SNAKE AND LADDER GAME AS A MEDIA IN TEACHING SIMPLE PAST TENSE FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Background
It is not doubt that grammar is a big problem in learning English. But the grammatical rules are very important to learn for the students, especially talking about the tenses. One of the tenses is about the simple past tense. The student have to understand how to change the verb from the V1 into the V2 for the verbal sentence and also they have to understand which to be they use between was and were for the nominal sentence in simple past tense.
Because of that, Teacher have to wisely to find out the technique to teach the grammatical rule in the class. One of the technique is using a games to exercise the grammar especially in Simple Past Tense. A variety of game is one interesting technique for making good communication in the class. Toward a game, the students can enjoy the teaching learning process. Also if they study grammar by using the game, they can get both studying and playing and it can make them feel relax. In game are many activities such as grouping to make them socialize with others, competing, discussing, remembering, and many fun activities.
2. Description
“Snake and ladder” game is one of the interesting game for teaching the grammar. Specifically in the Simple Past Tense. This game consisted of a board (which was square and had 30 boxes for verbs of V1 form). This board also had instructions that the player has to replace the V1 verb in the box with a V2 Verb, and also they have to change the to be from are, am, is into was or were. Other necessary components were pieces to represent the player and a dice.
Materials that needed to be prepared for playing the game include Materials that needed to be prepared for playing the game included a white cardboard playing area. Other materials were pencils, markers, colored pencils, rulers, glue, pieces to represent the players.
The way to play the game is very easy and can be done in groups or individually just as it is when you play regular Snakes and Ladders. First, the teacher puts the students in groups and they take it in turns to shake the dice. Students move their pieces along the boxes on the game board according to the number that appears on the dice. When students land in a box they have to change the V1 verb into its V2 form in writing and then say it out loud. The game continues until the final box is reached.
During the game, if players land in a box with a picture of a snake's head in it, they have to go down to the box at the snake's tail. Meanwhile, when players land in a box with a picture of the foot of a ladder then they can climb till they get to the box at top of the ladder. As for students who cannot answer the question, the penalty is that the player's piece is returned to where it was before they took their turn.
The impact of the game was that the students were better able to understand the different V1 and V2 forms of the verb, and students could also switch verbs from V1 to V2 well. By using media that practised students' ability to use the Simple Past Tense and writing recount texts, their ability increased. And most importantly, the students became more motivated and confident in learning English, especially grammar.
the application snake and ladder media in teaching
The advantages of this media:
- Games are fun and children like to play them.
- Students as the central of learning
- Games provide language practice in the various skills(speaking,writing,listening,and reading
- Playing games means being active
- Snake and ladder is the common game which is very easy to play , almost all the student understand how to play this game
- They will remember how to make a pattern in simple sentence easily
- Make student enjoy
The disadvantage of this game :
- Some students may think games are a waste of time and immature. Their body language and facial expression will make this clear.
- One student may be too competitive and make other students uncomfortable.
- Someone can be a ‘bad loser’.
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