1. What is the most challenging topic in semester 1 and 2 to teach?
When I threw back my memory some years ago, the first time I taught English for senior high students grade X in 2011 I faced challenges to teach descriptive text and recount text. a. In semester 1: Descriptive text 1. How to teach the language feature? 2. The generic structure 3. How to identify the social function of the text? 4. Vocabularies 5. The gap between the basic knowledge and the minimum standard to achieve b. In semester 2: recount - About the generic structure - How to explain the language feature which consisted of: 1) Vocabularies 2) Past tense 2. What did I do when I teach this topic for the first time? At first I made a little observation about my students’ need. I thought they had a big gap between the background knowledge and the standard competence I wanted to teach to them. It was really frustrating at first because I faced this condition. I realized that it was my challenges. I had to conquer the burden. I prepared my own module/hand outs consisted of: a. List of vocabularies needed for the text b. Examples of texts with the generic structures c. List of tenses with the examples to use them d. Pictures and tables to give more explanations e. Examples, exercises, rehearsals and also examinations Afterwards everytime I entered the classroom I gave small quizzes on vocabularies to make them learn about the vocabularies, tenses or texts. Then, I make my own stairs to help them conquer the gap to achieve the standard competence. 3. How can I improve my teaching for this topic? I think I really improve my techniques and achievement to teach descriptive text and recount text based on my methods. However, I still have the condition in the X grade students. I don’t judge they get low basic knowledge from the teacher before but I realize it is my responsibility. Therefore I open my mind to learn again and again by reading, googling and asking helps from other partners or mentors. In this PPG time, I would like to enrich my skills and knowledge from friends and the lecturers here. I am absolutely happy to have this chance.