TPR AND MOTIVATION

Chapter I

Problem and Its Background

Vocabulary is an essential aspect of any language in the world. Without vocabulary, a language

cannot be acquired. Thus, teaching vocabulary is significant for young learners. In fact, there are

several approaches to teaching English vocabulary to children. Yet, teaching children is not an easy

job. This is reflected by the differences between young learners and old learners. For instance, children

require special treatment, attention, and tremendous patience. Moreover, it is axiomatic that young

learners love entertainment and playing all the time, they also chortle very quickly and this is itself

considered as a problem for teachers. Therefore, teachers should come up with a teaching method that

fills the children's requirements so they could learn and play at the same time. According to Nurani and

Yohana (2015), students usually be bored when they learn English because the method of teaching is

tedious, which means adapting the convenient approach and activities with a concentration on pupils'

motivation would create a better learning process and the students would encourage themselves to

learn more.

Therefore, based on what has been said above, many language teachers believe that the best

method that integrates between children's requests and learning vocabulary is Total Physical Response

(TPR). TPR method is one way of teaching English vocabulary to young learners. Er (2013)

announces that young learners are not able to read and write, so they learn through activities like

games. For more explanation, the use of TPR method to teach vocabulary to children is an educational

strategy that magnetizes alertness of not only English teachers, but also students concerned. Also, TPR

is internationally acquainted as a stress-free process for learning a second language that imitates the

approach that children naturally acquire their first language (Ah & Ho, 2018).

Furthermore, it is very important for children to be motivated in the classroom in order to be

the learning process successful. It is taken for granted that it is difficult for young learners to motivate

themselves by their own because they cannot take responsibility for their learning in such an age. So, it
TPR AND MOTIVATION

is a part of a teacher's tasks to interest and motivate students while learning. Miskiyah and Amalia

declare that "TPR method makes students feel comfortable and enjoy when learning, and motivates

them to be more active in learning English" (para. 1). This study will be concerned with TPR method

and its influence on young English learners in terms of vocabulary learning and motivation.

Statement of the Problem

This research is about the effectiveness of Total Physical Response on learning English

vocabulary for young learners. Children always feel frustrated and bored when they learn any language

and they do not have any kind of stimulus to do so. As a result, the aim of this study is to identify the

TPR method and proving how it affects on students in terms of their motivation in learning

vocabulary.

Research Questions

This study attempts to answer the following questions:

1. How does TPR method influence the vocabulary learning process for children?

2. To what extent does TPR have an impact on children's motivation and luxury in the classroom?

Hypotheses

It is hypothesized that Total Physical Response leads children to learn vocabulary faster and

more easily. Moreover, TPR method encourages them to be more motivated and enthusiastic about the

lesson inside the classroom.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial for the following:

Teachers: This study will aid teachers in their careers and provide knowledge for them of new

teaching methods that they can apply to teach vocabulary for children in order to develop their

teaching experiences.
TPR AND MOTIVATION

Students: This paper will be useful for students who tend to become teachers so they will have

a knowledge of such a teaching approach as well as what affects more on children in the classroom.

Schools: The outcomes of this research may serve as baseline data to develop programs for

school advancement in terms of students' needs and capacities and make changes as demanded.

Academies: The result of this research may open an eye on creating new activities and new

teaching methods to be stratified in English learning institutions.

Future Researchers: For future researchers, this study will be a beneficial reference for them,

it could be also a basis for further studies on TPR method.

Scope and Delimitation

Definition of Terms

For better clarification and comprehension of the terms related to this research, the following

term is defined:

TPR: It refers to Total Physical Response which is a teaching method depend on using activities in the

classroom.