Game As a Media Learning English For Young Learners
Learning
is a process of both human and animals can be seen in a simple learning process of living things is when their behavior based on experience change. It is also
expressed by Gage (1984), starting learning is a process in which an organism
changes its behavior as a result of experiences. Learn experience in the life
of a person to do something, or take an action premised is a result of a
learning process, one of the learning process that cannot be separated from
human life is language learning. Language is the method of expressing ideas and
emotions in the form of signs and symbols. These signs and symbols are used to
encode and decode the information. There are many languages spoken in the
world. The first language learned by a baby is his or her mother tongue. It is
the language, which he or she listens to from his or her birth. Any other
language learned or acquired is known as the second language. English is one
language that is widely used throughout the world and is an international
language. English is very appropriate to be used as a second language.
Learning
style is the key to developing children’s ability to learn. If children are
familiar with their own learning styles, then they can take important steps to
help themselves to learn faster and easier and we can achieve by using visual
learning styles that make it possible to use media. Media education in general is
a teaching and learning tool, everything that can be used to stimulate thoughts,
feelings, concerns and abilities or skills of learners so as to facilitate the
process of learning. This limitation is quite broad and includes in-depth
understanding of the source, the environment, human beings and the method used
for the purpose of learning / training. Meanwhile, according to Briggs (1977)
is a physical means of learning media to deliver content / learning materials
such as books, movies, videos and so on. Then, according to the National
Education Association (1969) revealed that learning is a means of communication
media in print and point of view heard, including technology hardware.
This
essay discusses the media can make it easier for young learners to learn
English. First, it discusses the second language acquisition young learners.
Second, it discusses how the game or another media make it easier for children
to learn second language, and third the effectiveness of the English learning
media game for young learners.
The
Second Language Acquisition Young Learners
Second
language acquisition (SLA) and learning is learning and acquisition of a second
language once the mother tongue or first language acquisition is established.
SLA is the process of learning other languages in addition to the native
language. For instance, a child who speaks Hindi as the mother tongue starts learning
English when he starts going to school. English is learned by the process of
second language acquisition. In fact, a young child can learn a second language
faster than an adult can learn the same language.
The
definition of second language acquisition and learning describes the process of
understanding, speaking and writing another language fluently. The ability to
communicate in a second language is becoming an essential skill in today’s
world.
Through
most scholars use the terms “second language learning" and “language
acquisition" interchangeably, actually these terms differ. Language
learning refers to the formal learning of a language in the classroom. On the
other hand, language acquisition means acquiring the language with little or no
formal training or learning.
If
you go to a foreign land where people speak a different language from your
native language, you need to acquire that foreign language. It can be done with
little formal learning of the language through your everyday interaction with the
native peoples in the market place, work place, parks or anywhere else. This is
true for learning spoken language.
A
second language can be acquired at any time after a child has developed
language skills. A second language is often called the target language while
the native language is known as “L1.”
The
second language can be introduced in following ways
·
introduced by speakers of the second
language
·
introduced as a second language that is
part of the curriculum at school
There
are several things to consideration when teaching a second language. These
factors may include the language spoken at home, the willingness of the
learner, the reason to learn the second language (i.e., learning at school, for
work, to talk to friends or others).
How
The Game Or Another Media Make It Easier For Children To Learn Second Language
There
are many methods and techniques to make the English teaching –learning process
enjoyable and interesting. One of them is using game. A game is simplified,
operational model of the real life situation that provides students with
vicarious participation in a variety roles and events (Gerlach and Ely,
1980:380-381). While, Hadfield (1995: 5) claims that a game is an activity with
rules, a goal, and an element of fun.
A
game has many benefits toward language learning. It offers students a
fun-filled and relaxing learning atmosphere. After learning and practicing new
vocabulary, students have the opportunity to use language in a non-stressful
way (Uberman,1998). While playing games, the children's attention is on the
message, not on the language. Rather than paying attention to the correctness
of linguistic forms, most participants will do all they can to win. This eases
the fear of negative evaluation, the concern of being negatively judged in public,
and which is one of the main factors inhibiting language learners from using
the target language in front of other people (Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope,1986).
In a game-oriented context, anxiety is reduced and speech fluency is
generated--thus communicative competence is achieved.
Games
are fun and they make the learning process closer to the acquisition process,
which makes children learn in a more natural way. Games can encourage,
entertain, teach, and promote fluency and communicative skills. It has high
motivation because it is amusing and interesting.
The
Effectiveness Of The English Learning Media Game For Young Learners
According to
Richard-Amato (1996), even though games are often associated with fun, we
should not lose sight of their pedagogical values, particularly in second
language teaching. Games are effective because they provide motivation, lower
students' stress, and give them the opportunity for real communication.
The main reason for learning English using a game is to
trigger the competitive nature of students so that students will not lose their
students, so students will continue to learn and improve their ability so that
they are not inferior to others. Using the game as a tool in learning will
improve the participation of students in learning especially on young learners.
In addition to the reasons above, using games as a medium
in learning will reduce the level of stress on students as they follow the
lessons happily without any psychic distress. Schultz (1988) said that
"... Stress is a
major hindrance in language learning process. This process [Learning language
in traditional way] is by its nature time consuming and stress provocing......
Raise the stress level to a point at which it with with student attention and
efficiency and undermines motivation. ..... One method has been developed to
make students forget that they are in class.... Relax students by engaging them
in stress-reducing task (games). "
When learning students will experience pressure because
they will face the language structure they do not know. Therefore, the student
will feel uncomfortable and depressed, so it will affect the students ' ability
in learning. Thus, by making the game as a medium in language learning is very
helpful because it will reduce the pressure that is in the minds of students so
that it will improve the ability of students in the language.
Conclusions
SLA
is the process of learning other languages in addition to the native language.
In fact, a young child can learn a second language faster than an adult can
learn the same language. The definition of second language acquisition and
learning describes the process of understanding, speaking and writing another
language fluently. The ability to communicate in a second language is becoming
an essential skill in today’s world. Through most scholars use the terms
“second language learning" and “language acquisition"
interchangeably, actually these terms differ. On the other hand, language
acquisition means acquiring the language with little or no formal training or
learning. If you go to a foreign land where people speak a different language
from your native language, you need to acquire that foreign language. A second
language can be acquired at any time after a child has developed language skills.
There are several things to consideration when teaching a second language.
There
are many methods and techniques to make the English teaching –learning process
enjoyable and interesting. While playing games, the children's attention is on
the message, not on the language. In a game-oriented context, anxiety is
reduced and speech fluency is generated--thus communicative competence is
achieved. Games are fun and they make the learning process closer to the
acquisition process, which makes children learn in a more natural way. Games
can encourage, entertain, teach, and promote fluency and communicative skills.
According
to Richard-Amato (1996), even though games are often associated with fun, we
should not lose sight of their pedagogical values, particularly in second
language teaching. Games are effective because they provide motivation, lower
students' stress, and give them the opportunity for real communication. The
main reason for learning English using a game is to trigger the competitive
nature of students so that students will not lose their students, so students
will continue to learn and improve their ability so that they are not inferior
to others. Using the game as a tool in learning will improve the participation
of students in learning especially on young learners. In addition to the
reasons above, using games as a medium in learning will reduce the level of
stress on students as they follow the lessons happily without any psychic
distress. Stress is a major hindrance in language learning process. This
process [Learning language in traditional way] is by its nature time consuming
and stress provocing..... When learning students will experience pressure
because they will face the language structure they do not know. Therefore, the
student will feel uncomfortable and depressed, so it will affect the students '
ability in learning.
References
Arum
Nisma Wulanjani. (2016, Maret). The Use of Vocabulary-Games in
Improving
Children’s Vocabulary in English Language Learning. Retrieved from https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/197194-EN-the-use-of-vocabulary-games-in-improving.pdf
Deesri,
Angkana. 2002. Games In The ESL And EFL Class. The Internet TESL
Journal,
Vol. VIII, No. 9, September 2002. Retrieved November 12, 2010, from http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Deesri-Games.html
Definition
of Second Language Acquisition and Learning. Retrieved March 13,
2020,
from Fluentu web site:
Kenapa
Gaya Belajar Penting Untuk Kita Ketahui. Retrieved April 15,
2020,
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