Getting to Know Theme Based Learning

Theme-Based Learning is a way used by teachers that link the learning activities around a specific theme (Cameron, 2001). Theme-Based Learning is believed to be an appropriate teaching strategy for Young Learner, as every activities arranged must be purposeful (Sesiorina, 2014).

A theme-based approach can be used to plan and organize English language learning. Beginning with a theme which is developed through school subject areas to create tasks and activities and from which language learning outcomes are selected (Cameron in Brannigan, 2011, p. 19)

Recently in Indonesia, Theme-Based teaching has been employing in the new curriculum in Indonesia, Kurikulum 2013, as they have a same idea (Lathufirdaush, 2014). According to Cameron (2001), Theme-Based Learning has four stages;

1. Choose points  

   Choose direction is the plan of what will be the limit of the activities.

a. Direction

b. Activity

c. Timing

2. Finding a theme

    Finding a theme is the easiest part in Theme-Based Learning; we can look around a specific issue and relate it to some sub-topic.

3. Planning content 

     Here, after finding a theme, teacher will ask students about what they think when they read or listen to the word/topic chosen.

a. Brainstorming 

b. Web 

4. Planning language learning task 

    Material session is over and we have to know whether students understand the learning or not. Teacher can make enjoyable task related to the topic that include lots of fun and purposeful activities.

a) Language learning through TBT

       Theme-Based Learning is a helpful way in teaching language to young learners (Cameron, 2001). By theme-Based teaching, teacher can provide to learn;

1. Vocabulary

2. Communicative stretching

3. Discourse skills

4. Motivation

5. Outcomes and products

b) Increasing target language use in TBT

      Here’s some strategies to improve young learner’s language ability;

1. Tell the words in the doing and making process

2. Teacher support

3. Feedback

4. Encouraging private speech in the foreign language

5. Background language exposure

The example of learning employs Theme-Based Teaching is;

“In a classroom, teacher will bring ‘soil’ as the theme for the session. Then, teacher will give a brainstorming session where students are asked to think about all things related to soil. For example, in English class soil will be known a noun which means the top layer of earth that plants grow in. This is related to Geography class, where soil itself has four layers; Humus, topsoil, subsoil, weathered rock, and bedrock, etc.

For the conclusion. Theme-Based teaching as a well-applied strategy is very demanding (Cameron, 2001). This teaching learning demands teacher to be creative in linking the activities to be enjoyable but full of benefit for students that students can be a full participant in the classroom, while sometimes teachers are out of idea to create this learning process stage.

References

Brannigan, S. (2011). Meeting 10-12 Year Olds’ English Language Learning Needs Through A Theme-Based Approach. E-Journal Of Teacher Education And Applied Language Studies, 19-26.

Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching Languages To Young Lelarner. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lathufirdaush, F. (2014). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEME-BASED TEACHING TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL. Journal Of English And Education, 9-16.

Sesiorina, S. (2014). THE ANALYSIS OF TEACHERS’ LESSON PLAN IN IMPLEMENTING THEME-BASED INSTRUCTION FOR TEACHING ENGLISH TO YOUNG LEARNERS . Journal Of English And Education , 84-95.