The Background of the Research

This chapter present introduction, the background of research, research problem, and research objective, operational definition of the term used in this research the significant of the research, scope and limitation, these topics will be presented in the following section elaborately.

The Background of the Research

English as an international language has an important role in international community. In Indonesian English as a foreign language, it is not only used in communication but also used in transferring much  important information, such as science, medicine, technology, academic, and etc. Considering the important English as an international language, People have to master it in order to be able to take a part and share their knowledge. As a foreign language it is necessary to be able to master English skill in order to make target language. In Indonesia, English is taught as a compulsory subject at senior high school, junior high school and as a local content at elementary school. In the 2004 English curriculum of junior high school (2004: 9), it is stated that the aim of teaching English in junior high school is to develop Student communicate competent (listening, Reading, writing and speaking), including the language component such as vocabulary, structure and pronunciation Vocabulary is the basic thing in learning language. Lack of vocabulary will make the learners difficult in mastering the language. Considering the statement above the writer observes that English teacher must be aware of an appropriate method technique and approach. In line with this Tarigan and Tarigan (1986: 390), state that the teacher who mastered various technique and able to present them will arise student interest and motivation in learning. In line with this according to Nababan (1993: 5) says that “belajar bahasa melibatkan guru, pengajaran bahasa, metode pengajaran dan materi pelajaran.It can be concluded that in teaching language, a teacher must be aware to use some technique or approach that very effective to make the student interest and have motivated in learning language. From the explanation above the writer observes that the teacher not only considers about the content of curriculum but also how to teach it. The teachers who have a good technique make the student easily to understand the materials and the teaching learning process is running well. The teacher must improve their profession and should enrich their knowledge and skill of teaching. She should master the ability in selecting the materials and performing it by using an appropriate method, technique and approach.

The writer offers communicative approach in teaching and learning process as it is stated by Tomlinson (1987: 1), that communicative approach to classroom teaching and learning which put the emphasis on improving the learners’ ability to communicative activities involving exposure and use. Furthermore an approach in which the learners are asked to use English in meaningful and purposeful away. The purpose of English teaching is to cultivate and develop the students’ ability to use this kind of communicative tool. However, the communicative approach is a kind of teaching method to cultivate the English communicative abilities. Here the characteristic of communicative approach is included engaged in negotiating meaning, taking responsibilities in learning (initiative, and creative) and interactive with other student (cooperative and interactive), to expose student to Authentic materials and natural language in variety of situation as much as possible

In teaching vocabulary, communicative approach is applied with various kinds of communicative activities to arise a student; interest can not considered as a mutinous and boring activities. The necessity of giving the stages is to explain the meaning teaching vocabulary thought communicative approach.

 Here the aim of the teacher is to explain some a new word or phrase and teacher is to help the student to grasp easier to consolidate or reflect upon what have been learnt to relate their knowledge.  Interest or view by improving their four language skill. From the observation and interview of the writer at SMP Negeri 01Balung the student still have the difficulties in English it covers from the score of English at the last semester, the score still far from the target. The teacher still applied the old method like; drilling, practice and translating. So the writer concluded that the communicative approach has after been applied before.

Based from description above the writer is interested in conducting a research entitled “the effect of communicative approach on vocabulary achievement at eight grade student SMP Negeri 01 Balung in the 2012/2013 academic year.