Exploring Practice Book

There are many ways that can be used by senior high senior teacher, especially English teacher. Every teacher has their own method and media. If teacher has creative way that is easy and enjoyable to learn English, i think student will be easy to get the skill, not only writing and reading but also speaking and listening. This is the explanation about how English teacher from 21 State Senior High School of Surabaya teach their student.

In SMAXXI (21 State Senior High School of Surabaya) most of English teacher use practice book. Perhaps some people think that this is a conventional way, but for the teacher, through the practice book they can explore something outside the book. They usually give us insight about the culture, movie, book, song, or something like that. So, we will not be bored with that kind of method.

Student  will be given some activities. Practice book is the important thing here because teacher and student will develop the material. These are the activities:

1.      Doing exercise is the main activity here because in the practice book there are many kinds of question. Those are usually about an incomplete conversation, a passage which there are question about the passage is, doing the crossword puzzle, and anything else. After that, teacher and student discuss which one is the right answer. This kind of activity can improve reading skill and vocabulary.

2.      Making a presentation which the topic appropriate with the practice book. Student make a presentation in group. Then, they present in front of the class and the others give comment, suggestion, or question. Teacher as a moderator here. It can develop students’ courage to speak in public, especially in formal conversations.

3.      Making a role play. It is like having a conversation, but there is plot. Student make a script, then they have to memorize it. Next, they have to show it in front of the class. When they perform, they can improve the conversation. They do not have to speak according to script.

4.      Writing a paragraph or an essay. The topic can be taken inside the practice book. Student can see the example too. If they are still confused what will they write, they can go to library to look for something inspire.

5.      Teacher gives us motivation by telling their experience. Then they give us advice what we must do or we should not do. After we do the exercise and discuss it, teacher sometime give us more information about what the British or American culture, how they use the right idiom or vocabulary in the right place, condition, and time, and many more information.

6.      Listening skill is the most difficult part to learn because if we do not know what they say, of course we do not know what they mean. Many students have problem with it. In practice book there is listening section, so they can get the listening material in listening laboratory. Besides that, they can improve it by listening their teacher or speaking with friend.

That is all about what we can get when we study English in 21 State Senior High School of Surabaya. Although they use the practice book, they can make it more interesting, enjoyable, and easy to learn, they can develop it into another form.