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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Background of the Research

English as international language has realized people as a vital means of 

communication. In international congress and gatherings, English is more often used

than any other languages. Since English is used in many special important world

events, this situation forces all people in the world to know English.

Actually, there are four skills that must be mastered by language learners in

learning language; speaking, reading, writing and listening. Especially in teaching

and learning English, most of English teachers and learners consider that listening is

the hardest task to be taught and learnt. In term of teaching listening, a teacher has to

really understand what underlies listening like selecting teaching technique, method

and material to be presented in class in order to get good teaching achievement

(Renandya, 2003:23).

Listening is a process of receiving, interpreting and reacting to a message

received from the speaker. It is different from hearing: Hearing is natural, but

listening requires effort. We use the ear for listening but it is really in the mind that

the message is perceived. Therefore listening is closely linked with perception and is

an intellectual and positive activity. Hearing is passive while listening is active.

Hearing which is solely dependent on the ears is a physical act – it is merely the

vibration of sound waves on the eardrums followed by the firing of electrochemical

impulses in the brain. But the interpretation of sound signals is a cognitive act and

depends upon the knowledge of the listener and attitude towards the sender.

 

Listening is an important skill because successful communication depends on

not only receiving messages but also decoding them correctly. And also Listening is

an essential management and leadership skill and no communication process is

complete without listening. Effective listening is extremely important for students as

they spend most of their time listening to lecturer.

For professionals, the higher the position they get, the greater the listening

responsibility they need. In some companies, the listening index of recruits may be

measured before recruitment. It is important to listen carefully to the instructions of 

one’s superiors at the workplace. We can also measure the morale and enthusiasm of 

coworkers and subordinates by listening closely to them. On a personal level, a

  person who listens and pays attention is rated as highly popular and socially

compatible.

On the other hand, the development of technology right now is on the way. It

can influence on human life at all sectors. Information technology has been used

from education sector until business, many information of intellectual, practical,

technical, and entertainment are promoted on electronic audio visual as on television,

radio, and internet. The rapid development of computer technology has altered the

way of education that is being delivered.

This can be seen in our everyday English classroom where the combination

of various media attributes of the computer such as educational courseware, online

web page learning, interactive language games, animated flash videos and movie are

 being widely employed for the language learning purposes. Several studies explored

the influence of technology and concluded that technology could motivate students in

 

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learning (Nunan, 1999:121).

Based on explanation above, the reason why the researcher chose this title is

 because based on the researcher’s experience when conducting teaching practice at

SMP N 5 Bireuen, the researcher found her students’ listening skill are very bad.

They are difficult to understand even an English word that the researcher said when

the researcher spoke English in class. Moreover they remain still responding English

class. They are really not interested and excited in studying English. Furthermore,

realizing how essential listening skill for those who study English, the researcher 

would like to improve her students’ listening skill by using Multimedia tools,

especially laptop and tape recorder. Perhaps by applying the multimedia tools in

teaching listening in the class, it can lead the students to be better in English learning

and communication and improves their listening skill.

1.2 The Problem of the Research

The problems of this research are in the following:

1. Can the second year students of SMP N 5 Bireuen improve their listening

ability when the teacher uses multimedia in teaching listening?

2. What are the advantages of using multimedia in teaching listening to the

second year students of SMP 5 Bireuen?

1.3 The Purpose of the Research

The purposes of this research are as follows:

1. To know if the second year students of SMP 5 Bireuen can improve their 

ability in listening when the teacher uses multimedia in the teaching.

 

2. To find out the advantages of using multimedia in teaching listening to the

second year students of SMP 5 Bireuen.

1.4 The Significance of the Research

This study is hoped to give meaningful knowledge both theoretically and

 practically concerns. Theoretically, the study gives reasonable benefit in describing

the students’ listening ability through multimedia, especially to the second year 

students of SMP 5 Bireuen. Practically, the finding of the research is expected to

give a priority measures in teaching listening for teacher. Meanwhile for the students,

it is hoped that multimedia tools can enrich their listening ability so that they can

comprehend the spoken English in various kinds.

1.5 The Scope of the Research

This research was conducted in order to find a good way in teaching listening

to improve the listening ability of the students of SMP N 5 Bireuen. A good way of 

teaching can make the students feel excited, motivated and comfortable in English

teaching and learning process. The researcher used the laptop and projector, but

sometimes the researcher used tape recorder as listening teaching media. Since there

are many components lie in listening like grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and

etc, the researcher only limits this research on emphasizing students’ listening

comprehension.

1.6 The Definition of Key Terms

1. Listening is a process of receiving, interpreting and reacting to a message

 

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received from the speaker (Hubbell, 2001:22). In this research, listening means

the part of English lesson that has to be followed by the Junior High School

students. The researcher taught listening to the students by using multimedia for a

few meeting. This is done to know the improvement of students’ listening ability.

2. Multimedia, generally in computing, using sound, pictures, and film in addition

to text on a screen (Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, 2005:281). In this case,

multimedia tools that were used are laptop and projector and also the tape

recorder in teaching and learning process of listening.

3. Classroom Action Research is a form of reflective research that is conducted by

teacher which its result can be used as a tool to improve the teaching and learning

 process (Asrory, 2008:4). In this study, the researcher implements this kind of 

research to improve listening teaching and learning process of second year 

students of SMP N 5 Bireuen.