Pidato Bahasa Inggris: Teachers’ Day

A Sample of  English Speech

Topic: Education, Teachers’ Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PGRI), Teachers’ Day. Title: Teachers’ Day. Grade: for SMP/MTs, SMA/MA/SMK, College/University.

Contoh Pidato Bahasa Inggris. Topik: Pendidikan, PGRI, Hari Guru. Judul: Hari Guru. Tingkatan: untuk SMP/MTs, SMA/MA/SMK, College/Universitas.

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Honorable Juries

Honorable our Teachers

Ladies and Gentlemen; Brothers and Sisters

Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.

It is a great honor for me to join this English speech contest. Thank you very much for the chance given to me.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The title of my speech is: “Teachers’ Day”.

Every year, on the 25^th of November, we commemorate the birthday of Teachers’ Association of the Republic of Indonesia, or known as PGRI. The day is also called National Teachers’ Day. The commemoration is a kind of appreciation for our teachers. It is usually celebrated in a ceremonial activity by giving a recognition to a certain teachers, head masters, or school attendants.

Brothers and Sisters;

The Teachers’ Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PGRI) was founded on 25^th November,1945, about three months after the proclamation of the Indonesian independence. At the time, the establishment of PGRI had three purposes, they were: first, defending the independence of Indonesia; second, improving education in our country; and the last, helping the labors and teachers get their rights.

For many years, PGRI has become a functional organization representing teachers as civil servants. It has been a survival union in any kinds of social and political situation. No matter how difficult the condition of our country, PGRI always tries to survive. It will keep struggling to improve the quality of education in this country.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Today, we are in the situation of the celebration of Teachers’ Day. We are commemorating the birthday of PGRI. The question is, what should we do to make this celebration have a great meaning to the improvement of our education system?

We cannot deny that the quality of our education is still poor. It is a fact that our education achievement is at the bottom within South-East Asia countries, even we are left behind our neighbors. There are many problems in our education system. Let me give some examples: many teachers are poorly trained both in their subject matters and in teaching skills, our teachers’ salaries are low, our education fee is still expensive, and also other crucial problems related with the curriculum, national exam (UN), and teacher certification.

• Download, click here>>>…

Lomba Debat Bahasa Inggris

Salah satu lomba yang bisa memotivasi siswa dalam belajar Bahasa Inggris ialah Lomba Debat Bahasa Inggris (English Debating Competition). Lomba ini, jika dibandingkan dengan lomba pidato maupun drama, masih belum terlalu popular di tingkat sekolah menengah atas. Padahal, dari segi penilaian skill Bahasa Inggris, lomba ini bisa menjadi indikator yang valid dalam menilai (assessing) kemampuan listening dan speaking siswa. Dalam lomba debat, siswa akan mengeksplorasi semua pengetahuan, ide, pendapat, dan spontanitasnya ketika membahas dan meng-counter opini lawan. Tentu saja, untuk dapat memenangkan lomba, siswa harus memiliki kosakata (vocabulary) yang memadai, terbiasa menggunakan ungkapan-ungkapan (expressions) dalam percakapan, serta mampu bertukar opini (sharing opinion).

Berikut ini beberapa hal penting terkait dengan Lomba Debat Bahasa Inggris.

Debat adalah kegiatan adu argumentasi antara dua pihak atau lebih, baik secara perorangan maupun kelompok, dalam mendiskusikan dan memutuskan masalah dan perbedaan.

Debat kompetitif adalah debat dalam bentuk lomba atau permainan yang biasa dilakukan di tingkat sekolah dan universitas. Dalam hal ini, debat dilakukan sebagai pertandingan dengan aturan atau format yang jelas dan ketat antara dua pihak yang masing-masing mendukung dan menentang sebuah pernyataan. Debat disaksikan oleh satu atau beberapa orang juri yang ditunjuk untuk menentukan pemenang dari sebuah debat. Pemenang dari debat kompetitif adalah tim yang berhasil menunjukkan pengetahuan dan kemampuan debat yang lebih baik.

Gaya dan jenis debat kompetitif. Ada beberapa gaya debat yang sering dijadikan model dalam lomba debat Bahasa Inggris, di antaranya:

• Debat Parlementer (Parliamentary Debate): Gaya berdebat seperti dalam debat di perlemen. Peserta debat, baik perseorangan maupun kelompok, terbagi menjadi dua: sebagai Pemerintah (government) dan Oposisi (opposition). Contoh debat parlementer: model parlemen Inggris, Australia dan Amerika.
• Debat Proposal (Policy Debate): Debat berkaitan dengan adanya topik proposal atau kebijakan. Topik tersebut kemudian ditanggapi oleh peserta debat yang terbagi menjadi dua tim: satu tim setuju dengan proposal tersebut (affirmative); tim lainnya berada pada peran menolak atau tidak setuju (Negative).
• Debat yang topik-nya tidak diberitahukan (Impromptu Debate): Debat ini, topiknya diberikan sesaat (sekitar sepuluh menit) sebelum lomba dimulai.
• Beberapa jenis model lain, selengkapnya klik di sini>>>…

Istilah-istilah dalam lomba debat Bahasa Inggris:

1. Lomba Debat Bahasa Inggris, biasa diterjemahkan dengan nama: English Debating Competition atau English Debating Contest
2. Topik debat atau mosi disebut: motion
3. Tim: team
4. Tim atau regu universitas: varsity
5. Tim yang bertindak sebagai tim pemerintah; tim yang setuju, biasa disebut sebagai: affirmative team / government team / proposition team.
6. Tim yang bertindak sebagai penentang; tim yang tidak setuju; tim oposisi, biasa disebut sebagai: negative team / opposition team.
7. Pemimpin, wasit debat, moderator: chairperson / chairman
8. Juri atau penilai: adjudicator
9. Interupsi: points of information
10. Bantahan, sanggahan: rebuttal
11. Contoh pembukaan sederhana oleh moderator (untuk lomba debat tingkat SMA):

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, in the name of God, I declare this English Debating Championship… open. Ladies and Gentlemen; before starting this competition, first of all, I would like to introduce the participants and committees to you all. The first team is from SMA…, this team will be the affirmative team. The second team is from SMK…, this team will be the negative or opposition team. In adjudicating the debates, there are 3 adjudicators here, they are ……

• Contoh teknik dan petunjuk (guidelines) Lomba Debat Bahasa Inggris, silahkan download (pdf)>> [di sini...]

• Contoh lembar penilaian (adjudication sheet), silahkan download >> [di sini...]
• Contoh draft/script lomba debat Bahasa Inggris topik… silahkan ditunggu up-load berikutnya.

Thanks for visiting www.haarrr.wordpress.com

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SOAL UN SMP-SMA 2009

Download soal-soal Ujian Nasional 2009. Edisi lengkap. Jenis soal untuk tingkat SMP: Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Inggris, Matematika dan IPA. Untuk tingkat SMA: Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Inggris, Matematika, Fisika, Biologi, Kimia, Ekonomi, Geografi dan Sosiologi.

Download, klik di sini>>>...

Pidato Bahasa Inggris: Heroes’ Day

Naskah Pidato Bahasa Inggris: “Hari Pahlawan” (English Speech Script: “Heroes’ Day”)

Topic: Heroism, Patriotism, Nationalism. Title: Heroes’ Day, 10 November. Grade: for the students of SMP/MTs, SMA/MA/SMK, College/University. Summary: Every year we commemorate Heroes’ Day on 10^th November. It is the reflection of our country in appreciating the history of Indonesian people in struggling against the colonialism. Heroes’ Day also shows that our founding fathers had sacrificed everything to build this country. Heroes’ Day was taken from the history of the battle in Surabaya. It was a fighting of our people against Dutch and Allied forces due to the struggle of the Indonesian Independence. The peak of the battle was in November 1945.

Note: After you have downloaded this script, please leave a comment. Your comment is a great appreciation for me. Thanks a lot for stopping by this blog.

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Assalamu’alaikum Wr.Wb.

The honorable juries, teachers, committees and all the participants.  It is a great honor for me to join this English speech contest.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful and the most Gracious

All praises be to Allah SWT, the lord of the world, the master of the day after, the creator of everything in this universe.

Peace and Salutation be upon our prophet Muhammad SAW, who has brought us from the darkness into the brightness and guided us into the right way of life.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this good opportunity, I would like to deliver a speech entitled “Heroes’ Day”.

This speech aims at reminding us that the heroism, patriotism and nationalism are very important in developing our country. Without those attitudes, it is impossible for us to make our country survive.

Brothers and Sisters;

Every year we commemorate Heroes’ Day on 10^th November. It is the reflection of our country in appreciating the history of Indonesian people in struggling against the colonialism. Heroes’ Day also shows that our founding fathers had sacrificed everything to build this country.

Heroes’ Day was taken from the history of the battle in Surabaya. It was a fighting of our people against Dutch and Allied forces due to the struggle of the Indonesian Independence. The peak of the battle was in November 1945. Allied Forces’ troops managed to conquer Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, on behalf of Dutch. More than 100,000 people of Indonesia were involved on the battle against the Allied Forces that approximated more than 30,000 soldiers. At least 16.000 Indonesian people died, while the enemies lost 2,000 soldiers. The battle was the heaviest single battle of the revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Considered a heroic effort by Indonesians, the battle helped our people get international support for Indonesian independence. In memory of the battle, 10^th November is then celebrated annually as Heroes’ Day.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The battle in Surabaya was one of the battles happening in our country during the situation of the Indonesian independence. Other people from all  over Indonesia’s territory also did the similar thing. Our people fought against the colonialist to keep our independence. Our people struggled to build a free country. They sacrificed everything, including their blood and lives. They had dedicated their heroism, patriotism and nationalism for this country.

There is a quote: a great country is a country which appreciates all its heroes. We often hear about it. We know that without our heroes’ sacrifices, there would be no this country. The independence of Indonesia was not given by the colonialist. It was struggled by our founding fathers, by our heroes…

• Selengkapnya download, click here>>>…

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Pidato Bahasa Inggris: Education System in Indonesia

English Speech Script:

Topic: Education System in Indonesia. Title: Formal Education. Grade: for SMP/MTs, SMA/MA/SMK, College/University. Summary: Education in Indonesia is divided into two major parts: formal and non-formal education. It involves three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary education.

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Assalamu’alaikum Wr.Wb.

Firstly, I would like to say thank you very much for the MC and juries who have given me opportunity to deliver this English speech.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is a great honor for me to stand here and give a brief speech entitled “Formal Education in Indonesia”

Brothers and Sisters;

Education system in our country is divided into two major parts, they are formal and non-formal. A formal education is divided into three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary education. While non-formal education is carried out for the learners who get difficulties to meet the requirements in formal education. An example of non-formal education is PLS (Pendidikan Luar Sekolah). Both formal and non-formal education aim at establishing the education process in our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

As I have stated previously, formal education involves three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary education. Before entering primary or elementary school, children in our country usually have attended kindergarten, or known as Taman Kanak-kanak. But this education is not compulsory for Indonesian citizens, as the aim of this is just to prepare them for primary school.

Children ages 7–12 attend primary education at Elementary School or Sekolah Dasar. This level of education is compulsory for all Indonesian citizens.

Selengkapnya, download_ click here>>>

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Avonturir: Sebuah Kenangan

Salah satu kegemaran saya ialah avontur (adventure), berpetualang, menjadi manusia nomaden. Saat SMA, saya sering kerja serabutan di sore dan malam hari. Hasil dari kerja tersebut, saya tabung sedikit demi sedikit untuk kemudian saya pakai keluyuran di saat liburan. Salah satu bentuk avontur yang paling saya sukai ialah mendaki gunung. Sebuah petualangan yang penuh sensasi, sangat indah dikenang.

Saya menghabiskan masa SMA di sebuah kota kecil dekat pantai utara di bagian timur Pulau Jawa. Dengan letak yang strategis sebagai jalan poros Surabaya – Jakarta, menjadikan kota saya adalah kota 24 jam, tidak kesulitan untuk mendapatkan sarana transportasi. Tentu saja, sebagaimana lazimnya para nomaden, untuk menghemat kantong maka pilihan yang paling tepat adalah ‘nggandol’ alias nebeng di truk-truk yang melintas.Terkadang juga pakai kereta api. Memburu truk, meloncat naik ke atas bak, atau juga harus tiba-tiba meloncat turun karena jalur truk yang ditumpangi ternyata tidak searah dengan tujuan avontur, adalah pengalaman yang kerap dialami. Unik dan mendebarkan.

Masa muda, hanya dialami sekali. Tentu, semua orang ingin melewatinya dengan bahagia, dengan pengalaman-pengalaman indah untuk suatu ketika bisa diceritakan kepada anak cucu. Semua orang ingin “muda foya-foya; tua kaya-raya; mati masuk surga”.

Sayang, hanya sebagian orang yang kebetulan terlahir dengan keberuntungan berada dalam situasi keluarga mampu. Sebagian lagi yang lain, ialah anak-anak muda dari keluarga pas-pasan, yang problem hidupnya selalu berpusar pada masalah ekonomi. Untuk anak muda dari golongan pertama tadi, tentu tidak ada masalah jika ingin berpetualang dan traveling. Uang bukanlah masalah. Tapi bagaimana dengan golongan kedua, yang juga golongan terbesar warga negeri ini?

Satu hal yang perlu dilakukan ialah membaca situasi di sekitar. Apa yang bisa dikerjakan untuk dapat menghasilkan uang tanpa mengganggu aktifitas sebagai pelajar. Jangan larut pada himpitan masalah ekonomi. Pandai-pandailah membahagiakan diri dengan mengakali keadaan. Tentu dengan catatan, jangan sampai mengganggu orang lain.

Berpetualang, berkelana, naik gunung, adalah kebahagiaan tersendiri buat saya. Dengan menjadi avonturir, maka saya membahagiakan diri saya, membuat jejak-jejak indah masa muda. Maka untuk mengakali kondisi saya sebagai anak muda dari keluarga pas-pasan, di sore hari saya jadi pekerja di sawah dengan upah setengah hari. Kadangkala, jadi kuli bangunan pada hari Minggu atau hari libur. Pernah juga jadi loper koran. Yah, apa sajalah yang penting halal dan profesional. Semua pekerjaan, bagi saya, punya derajat yang sama. Semuanya membutuhkan kompetensi dan kemampuan.  Hasil dari kerja tersebut? Ditabung, untuk kemudian dihabiskan buat membahagiakan masa muda saya. Dan, salah satu bentuk membahagiakan masa muda adalah dengan avontur, keluyuran, berkelana, menjadi manusia nomaden.

Yah, sebuah romantisisme masa muda.

Gunung Arjuno, Jawa Timur, itulah pengalaman pertama saya mendaki gunung. Sendirian, dengan  jalur Pandaan lewat Kaki Bodo. Luar biasa. Selamanya akan selalu terkenang.

Perjalanan hidup saya kemudian, berpindah ke Makassar, kuliah di UNM (dulu IKIP Ujungpandang). Selain mengajar di tempat kursus dan jadi honorer di sekolah, kegiatan mendaki gunung tetap saya lakukan. Mendaki gunung, boleh dikata, sudah menjadi candu dalam diri saya. Gunung Bawakareng, Sulawesi Selatan, menjadi salah satu gunung favorit untuk ber-avontur. Bagi pendaki biasa seperti saya, jalur yang umumnya dilewati ialah Lembanna – Malino. Pernah dua kali lewat Manippi – Sinjai. Bawakaraeng, bagi saya, adalah sebuah gunung dengan banyak eksotisme, sangat menakjubkan. Sebuah kenangan abadi yang jadi saksi akan perenungan saat di puncak Bawakaraeng, buat saya pribadi, ialah sebuah cerpen saya yang berhasil dimuat Harian Fajar Makassar edisi 16 Maret 1997.

Ide cerpen saya tersebut sederhana, bahwa hidup seperti mendaki gunung. Kita berjuang mencapai puncak, menggapai kesuksesan. Ketika telah diraih, lalu apa? Kembali turun, meninggalkan semuanya.

Ya, anak muda. Berpetualanglah. Mengembara. Susuri keluasan samodra hidup, hisap aroma dari sudut-sudut semesta ini. Rasakanlah dingin yang menusuk, kabut yang melayang-layang, cadasnya bebatuan, lembutnya kesiur angin, hijaunya dedaunan, dan terbangkan mimpi-mimpimu ke atap-atap langit yang penuh taburan bintang. Ambil hikmah, petik pelajaran yang alam berikan. Sebelum waktumu habis, sebelum masamu usai…

Karena, hidup yang indah ialah: “sekali berarti; sudah itu mati!”

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Lalu, Apa?: Sebuah Cerpen

Ketika masih muda dulu, saya lumayan aktif menulis cerpen. Sekedar mengingat masa lalu, berikut ini adalah salah satu cerpen saya yang dimuat di harian Fajar Makassar edisi 16 Maret 1997.

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LALU, APA? *)

Cerpen oleh Soe Har

Kami terus mengayun langkah. Berjalan dan berjalan lagi. Terus mendaki. Ada yang bergumam, ada yang bertanya.

“Untuk apa semua ini?”

“Kapan kita sampai?”

”Kapan kita akhiri semua ini?”

Suara-suara itu hilang ditelan deru angin. Sementara, kaki-kaki kami terus terayun, masih menelusuri setapak demi setapak. Gumam, pertanyaan, keluhan, dan apa saja ucapan yang keluar dari mulut, tak ada lagi arti. Harus tetap berjalan. Mendaki dan mendaki lagi.

Kami tiba di sebuah padang yang datar. Kami berhenti. Istirahat. Suara-suara terdengar lagi.

”Saya lelah…”

”Saya juga.”

”Saya capek…”

“Saya juga.”

“Untuk apa semua ini?”

“Untuk apa perjalanan ini?”

”Ya, untuk apa?”

”Sudahlah, karena memang kita harus begini…”

Kami meneruskan perjalanan. Sebentar kemudian, kami mulai mendaki sebuah tebing. Ada yang berjalan biasa, ada yang merangkak, ada pula yang melata seperti ular.

Seorang di antara kami terpeleset, jatuh, lantas menggelinding turun. Sampai di bawah, di padang tempat kami istirahat tadi, tubuh itu tak bergerak-gerak. Pasti mati.

”Kasihan,” celutuk seseorang.

”Memang. Tapi itulah resiko,” sahut yang lain.

”Jadi bagaimana?”

”Tak ada pilihan lain. Kita lanjutkan perjalanan ini!”

Kami meneruskan pendakian. Ketika akan sampai di puncak, lagi seorang di antara kami tergelincir, jatuh tepat menimpa mayat teman kami tadi.

Kami berhenti.

”Kenapa berhenti?” terdengar sebuah tanya.

Tak ada yang menjawab.

”Itulah resiko! Mau tak mau, suka tak suka, kita harus memilih pilihan ini. Kita harus siap menerima segala resiko…”

”Hm, benar…,” gumam beberapa orang kemudian.

”Oleh sebab itu, mari, jangan berhenti!”

Kami bergerak lagi.

Saat sampai di puncak, kami menghela nafas lega. Kami merasa gembira, lantas tertawa sebebas-bebasnya. Tapi tak lama, ada seorang yang mulutnya tak bisa mengatup. Tubuhnya tak bergerak-gerak. Nampaknya orang itu terlalu banyak tertawa hingga napasnya habis. Ya, dia mati.

Kami terkesima.

Tak ada suara, tak ada tawa.

”Kenapa diam?” celutuk seseorang.

”Saya takut,” sahut yang lain.

”Saya juga…”

“Saya juga…”

”Saya ragu-ragu.”

”Saya juga…”

“Saya juga…”

Suara-suara itu bersahutan. Tapi beberapa saat kemudian, hening kembali.

”Kenapa takut? Kenapa ragu-ragu?!” Terdengar suara melengking. ”Bukankah ini yang harus kita lakukan? Bukankah memang hanya pilihan ini yang ada pada kita?!”

Beberapa orang mengangguk membenarkan.

Kami melanjutkan perjalanan. Di depan, sebuah tebing lagi.  Kami harus melewatinya. Ada yang dengan berjalan biasa, ada yang merangkak, ada pula yang melata seperti ular.

Dua orang tergelincir jatuh. Mati. Mati bersama-sama! Aneh. Akhirnya kami jadi terbiasa untuk hanya menatap sejenak mayat-mayat teman kami, lalu segera melanjutkan pendakian. Pun, ketika sampai di puncak ada beberapa yang menggeletak dan tak bergerak, respon kami biasa-biasa saja. Bahkan, mulai terdengar tawa. Ya, tawa yang kemudian terus menjalar, terus menyebar…

Kami tertawa semua.

”Nah, mudah dan ringan kan?”

”Betul…”

”Jangan terlalu dipikirkan resiko. Karena… yah, harus begini.”

”Betul…”

”Mari kita teruskan!”

Untuk pendakian tebing berikutnya, hati kami terasa ringan. Kami banyak tertawa. Ketika ada yang tergelincir jatuh dan mati, kami lihat mayat itu mulutnya terus menganga karena tawa yang tiba-tiba terputus.

Sampai di puncak, yang menggelatak dan tak bergerak-gerak makin bertambah jumlahnya. Kami terkesima. Ngeri oleh kematian yang disebabkan kehabisan tenaga dan juga kehabisan napas karena banyak tertawa.

Perlahan-lahan suara tawa kami mereda.

Kemudian, terdengar teriakan keras, ”Cukup! Cukup!! Kami sudah tak sanggup. Kami menyerah!”

Tak ada yang menyahut.

“Kapan perjalanan ini akan sampai? Sudah berapa banyak yang jadi korban karena kesia-siaan ini? Cukup sampai di sini! Kami sudah tak sanggup. Kami menyerah…”

”Betul…,” terdengar sahutan.

”Iya, betul…”

Tapi tak lama, suara-suara itu pun berhenti. Sunyi kembali.

Lalu, salah seorang di antara kami berteriak lantang, ”Tidak bisa! Kita tidak boleh menyerah, karena hanya ini yang harus kita lakukan. Ya, hanya ini, cuma satu, karena memang harus begini…”

Tak ada yang menyahut.

”Mari kita lanjutkan,” sambung suara itu. ”Hanya tinggal satu tebing yang harus kita daki…!”

Perlahan-lahan kami beringsut. Kami mulai melajutkan lagi perjalanan. Mendaki, terus mendaki. Ada yang berjalan biasa, ada yang merangkak, ada pula yang melata seperti ular. Korban terus berjatuhan. Tapi, tak ada lagi yang peduli.

Dan, akhirnya kami sampai di puncak. Tak ada lagi puncak yang lain. Tak ada lagi tebing yang lain. Inilah puncak di antara puncak-puncak. Inilah titik zenith.

Sunyi.

Hening.

Kami membisu.

Lalu, tiba-tiba sebuah pertanyaan muncul. Sebuah pertanyaan yang terus menjalar, terus menyebar: “Lalu, setelah ini apa?”

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Catatan:

• *) Cerpen ini pernah dimuat di Fajar Makassar, 16 Maret 1997 dengan judul “Setelah ini”. Ditulis ulang oleh penulis dengan editing seperlunya. (Soe Har)
• Baca/download versi pdf, klik di sini>>>…

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Amazing Photos of Mountains in Indonesia

Indonesia, known as the emerald of the equator, has many exotic mountains to visit. Here are some amazing photos of mountains in Indonesia (14 pictures):

Jayawijaya- puncak jaya

Gunung Raung

Gunung Rinjani

Gunung Arjuno-Welirang

Gunung Merapi

Gunung Bawakaraeng

Gunung Gede

Pidato Bahasa Inggris: “Save Our Earth”

An English Speech:

“Save Our Earth”

Pidato Bahasa Inggris >> Topik: Earth Day; Save Our Earth; Global Warming; Environment in Indonesia. Judul: Save Our Earth; Save Our Forest

Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.

First of all, let us praise to the Almighty Allah SWT, because of His Blessing we are able to attend this English speech contest. Secondly, may peace be upon the prophet Muhammad Saw who has guided us from the darkness into the brightness.

I also would like to say many thanks to the juries and MC who have given me opportunity to deliver an English speech in front of you all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The title of my speech is “Save Our Earth; Save Our Forest”.

As we know,

people from all over the world always commemorate Earth Day every 22^nd April. The idea of earth day is based on the awareness to save this world from the environmental destruction. It aims at making global movements to participate actively in saving our earth – the only planet in which we live.

Our country, Indonesia, which is known as the emerald of equator, has an important role to keep the balance of world ecological system. 63 percent (or 1,134,000 km2) of our land territory is still as a forest. Meanwhile, the water area is more than 317,000,000 km2. 17 percent of world plant and animal species live in Indonesia. It indicates that the ecosystem and environmental condition in Indonesia will affect the world. In other words, the environmental damage in Indonesia will influence the sustainability of world environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the causes of environmental damage is deforestation, or known as the destruction of forest. The deforestation has caused many disasters in this world, including Indonesia. Floods, earthquakes and landslides are examples of killing disasters which make us realize that the existence of forest is very important.

In Addition, another effect of deforestation is related with the global warming or the increase of global surface temperature which is mainly caused by the greenhouse effects. We all know, one of the most crucial issues in celebrating Earth Day is the global warming. It warns us that our earth is in danger and we should participate actively to take care of our environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The question is, what is the relationship between Earth Day, global warming, deforestation, and Indonesia?

Indonesia lies in the equator, between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Because of its location, Indonesia is rich of rainforests. Scientists state that the function of rainforests is as the lungs of the world. They absorb greenhouse gas emissions, turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2). It means that if deforestation keeps going on, the greenhouse effects can not be reduced and finally the global warming will keep increasing.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We live in the same world; in this earth. The importance of saving our environment, especially our rainforests, is the need for all of us, for human being to survive. It is not only for us, but also for our next generation…

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Genre: An Approach on the Teaching of English

The word ‘genre’ comes from The French (originally Latin) word for kind or class. The term genre was first introduced in the area of English as specific purpose (ESP) in 1981, in an ESP journal article by Elaine Tarone and her colleagues on the language of scientific reports (Paltridge, 2001, p.2). In addition, Mahwah (2002) explains that genre as a mean for analyzing text has become a means for better pragmatic and linguistic understanding of texts It also supplies possible pedagogical applications. It devoted to genre pedagogy adds to pedagogical thinking because it stretches notions of what can be done in the reading and writing classroom. Further explanation from Chaldler ( 2005) that term genre is widely used in rhetoric, literary theory, media theory, and more recently linguistics, to refer a distinctive type of the texts.

From the description above a conclusion that can be drawn is that genre has the strong relation with the text. What is text? Texts are made of words. Words are around us. When words are used to make meaning the text is created (Rajan, 2003: v). So the text that we use in this research refers to Encyclopedia Britanica (2008) which says that text is a unit of connected speech or writing , especially composed of more than one sentence, that form a cohesive form.

There are thousands of texts around us. The text can be classified into genre through three characteristics, they are purpose of communication, organization structure and language features. The purpose of communication or social function is the reasons why we speak or write or create the text. Organization structure of the text or generic structure is the text organization or text arrangement. Language features or lexical grammar that is such things as the grammar, vocabulary and connectors that we use.

Further information from Lin (2006) says that genre refer to more specific classes of texts, such as newspaper reports or recipes. Furthermore Partridge (2001) genre describe types of activities such as personal letter, advertisement students essay and the term of text type represent group of text which are similar in linguistic form such as Procedure, anecdote, description. However, the term of genre in this proposal is means type of the text. This term has been widely used in the recent English curriculum in Indonesia. The definition of Genre or type of the text in this proposal refers to definition given by Martin, cited in Partridge (2001, p. 11) that is a staged, goal oriented, purposeful activity in which speakers engage as members of a culture.

There are twelve genres or types of the texts should be taught at Senior High School, they are recount, report, discussion, explanation, Exposition analytical, exposition hortatory, news item, anecdote, narrative, procedure, description and review (depdiknas, 2005)

One widely accepted classroom application of teaching English using the genre-based approach is the “teaching and learning cycle” or also referred to as “the curriculum cycle”. This cycle consists of four main stages; they are building knowledge of field, modeling of text, join construction of text and independent construction of text. It aims to provide support for learners as they go through each stage of the cycle. The following elaboration of the teaching and learning cycle is adapted from Paltridge (2001).

1. Building Knowledge of the Field (BKoF)

This stage is the preparation stage. So, the first activity is to prepare student to get into the new topic of the text. Suppose that the focus genre is narrative, students should identify the topic of the text, whether the text is about Lancang Kuning or Malin Kundang. The next step is to give students the experience about the content of the text. The activities can be in form of questions and answers about the narrative texts which have been read by students. Because this is the preparation stage, teachers should enlarge the students vocabulary as well as to make students interested in reading the text.

2. Modeling of Text (MoT)

In this stage teachers give example of the text. For spoken cycle this stage is used to develop listening, so the activities are listening comprehension. In written cycle the activities are reading comprehension. Procedural knowledge or text organization is introduced in this stage.

3. Joint Construction of the Text (JCoT)

Self confidence is very important in developing language skills, so in this stage the teachers build students self confidence in productive skills either speaking or writing. For this purpose, the teachers give opportunity to students to cooperate in pair or in group. So that they can o learn from others. The example activities for spoken cycle are role play, games, interview, discussion and debate. For written cycle can be collaborative writing (Brain storming, organizing idea, drafting, revising, editing)

4. Independent Construction of the Text (ICoT)

At the end of the process of teaching and learning the individual achievement should be measured. So one of the purpose of this stage is to know haw far the students master the lesson individually and students must have the responsibility for their own learning. The teachers also have to try to encourage students’ creativity in this stage, because in this stage for spoken cycle each student should have monologue in focused genre and in the written cycle students should produce the text of focused genre. (Source: http://lana-cometorich.blogspot.com)

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