Multimedia Arouses Students’ Motivation In Learning English

“English is difficult!” said most of Junior and high school students in Jakarta. The major problem of learning this worldwide-used language is lack of practicing outside the class. These students think that class session is the only opportunity to practice English. Furthermore, a teacher’s role and assistance are considered as the only sources for explanation of the usage and real-life applied examples of word choices, idioms, or even popular slang. In spite of those problems, the students admitted that English is very important. They need it and face it daily on some regular basis for various purposes such as reading text books, manuals, instructions, or just for browsing the internet. Now, there is an interesting, attractive and interactive learning device to encourage the students’ motivation in learning English that is by using the multimedia.Multimedia is a complement to class activities and it can also be a replacement of teachers, peers, and oral explanation outside the class where students used to find difficult for self-learning. Supplementary practices outside the class would be very important and beneficial for those who are reluctant to be actively involved especially in speaking practices since they tend to be afraid of making mistakes in front of their teachers or peers. In fact, this unnecessary behavior towards learning may hampers them to do essentials speaking exercises which are required to be fluent in producing the language. This is why Multimedia is created in order to anticipate potential problem such as mentioned above, by eliminating the effective filter that students have to deal with in class. Students can do self-learning since some multimedia programs are fully equipped with complete explanation of the material discussed, modified exercises that can be done individually or with peers and real life examples of word choices, idioms, or even slang.

Multimedia is designed under the considerations on individual differences. Students do not have to worry or rush since they are able to elaborate the exercises on their own pace. They will also be more motivated in doing the exercises as multimedia offers interactive activities by which students can learn, respond directly, get immediate feedback, and be awarded by enormous encouraging responses. Students are exposed with interactive learning without being afraid of making mistakes or feeling left behind. Multimedia enhances all students’ learning skills; listening, reading, speaking and writing using tons of educative English learning software. Each software presents the lesson uniquely to attract the students’ attention while they are enjoying their learning. Some materials are packed in songs, stories, puzzles, or role-plays with colorful, inspiring scenes and printable pages. Some are particularly designed for students to learn the usage with different levels of difficulty. Some are only speaking skills such as pronunciation with visualized examples of how to pronounce the words. Some are made as one-stop sources for combined skills practices as so called integrated skill practices. In sum, multimedia is really a helpful way, for great enjoyment in learning, to build students’ strong self-motivation and confidence in the mastery of English language. It may be provided at school or at home as self-learning equipment as long as the required specification of the personal computer is fulfilled. The students who have experienced this new learning method said that they no longer have hesitation to learn more everyday and gain significant progress. In addition, they also get better English scores at school.




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