The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

CHARACTER BUILDING IN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND

TEACHING

Erwin Pohan

English Education Department

Teacher Training and Education Faculty
Maritim Raja Ali Haji University of Tanjungpinang, Kepulauan Riau – Indonesia
epohan08@yahoo.com

Abstract. Character is a complex quality of ethical and mental

(positive/negative) of which they form oneself in thinking, behaving, and acting.
So, the one who learns and teaches the language, the development of a good
character for his/her activities, is very needed to get qualified of language
learning and teaching. Based on the analysis from various references or articles,
indicated that the development of the characters are included in the educational
system and the domination of all countries over the world with different quality
levels of application. Indonesia particularly, has still been putting the “character
building term” in its education vision since 2004. Furthermore, thought,
discussion and materials development of character building in language learning
and teaching are still opened and relevant to be done effectively. However,
patience, diligently, consistency of educators and learners in implementing, and
assessing of the character development in language learning and teaching can be
a serious challenge. Thus, the discussion of English Language Learning and
Teaching’s (ELT) materials development through character building is focused
on the doctrine of the values of universal character: Truthfulness,Believing,
Intelligence, and Delivery (TBID): in verbal and non-verbal communication in
the ELT especially that is done by educators and learners in the materials of ELT.
They are developed into the forth values in an integrated ways. In other words,
they have covered the 7 tips character building schools, students, and educators
(UC, 2014; Yishunjc, 2014).

Keywords: character building, materials development, and English learning and

teaching.

Introduction
To have a good educational system, effective learning and teaching, all of
components of education: teacher, students, societies, government and facilities of
learning and teaching must be qualified. The qualified practitioners and tools or
equipment of education must also be balanced and supported each other in order
to get the main goal of education, that is, producing educated men and women
with having high knowledge and good character. Because of those, he or she,
335

Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

whatever his/her social status, will be useful for others. The person who has good
character personally will influence about his/her life, family, communities,
institutions, state, and all people around the world. In other words, to achieve
those can come true with the existence and participation ofeducated and good
character educators in their learning and teaching processes.

Character and Character Building (CB)

Character is a unique thing and good values that becomes a distinctive
feature among of one person to anothers while they have interactionin their life
(Amin, 2011:3). The unique thing and good values can be seen from one or
societies behavior in which derives from their thinking, hearth/feeling, and
physical processes. For example, a good character teacher: deligent, intelligent,
responsible, integrity: ones does “the right thing for the right reason even no one
is watching”(Krystle, 2014) is different with a bad character teacher: lazy, stupid,
unresponsible. It has an important role in language learning and teaching. It is
related to teacher, student, and material development. In fact, the values of the
character haveinternalized in the oneself and will drive his/her language learning
and teaching better. The good character of teacher and learners, of course, can
teach and learn English well.
Character building (CB) refers to an effort of internalizing of unique thing
and good values which are done by himself/herself or one person to another. CU
(2014) states that CB can be done “proactively through planned actions and
activities within the classroom”. It can be applied in seven ways: (1) the pillars of
character, (2) your rules set the tone, (3) encourage good role models, (4) insist on
respect, (5) build a caring community, (6) volunteerism, (7) character in action.
And, Yishunjc (2014) applies CB through five core values: integrity,
responsibility, compassion, commitment and loyalty.The effort can be done
through informal(CB is given by parents and shoud be the example for their
children), formal (CB is given at school through curriculum and learning
materials, regulations and teachers’ attitudes), non-formal education (CB is given
at learning group center, courses, art theater), and some holistic approaches
processes: CB is given through religius values approach, culture values approach,
five principles values approach (Amin, 2011); build a caring comunity, teach
values through the curriculum, class discussions, service learning, and explicit
instruction in character and values(Elkin and Sweet, 2004).

Learning and Teaching of English Language

Learning of English Language
Illeris and Ormorod inPrinceton (2014) states that in psychology and
education, learning is commonly defined as “a process that brings together
cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring,
enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world
views”. So, the essential of learning is processing and changing: mental and
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Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

physic. In addition, CB is very important to be given to student who learns

English language because it can differentiate the student who has good or bad
character: diligent or lazy in it.

Teaching of English Language

Smith (2014) defines "teaching is the process of carrying out those
activities that experience has shown to be effective in getting students to learn".
To be an effective teaching and teacher, the teacher must be a good character
teacher. Teacher has an important role in building character for the students.
Because, the teacher can strengthen the values of character through CB itself in
the learning and teaching process.His/her competence and performance must be
the good model for the learner of English language especially. The essential of
teaching is also processing and changing. When there is no changing for both
learner and teacher, it means that the learner and teacher do not learn and teach
anymore.

How to Build Character in the English Language Learning and Teaching

(ELT)
Based on the description above, the basic character of a human being is
good. But,in the proses of his/her life,it will have modifications or metamorphosis
so that its fundamental character can be changed or lost.The nature of character is
the best/holy attitude or behavior. It is derived from the good human hearth that
has been being brought since he/she was born (Amin, 2011).In other words, the
best/holy attitude or behavior, it is observable or can be called a “surface
structure”/”performance”, is based on the good human hearth, it is unobservable
or can be called a “deep structure”/”competence” (Chomsky in Zainil, 2005). The
best attitude/behavior or “performance” is determined by the competence. When
the one has good hearth or “competence”, she/he will have good attitude/behavior
or performance. Therefore, the essential of CB is maintaning and empowering the
core values of character: the best/holy attitude or behavior to face his/her life.
CB in ELL means that the core values of character are planted into the
learner’s heart while learning English in the classroom particularly. It can be done
by himself/herself (internal factor) or his/her teacher/lecturer (external factor). CB
for learner is a must. She/he will not be successful unless she/he has the values of
good character and apply them in his/her real life: (1) truthfulness, (2) believing,
(3) intelligence, and (4) delivery.

(1) Truthfulness
Oxford dictionary defines that truthfulness refers to “the fact of being true
to life; realism”. Westvalley (2005) classifies three theories of truth: (1) the
correspondence theory: “a claim is true if it corresponds to what is so (the "facts"
or "reality") and false if it does not correspond to what is so”, (2) the pragmatic
theory:“a statement is true if it allows you to interact effectively and efficiently
337

Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

with the cosmos. The less true a belief is, the less it facilitates such interaction”,
(3)the coherence theory: “a statement is true if it is logically consistent with other
beliefs that are held to be true”.
Based on the definition and theory above, learner and teacher must think,
behave and communicate well or in positive manner. They always try to save the
truth things in their mind and apply them in the real life or interaction. But, for
negative or bad things, they can use them to the valuable activity or situation.
Also, they always make sure that everything is right or wrong before and after
executing it. In other words, the learner and teacher place the truthfulness of
something as the basis of their learning and teaching particularly.
So, the learner and teacher must apply the seven tips of character
suggested by Yishunjc correctly: (1) the pillars of character such as
trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, caring, fairness and citizenship, (2) your
rules set the tone: setting appropriate rules for classroom behavior, (3) encourage
good role models: making an effort to point out positive character role models in
history, literature, science and the arts, (4) insist on respect: self-respect and
respect for others are the basis of all other positive character traits, (5) build a
caring community: having a zero-tolerance policy on name-calling and character
assaults or bullying, (6) volunteerism: allowing students to read or tutor younger
children, assist in the computer lab, help at a local food bank, assist with reading
comprehension or provide support for students recovering from an illness or
injury, (7) character in action: challenging students to create class projects that
can benefit the school or community.
Furthermore, they must be true in pillars of character, setting rules,
models, respect, caring, volunteerism, character in action both in learning and
teaching. CB can be successful if they are consistent with truthfulness for all their
learning and teaching activities.

(2) Believing
The teacher, learner, and their life/activities can be believable when first
value of character above has been being done by them well and continuously.
They are not only true in applying the 7th tips of character but also believable. The
essential of believing: honestly and responsible, must be alive in the heart of the
teacher and learner. The teacher and learner are believed each other. The
trustworthiness of the learner to his/her teacher’s teaching or the teacher to his/her
learner’s leaning are in doubt.This is related to the definition of Oxforddictionary
(2014): believe refers to “accepting the statement of (someone) as true; feeling
sure that (someone) is capable of doing something”. For example, when the
learner is give a homework, she/he does it seriously and honestly (without
cheating his/her friend). She/he must be realize that “believing/trustworthiness”
should be cared or and become his/her character forever.

338

Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

(3) Intelligence
Intelligence refers to the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills;
a person or being with the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills
(Oxfordictionaries, 2014). To be a good learner and teacher, they must be
intelligent to face their learning and teaching activities. They must know and be
able to apply all of the trutfullness and believing about the 7th tips of character
completely. Ariyanti in Amin (2011) classifies five fundamentals of intelligence:
Intellectual Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), Spiritual Quotient, Social
Quotient, and Skill Quotient (SQ). Intelligence is related to “understanding (the
“head”)” the first category of character stated by Riyan, et al. in Berkowitz and
Bier (2005), “caring about (the “heart”)”, and the third “acting upon core ethical
values (the “hand”). So, the learner and teacher must be based on the intelligence-
oriented in their learning and teaching English processes. As a result, they can
follow and develop knowledge and skill. This become their character

(4) Delivery
And the fourth value of CB is delivery. Its operational meaning is that
everything must be communicated by the learner and teacher: in verbal or non-
verbal communication. Oxford (2014) defines delivery as “the manner or style of
giving a speech”. Riyan, et al. in Berkowitz and Bier (2005) places this as the
third category of caharacter: “acting upon core ethical values (the “hand”). Both
learner and teacher are not stingy to share what they knowto other.Student and
teacher’s communicative competence, as the ability to communicate culturally in
a signifianct setting (Savignon in Zainil, 2005), is needed. Because of delivering
all of knowledge and skills correctly, believable, and smartly, they will be useful
for themselves or others.

Character Building in English Language Learning and Teaching’s Materials

Development
CB is not only focused on the learner and teacher, but also on the material
development of language learning and teaching.Tomlinson (2012) states that
materials development refers to “all the processes made use of by practitioners
who produce and/or use materials for language learning, including materials
evaluation, their adaptation, design, production, exploitation and research”. He
also suggests the principle of material development in language learning and
teaching. They are (1)material should achieve impact through: (a) novelty (e.g.
unusual topics, illustrations and activities);(b) variety (e.g. breaking up the
monotony of a unit routine with anunexpected activity; using many different text-
types taken frommany different types of sources; using a number of different
instructorvoices on a CD);(c) attractive presentation (e.g. use of attractive colours;
lots of whitespace; use of photographs);(d) appealing content (e.g. topics of
interest to the target learners; topicswhich offer the possibility of learning

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Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

something new; engagingstories; universal themes; local references);(e)

achievable challenge (e.g. tasks which challenge the learners to think), (2)material
should help learners to feel ease: feel more comfortable with written materials
with lots of white spacethan they do with materials in which lots of different
activities arecrammed together on the same page; are more at ease with texts and
illustrations that they can relate totheir own culture than they are with those which
appear to them tobe culturally alien;are more relaxed with materials which are
obviously trying to help themto learn than they are with materials which are
always testing them, (3) material should help learner to develop confidence:
prefering to attempt to build confi dencethrough activities which try to ‘push’
learners slightly beyond theirexisting profi ciency by engaging them in tasks
which are stimulating,which are problematic, but which are achievable too.
Dealing with the fourth values of character and the explanation above
indicates that the components of the first, second, and third must be true,
believable, intelligent, and delivered. They are in hands of the learner and teacher
when they learn and teach English.

Conclusion
To be a good character of learner and teacher, they must apply the core
values of character: truthfulness, believing, intelligent, and delivery in their
English language learning and teaching continuously and consistently.Their mind
should contain positive things so that their thinking, attitudes, and behaviors are
good. In other words, having positive mindset will produce good
performance.They must always think, behave, and communicatein a true manner.
Whatever they do and state, it must be believable. They must be intelligent in
thinking and acting in the right things and reason. They must deliver everything
they know both in verbal and or non-verbal communication well.
And, CB can be done through the material development’s principles. All
of the materials in the three principles are true, believable, intelligent, and
delivered.So, the process of building character in ELT can run in a good way.

References
Amin, Maswardi M. 2011. PendidikanKarakterAnakBangsa. Jakarta, Baduose
Media Jakarta.
Elkind, David H., and Sweet, Freddy. 2004. How to do Character
Education.Retrieved fromwww.goodcharacter.com/Article_4.html June
22, 2014
Krasen, Stephen. 2005. Stephen Krasen’s Theory of Second Language
Acquisition. Retrieved from http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html at March
16, 2009.
Krystle, C. 2014. How to Build Character through Integrity.Retrieved from
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Character-Through-Integrity May 30,
2014
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Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4
 The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

Learning Forum International. 2014. 8 Keys of Excellence Character Education

Program. Avenidadel Oro, Suite A Oceanside Retrieved from
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Tomlinson, Brian. 2012. Introduction: Principles and Procedure of Materials
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University, Concordia. 2014. 7 Tips for Building Character in Schools and
Students. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved from http://education.cu-
portland.edu/blog/educator-tips/7-tips-for-building-character-in-schools-
and-students/ at May 30, 2014
Yishun Junior College. 2014. Character Development & Student Well-
being.Retrieved fromhttp://www.yishunjc.moe.edu.sg/character-
development--student-well-being.html May 30, 2014
Zainil. 2005. Good language Learner Strategies and Communicative Language
Teaching. Padang: UniversitasNegeri Padang

341

Proceedings of The 3rd UAD TEFL International Conference 2014

“Materials Development in Asia and Beyond: Directions, Issues, and Challenges”
September 17—18, 2014, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organized by English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
ISBN: 978-602-18907-1-4