TEACHERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRICULUM AND THEIR PRACTICE OF USING EFL TEXTBOOKS TO ACHIEVE THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This study is an attempt to portray the teachers’ understanding of the curriculum and their practice of the use of textbooks in the classrooms to achieve the learning objectives. The study involves three English teachers from three-level classes: year ten, eleven, and twelve, ten-observed classes, and twenty–seven interviewed students.The three research questions set up in order to focus the research. They are made to seek the answers about the teacher’s understanding on the previous English curriculum, the teacher’s and the student’s perception on the EFL textbook, and the role of the textbook to achieve the learning objectives.The data for this descriptive-naturalistic study obtained from three-month field observation through routine class visits. To gain in-depth and accurate data about the use of EFL textbooks in the classrooms, the researcher used note-taking and videotaping in the teaching-learning observation. She also conducted some interviews with the three English teachers and twenty-seven students. The documents analyses also implemented in the study to have a better perspectives on the field being investigated.The study concludes that the teachers’ understanding on the present curriculum (The 2004 English Curriculum and the Content Standard) is quite close to the basic principles of the curriculum. Their answers given to the questions about the understanding of the present curriculum are related to the expected answers. The students’ perception on the EFL textbooks used in the classroom is also significant with the answers given by the teacher. the same questions given such as kinds of tasks and materials expected to be available in an EFL textbook and the criteria of a good EFL textbook. The role of the textbook to achieve the learning objectives is also commented the same by all the teachers that it gives a great role to achieve the learning objectives.The findings above are expected to give an overview for the textbook writers, the editors, and the textbook publishers as the reference when deciding to publish a textbook: About the teacher’s understanding on the present curriculum, about the teacher’s and student’s perception on the textbook, and about the role of the textbook to achieve the learning objective

ENGLISH TEACHERS’ PERFORMANCE AS THE REFLECTION OF THEIR COMPETENCE

This study was aimed to investigate how English teachers with different competence achievement levels in teacher competence test in Indonesian context reflected their competence in their teaching performance and perceived their own teaching performance. The study also sought teachers and students’ perceptions on English teachers’ teaching performance in terms of professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes and important characteristics of competent English teachers. This study employed a mixed methods research design, embracing the characteristics of a case study. The data were obtained from classroom observations, a set of questionnaire, focus group interviews, and teacher self-assessment. The participants of the study were 2 English teachers and 318 eighth grader students from 2 junior high schools located in 2 regions in West Java province. The major finding of the study revealed that there were no significant differences between the two English teachers with different achievement levels of competence in their teaching performance. On the important characteristics of competent English teachers, the study found that English teachers and students shared the same perceptions that competent English teachers should be knowledgeable, skillful and have positive attitudes towards learners and their learning. ; Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meneliti bagaimana guru bahasa Inggris yang memiliki skor Uji Kompetensi Guru yang berbeda merefleksikan kompetensi mereka dalam performa mengajar di kelas. Penelitian ini juga ditujukan untuk mengetahui bagaimana persepsi guru dan siswa terhadap performa mengajar guru di kelas dikaitkan dengan pengetahuan , keterampilan dan sikap profesional, dan karakteristik guru bahasa Inggris yang kompeten. Penelitian ini menggunakan mixed methods case study. Data diambil dari observasi kelas (classroom observation), kuesioner (questionnaire), penilaian diri guru (teacher self-assessment), dan wawancara kelompok terfokus (focus group interview). Responden penelitian terdiri dari 2 orang guru bahasa Inggris dan 318 orang siswa SMP yang berlokasi di 2 kabupaten/kota di propinsi Jawa Barat. Temuan utama dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa tidak terdapat perbedaaan yang signifikan antara performa mengajar guru di kelas dengan nilai UKG mereka yang berbeda. Penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa guru dan siswa mempunyai persepsi yang sma tetang karakteristik guru bahasa Inggris yang kompeten yaitu yang memiliki pengetahuan, keterampilan dan sikap yang profesional

Pelatihan Rekayasa Media Tanam dan Pemupukan Bibit Anggrek kepada Saka Taruna Bumi dan Santri Pondok Pesantren Mabdaul ‘Uluum Kota Tasikmalaya

Saka Taruna Bumi (Mitra activit 1) is the place for Pramuka to increase and develop the leadearship, knowledgeexperiences skill and proficiencies of its members. Thus they can conduc real activity abd productively and usefull in supporting agrycultural development program., includes 5 tasks :agricultural foodplant tasks, crop plantation tasks, fisheri tasks, veterinary tasks and horticultural plant tasks.  Those while tasks have not yet fully conducted.  Pondok Pesantren . Mabdaul ‘Uluum  (Mitra activity 2) lies in Mulyasari villages Tamansari district Tasikmalaya city.  Its student old about 13 years until 22 years.  The student bedide learn Islam religion understanding , also complete enhancement of knowledge and skill for instance  entrepreuneurship awareness, although it is an extra curriculum.  Actually  entrepreneurship knowledges student have already programed, but really still in foreword, because of various problem .  The problem comes from student its self who poor in knowledge and skill, minimal budget problem and minimal facilities.  Training for increasing productively knowledge and skill can be the  productively entrepreneurship, action such as training plant medium and fertilizing modification on orchid . Orchid cultivation need minimal areal and can be conducted  in the area of Mitra Activity 1 and 2,  on free time.Orchid plant is comersialized in three phase: seedling, young individu pot and orchid flower pot.The problem of Entrepreneurship program that still faced in Mitra Activity 1 and 2   were : 1). Mitra Activity 1 and 2  have not yet be familiar with orchid plant type 2). Mitra Activity 1 and 2   poor in knowledge and skill orchid cultivation. 3. Mitra Activity 1 and 2  are  poorly in how to marketing orhid commodity.  To solve those problems, IbBM skim program, about knowledge in  orchid agribusiness and  marketing; orchid biotechnology,propagation and type of orchid,practising growth  orchid in medium various type , maintance through fertilizing, plant protection and plant storage was already succesfull implemented in mitra Saka Taruna Bumi and Santri Pondok Pesantren Mabdaul ‘Uluum  Tasikmalaya city