Changing Paradigm in Teaching English

(Studying English through Local Literature)

By: Fajar Setiwan Roekminto
Faculty Members Universitas Kristen Indonesia Jakarta

In Indonesia, language and literature are not favorite’s subjects to be learnt at

school. Elementary until high school students give no much interest in studying language
and literature and the university students who study language and literature intensively
are only those who become students of language and literature department. For most
Indonesian students, studying language and literature is something useless and wasting
time. Parents usually do not like and feel worry if they know that their children have
great interest in studying language and literature. They always think that studying both
subjects will give no guarantee at all for their future. Such a view unconsciously develops
and grows among Indonesian people from every walk of life.
There are many reasons why they do not have eagerness to study language and
literature. First, they think that studying language and literature intensively are only
suitable for those who want to be a teacher. In other words, language and literature are
not “ready to use” subjects. Mastering language and literature give no much benefit due
to the limitation of jobs available, therefore a few students only who consider language
and literature as nice subjects to study. Second, no political will shown by government, it
can be seen from the limitation contents of these subjects in the National Curriculum and
the last, reading habit among Indonesian people is very lack.
The reasons describing above, also become one of the causes why Indonesian
people are poor in mastering English, although they realize that English is important and
used widely. The unwillingness of Indonesian students to study English is also caused by
the method of teaching and learning English at school. If we see how the method applied
at school, we will agree to say that it should be changed radically. English teachers
always teach English as they teach mathematics. Teachers sometimes have no
competency in teaching language in general and English in particular. In studying
English, students are not taught how to master English but how “to memorize”.
Memorizing vocabularies, structure of sentences and tenses are common activities the
English teachers usually given to their students. Teachers do not think that language is
something alive and the way to help students mastering English well is by leading them
to the English texts.
The way of teaching English is also applied in teaching Indonesian literature. Most
teachers of Indonesian language and literature only tell to the students the names of
Indonesian authors and their works, and then asked to memorize them. Teachers do not
give them opportunity to read and discuss the works though we all know that one of the
most important things in studying literature is how the message behind the texts can be
conveyed to the readers.
Student has to be forced to get involved actively with the texts, English texts.
Indonesian literary works, as texts, can be used in studying English. Although English
teachers also give the students text to learn, it is only for the limited purpose, simply
answering the questions of the text. Students are not trained how to analyze and
understand deeply the “the message” behind the text.
In order to help students enjoying studying both English and Indonesian literature,
teacher can use Indonesian literary works (that has been translated into English by
accredited institution) as a material in teaching English. Stopping students from feeling
bored, teacher must be able relate the “message behind the texts” to the reality of
students’ daily life. It is not easy to be done because inspiring and motivating both
teachers and materials are needed in this method.