Fun and Interesting Ways to Learn English For EFL Students

Name                         : Angel  Chrisdyanti

Regular  number      : 1610117320005  

FUN AND INTERESTING  WAYS TO LEARN ENGLISH FOR ELF STUDENTS

Abstract

            This study discussed about the fun and interesting way to learn English. As teachers, they supposed to find new methods or tehiniques which can be applied in teaching – learning process as a result the EFL students’ skill is improved and enhanced. The techniques that highly recommended used are playing games, watching movies and listening to music. The study also conducted the benefit of those usage, the illustration, and the instances for each method for teachers’ guidance.

Keywords : English, Skill, Teachers, EFL students, Playing games, Watching movies,                                    and Listening to music

English has become the world’s global language and culture. In Indonesia, English as foreign language, which means that English is not as a lingua franca all over Indonesia, nor it is used for administration or formal language to run the country or communicate with one to another. As a consequence, many students want to study and become master in English. There are many ways to learn English, especially for those who have no background in English previously. Here are some fun and interesting ways to learn english to make students easier such as by playing games, watching English movies and listening to music.

Game is where the most effective learning takes place in learning language, especially English. Constantinescu (2012) states that learners can improve their understanding of written and spoken english via games. Games play an important role in the language learning. By using game, students are more motivated to learn english and much more likely to internalize it than  those who receive the new knowledge from teachers before the game. EFL students can use games to help strengthen their English skills as well. By playing fun games to help with word association, students who use English as foreign language can more easily rememer difficul language rules. Game that can be applied and used for students to learn english are hangman, fruits basket, battleship, 20 questions, what’s next, simon says, world jumble race, and pictionary.

Watching movies is one of interesting way to improve english skill for students, especially listening and reading. People who learn by watching movies can brush up on popular expressions over and over and wherever they are using phone, tablet or laptop (Kento, 2015). It is very recommended to all EFL students to watch English movie in their spare time at school for additional practice. Choose a movie that suitable with peer cabability is very advisable. This can be illustrated by there is student who is quite low in English, as teachers can provide English movie which use familiar or simple words. Reasons why with English movies can improve students’ skill are they can hear the correct & natural way to say words and the real language by native speakers and movie is a live context which means words that are used in part of a story can help you to learn and remember the more effectively as long as it in the appropriate context. Here are titles of movies with several accents that are effective for helping students learn English : The hunger games (American), The babadok (Australian), Harry Potter (British), Finding nemo (American), etc.

To make students be able in English, teachers need to try and think of new techniques or ways that can be used in teaching – learning process. One of the the fun way is listening to music. Commonly, listening music is very known as the effective way to enhance students’ skill in English. Listening to English music is an activity that people can do wherever and whenever they are. The key point is to listen as many English songs as possible every single day. Murphey (1992) points out a music has the power to engrave itself into our brains, stating that “songs work on our short – and long term memory” and are therefore adequate tools for using in the language classroom. These are reasons why listening music is highly recommended. First, students will get new vocabularies that they have not heard before or notice some words that are being used in another context. Second, they will focus on pronunciation and understanding of the English language’s meaning. Last, music gives you English culture. If students get familiar with popular songs and artists means gives them topic they are going to be discussed with their friends or peer. The songs that are suitable for students to learn English are Price tag by Jessie J, Skyfall by Adelle, Firework by Katy Perry, Attention by Charlie Puth, and many other songs by various singers.

In conclusion, there are three ways which are proved to enhance and improve English Foreign Language students’ skill such as by playing games, watching movies, and listening to music. First, using game can be applied in fun and happy situation that make students engaged in learning English. Second, by watching movies, students can learn how native speakers say natural words, the real culture of English ones, and remember some words in appropriate sentence effectively. Third, by listening to music, students relate to songs and find learning English words through songs interesting rather than tedious. Music helps students to point out new vocabulary, idioms, grammar items, and pronunciation, if needed. Futhermore, the three ways of learning English have been stated before are not easy to be implemented in classroom because not every students have same comprehension and capability in English. Teachers also worry that the students will enjoy the media, but will actually learn less than by more traditional ways. There are some suggestions for English teachers who have similar problems. By applying those there fun and interesting ways to learn English above, students who seemed get bored in the class can get their enthusiasm toward learning. The teacher can encourage the students to get involved in those activities. The class will be more interesting and effective. For students, they can take all techniques or ways with them by learning and practising it on the move. To this end, EFL students’ skill can be improved and enhanced slowly but in progress.

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