Implementing Scientific Approach to Teach English at Senior High School in Indonesia

Abstract

Scientific approach is a teaching strategy using scientific steps in teaching subject matter at senior high school in Indonesia. Scientific approach has the characteristics of “doing science” that allows teachers to improve the process of learning by breaking the process down into steps which contain detailed instruction for conducting student learning. Although the scientific approach offers significant breakthrough in improving the quality of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) at Senior High School in Indonesia, there were still some obstacles faced by English teachers. This study aimed at investigating the implementation of scientific approach to teach English at Senior High School in Indonesia and problems of teaching and learning in implementing scientific approach. The data were collected through observation of teaching learning process and interview with the teachers and the students in two senior high schools in Padang, Indonesia. The findings showed that, among the five steps of scientific approach, the teachers were not able to implement the observing and questioning steps optimally yet. Meanwhile, in experimenting and associating the teachers have applied them well, and in communicating the teachers have applied them optimally.