THE USE OF THEME-BASED TEACHING IN TEACHING WRITING DESCRIPTIVE TEXT: A Qualitative Case Study of English Teacher in Public Junior High School in Bandung

摘要

The study entitled “The Use of Theme-based Teaching in Teaching Writing Descriptive Text”focuses on the issue of the implementation of the theme-based teaching in teaching writing in an EFL context. The aim of this study is primarily to investigate the ways a teacher implements the theme-based teaching in teaching writing Descriptive text and explore the advantages and disadvantages of theme-based teaching in teaching writing Descriptive text in eight graders in a junior high school in Bandung, West Java. udA qualitative research design, embracing the characteristics of case study was employed in this study. The data were obtained from classroom observation for four meetings and one interview section. The data collected from classroom observation and interview were transcribed and then analyzed by using framework of theme-based teaching (e.g Stoller and Grabe (1997), Cameron (2001), Brown (2001)). In addition, the data also were analyzed using the framework of curriculum-cycle (Derewianka, 2000, Gibbons, 2002 and Emilia, 2010). udIt is found that three aspects of theme-based teaching involved theme, content and language learning task were provided by the teacher during the teaching of writing Descriptive text. The selected theme covered the whole teaching-learning process through four-stages of curriculum cycle. Moreover, this study revealed the advantages of theme-based teaching such as helping students in learning vocabulary, providing language learning through ‘communicative stretching’, and encouraging students’ motivation to precision in language use. On the other hand, the disadvantages were also found out such as the demand of selecting an appropriate theme and designing a holistic planning of theme based-teaching.udFinally, it is recommended that further research be conducted in a wider scope of different areas. In addition, it would be more useful for teachers who will implement a theme-based teaching to consider the theme selection and time constrains.udKeywords: Theme-based Teaching, Teaching Writing, Descriptive text, Junior High School