Teaching EFL for Young Learners in Islamic Elementary Boarding School

Abstract

this research aims to describe how is teaching-English to young learners in the Islamic Elementary Boarding School in Yogyakarta. In this research, the writer uses descriptive qualitative research. The method used in this research is the descriptive method. The instruments used are an interview with the headmaster, English teachers and students, classroom and teaching-learning observation recorded by video, and observation checklists. This research was done three times a meeting to collect the data needed. The population of this research is all English teachers and all the students in the one of Islamic Elementary School in Yogyakarta, while the sample is two English teachers and all students in the fourth grade. Based on the interview and observation checklist from the field, there are three significant policies in teaching English as a foreign language in Islamic Elementary Boarding school. The first is that full-day English speaking class. It means that all the students and all the teachers use English 100% in their teaching-learning. The second is the school uses a reading log to boost the student's performance by applying their English skills. The third is the teachers use games, ice-breaking, challenge, and songs in teaching English. It is in line with the theories that introducing English in the Elementary is better than the older children. Interesting materials can improve motivation. When motivation is improved, everything develops. The interesting materials can be found in games, ice-breaking, and songs.