The things that are required in learning
process are the equipments which support learning
process in
order to be better, more effective and more creative. As the time passes, the teachers are demanded
to be more creative in teaching so that the students are interested in learning English. Therefore, in English teaching, the teacher can use hand puppet as the
teaching aid for elementary school students because the students are more
attracted in enjoyable and pleasant learning process; as the result, they will
be more focus on the subject. Thus, to create an effective learning environment
in English subject, there are some procedures of using hand puppet for the elementary
school students.
First, the teacher determines the theme for puppet show. The theme must
be appropriate with students’ necessity, or lesson that will be taught in the
class. The theme refers to storytelling, speaking, conversation, and
vocabulary. For instance, the theme is about introduction, which contains telling
greetings, names, ages, and hobbies. Another example, the theme is about storytelling
that discusses about children stories; moreover, it contains an implicit
message, such as the story of Pinocchio, and Kancil Mencuri Mentimun. Overall, the
teacher is demanded to be able to recite the story theme properly so that
students can be excited to learn English subject.
Second, the teacher selects
and gives names for puppets that he/she is going to show in front of the
student. Selecting and giving puppets’ name must be appropriate with its theme.
For instance, the theme is about introduction; consequently, the hand puppets
are a girl and boy. The teacher can give “Aisyah and Ahmad” as the name of
puppets. For storytelling theme, it can be Kancil Mencuri Mentimun story;
therefore, the hand puppets are Kancil, farmer, crocodile, and dog. Another
storytelling theme can be Pinocchio; consequently, the hand puppets are
Pinocchio, Gepetto Grandfather, fairy, fox, cat, and whale. Moreover, the
teacher can use many kinds of puppets, such as hand puppet, which can only be used with one figure for one hand; on the other hand, finger puppet can be used with different figures simultaneously in each finger. In addition, stick puppet is attached by a
stick; therefore, the teacher does not need to play it as the hand puppet, but he
/ she just has to hold its stick. The last, string puppet; also called
marionettes, can move the head, hands, and feet of puppet naturally by its
string since it more resembles to the human movement than the other puppets.
Third,
if the theme and hand puppets have already been prepared, the teacher makes the
design for background and stage. The teacher can make an interesting background
by using a projector screen, cardboard, and fabric; moreover, he / she can make
a stage with the table that is covered by fabric. For introduction theme, the
teacher makes a house picture as the background and grass as the stage;
moreover, for story telling theme, the teacher makes forest or trees pictures as
the background and grass as the stage. Creating the background and stage should
be made as attractive as possible so that the students enjoy the learning
process in the classroom. As an illustration the teacher can provide many colors
in every aspect, such as the colors of background, stage, and hand puppet;
also, he / she can conduct to sing along with students during the puppet show. Besides,
there are question and answer sessions among students during and at the end of
puppet show which make the students involved in a plot of puppet show story;
moreover, they can understand English subject and the implicit message of the
story.
Fourth, the teacher can perform the puppet
show by following these steps below. Before starting the puppet show, the teacher gives an overview or a question
in a glance about a subject or story that will be shown to the students. As an illustration, the teacher may ask the students about who want to speak English language fluently, or
how to ask the name in English
language. After giving an overview of the subject, the teacher
may start the performance of puppet show. He / she enters the stage with a squatting position while displaying the puppets in their hands
in front of the students; then, the puppets may introduce their names to the students and start to perform the storyline until
the end. After the show ended, the puppets can close the performance by saying
parting sentences, such as see you next time, bye, we will meet again on the
next performance and many more. Furthermore, to make students more understand,
the teacher restates the subject, or implicit message in puppet show. For example,
the teacher asks students to repeat of what the puppets have said in the puppet
show, such as telling greetings, names, ages, and hobbies. Thus, the most important
thing of learning process from using hand puppet is to train the students’
understanding by listening to every dialogue in the puppet show and imitating
it by using hand puppet.
In summary, the explanation above shows that
the hand puppet can be one of effective teaching aids for the elementary school
students; hence, the students will be more interested in learning English
subject, particularly in listening and speaking skills. If the teacher wants to
use hand puppet as the teaching aid in English subject, he / she should
determine the theme for puppet show that will be taught in the class; after
that, he / she selects and gives name of puppets according to its theme. Then,
the teacher makes an interesting design for background and stage in order to
support the puppet show. If the equipment of hand puppet has already been
prepared, the teacher can perform the puppet show and the students may imitate
the puppets’ dialogue by using hand puppet. Hopefully, all of the teachers can
be inspired by using hand puppet in learning process, particularly for English
teachers so that they are able to teach English subject in pleasant and
exciting ways.
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