Teacher Communication Behaviour to Mentally Retarded Students of Sukapura in Bandung City during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This research aims to determine the communication behavior used by the teachers of performing arts and handicrafts at SLB C Sukapura Bandung City in motivating mentally retarded students to be creative during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research used a qualitative approach with case studies. The research subjects were 6 informants, consist of three key informants and three supporting informants that were obtained through the purposive sampling technique. The results showed that the teacher’s communication behavior of performing arts and handicrafts at SLB C Sukapura Bandung City in motivating mentally retarded students to be creative during the Covid-19 pandemic was by conducting offline and online learning, using the forms of verbal and nonverbal communication, and through the communication obstacles. This research concluded that the verbal and nonverbal messages cannot be separated because when the teacher communicates, verbal and nonverbal messages would be used simultaneously by the teacher. Moreover, the teachers also approach the mentally retarded students by listening and understanding their complaints to provide support and encouragement for student motivation. The communication obstacles that occur during offline learning were the lack of language skills and the low self-confidence of mentally retarded students. Furthermore, for online learning, some problems became the communication obstacles such as unstable connections, unsupported cellphones, and no internet data were. This research suggested that involving parents role in the learning process can be considered to be done to help students in order to maintain their learning motivation for online learning requires special concentration to focus