THE APPLICATION OF COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH IN SMU NEGERI 1 MEDAN

Th.is thesi!:> deals with the investigatior. of teachers· perspective in teaching English
and to investigate the constraints against the success of communicative approach. The
subjects of this study are the English teachers of SMA Negeri I Medan. There are 11
F.nglish teachers in the schooL The interpretative-constructivist research 'J)aradigm
was used. In collecting the data, there were two phases: phase 1: the attitudes scale:
This phase was to ascertain teachers' attitudes to the Conununicative Approach as an
innovation versus the traditional grammatical structural notions in language teaching
and learning. Therefore, a set of questionnaire was used to collect the data consisting
of 26 statements (13 positive and 13 negative) reflecting aspects of both traditions
matched against a four-point scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.
Phase 2: the semi-structured interviews: this phase was to ascertain the range of
constraints facing teachers in the teaching ofEFL communicatively.
The finding!:> indicate that there were many aspects of communicative approach are
not applied based on the teachers' perspective in SMA Negeri 1 Mcdan. Those
aspects are concerned to 1) In selecting the materials, the teachers do not consider the
principle of authenticity. 2) In emphasizing ben.veen accuracy and fluency, the
teachers emphasize accuracy than fluency. 3) The teachers' role are dominant and the
students' role are less dominant. 4) The teachers transfer the knowledge of language
and notlacilitator of learning the language. 5) Jn teaching reading comprehension, the
teachers teach translation technique than reading strategies. o) Teachers dominantly
use Indonesian language during the kaming process. 7) Students' errors are corrected
immediatetly. 8) The teachers give many drills, home assignment, and repetitions. 9)
The teachers' oriented is product oriented rather than process oriented.
Th ~ teachers' constraints arc due to the fact that they don't have any authority to
scl<:(:l <~ppropriate textbooks for tlu.:ir students and also they eonsidcr that their
students have low ability in English.
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