Implementation of Reinforcement Skill in Teaching English in The Pandemic Situation

Diah Kusuma Werdi

doi:10.36663/tatefl.v2i2.139

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the types of reinforcement skills and investigate the implementation of reinforcement skills used during the online learning process at SMP Laboratorium Undiksha Singaraja. This study used a qualitative descriptive method as the research design. This study also used an English teacher as the research subject. In collecting data, this study used three methods, namely; observation, interview, and questionnaires. This research was conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the data obtained, this study found the results of the type of reinforcement and the implementation used by teachers during online learning. There are four types of reinforcement used by the teachers, such as; (1) positive verbal reinforcement in the form of praise and partial reinforcement, (2) positive non-verbal reinforcement in the form of gestures, (3) negative verbal reinforcement in the form of enforceable statements, questions, calling out the students' names, and (4) negative non-verbal reinforcement in the form of facial expressions and record the students' misbehavior. In addition, the reinforcement implementation was relevant to the theories suggested by experts by following the five principles in giving reinforcement. Further study is needed to get a deeper understanding toward the implementation of reinforcement in EFL classroom.

Highlights

In the world of education, teachers have a very important role in motivating the students’ learning process
This study aimed to find out and analyze the types of reinforcement that are given by the teacher and how the teacher implements the reinforcement skill when teaching English in the context of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
The teacher often shows negative non-verbal reinforcement in the form of facial expression by showing frowned face to the students when they do not pay attention to the class, and sometimes record the students’ misbehavior by make notes of those who are noisy during the lesson and put minus remark for being noisy and not following the lesson on the students name on the presence list

Summary

Introduction

In the world of education, teachers have a very important role in motivating the students’ learning process. Teacher professionalism strongly supports the learning process in the classroom. One way that teachers use to motivate students is by implementing reinforcement skills for students every time they teach in class. To motivate students, the teacher will provide reinforcement in the form of praise and reward. In 2019, Indonesia experienced an education crisis caused by The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). Purwanto et al (2020) state that the COVID-19 pandemic is the foremost health crisis in the world. Many countries have decided to close schools and universities

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