brown (2001:54) in Teaching by
Principles said that there are three principles in language teaching. The
first principle is cognitive principle, which relate mainly to mental and
intellectual function. The second is affective principle, which is about the
relationship in a community of learners and about the emotional ties between
language and culture. The last but not least is linguistic principle, which is
about how learners deal with these complex linguistic system.
From those principles, the teacher are demanded to
know and understand how can they kept together these principles in same times.
It must a foundation of their knowledge that in teaching has these principles
that become assessment to the students’ ability in learning. It is important to
be understood by teacher to do assess their student in learning process.
Because, when the teacher trades on one principle only, it will make mistakes
in learning process and influence to their student’s learning model.
So, how the teacher can understand and apply those
elements optimally? Principally, when the teacher begins their job as a
teacher, they must know what they want to do and how to do it. According to
Brown (2001:55), in every principle involving the principles focus. It will
help the teacher to understand each principle easier by its part. Like is in
cognitive principles, which is related to the mental and intellectual function,
the gist from that point is to get meaningful learning. Meaningful learning
will lead toward better long term retention than rote learning (2001:57).
The actual happen today is teacher’s condition that
are not still aware the important of those principles. Sometimes, there are
teachers that deem the student who can be assessed ‘smart’ is seen from their
score in their rapport only. It shows that the teacher only deem them from
their cognitive principles.
In what situation, teacher can assess the students’
ability with those principles? Everyone has the different ability, especially
in language. Sometimes, the one can speak not always well in writing, and
inversely. It is a teacher’s job to assess them based on the principles of
language teaching. The teacher can adapt the condition from their understanding
of principle of language teaching. Sometimes, cognitive principle can dominate
other principle, but make sure that all principles of teaching can be applied
well by teacher in assessing students’ ability.
