Dear Fiestas,...


AJ
Native VS Target Language in an EFL class

I gave a teaching demo in one of LIA branches. It was a class of teenagers aged around 12-13. Many interesting things happened during the teaching demo. However, there was one thing that really boggled my mind even long until the end of the class.
I was speaking English quite fast according to myself. I did it in purpose since for the first minutes I found that the students’ proficiency was super! They could produce a complete sentence and even a clause in correct grammar. I even tried to make a bit sophisticated joke and they still got it. They laughed at them.
It is a normal thing if we make additional comments of a joke, right? I did that in Indonesian language. They laughed a little but suddenly stopped and looked at each other as well as at their teacher who was sitting at the back of the class. Then some of the students satrted to call her whlie counting their fingers.
Apparently, they were coounting how many words I spoke in Indonesian language. By then I realized that there is a rule about using native language in the class. Later, the teacher explained to me about the rule. I apologized and went on with the lesson. Ever since, I stopped using Indonesian language and went on in English.
Everything was fine until there was one student making an additional comment about a joke from his friend in the native language. Then the class started counting the punishment he was going to get for speaking other than English.
Unfortunately, the same thing above happened again and again and obviously the students ignored the lessons and me everytime it happened. They loved doing the counting. I was really confused because on one side, I agree with using only English in an English class; however, the counting was really a distractor for the students—keeping them focused not into the lesson. I felt that I had to do something about it. I asked the students to choose only one student to do the coounting silently. They did what I asked them but then again, I guess they found the counting really amusing that all of them still did it throughout the whole session. Although I kept reminding them that it was one student’ task, they kept ignoring me.
This is an interesting classroom fact for me. I guess I am intrigued by the ideas to keep students using the target language. There are so many, I believe. Surely there is one that is suitable for certain class, right? Let’s embark on a classroom action research on the problem, guys!

I try to prepare a framework of action reasearch on keeping students using the target language in class.
Problem identification:
The explanation above. Library research: several strategies of keeping students using the target language in class (Harmer, Brown) The most effective strategy of keeping students in class.
Questions:
What is the best strategy to keep students using English in my ET class?
Refined questions:
Is giving punishment to students using native language the best strategy?
Method of collecting data:
Peer observation adn teaching log: what problems arise dealing with the strategy?
The length of the research: one week for every strategy.
The research schedule



Days/ dates Activity Remarks
Week one, Applying the first strategy:

Week two, Applying the second strategy:

Week three, Applying the third strategy:

Week four, Applying the third strategy:

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