ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF “PUPPETRY” METHOD IN

TEACHING EFL

Submitted to: Dr. Maman Suryaman, M. Pd.

A Report

By:

Ari Nabila

1610631060023

Group 6

6E

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPERBANGSA KARAWANG

2019
 ABSTRACT
This qualitative study aims to determine whether puppets can be used as
teaching aids for teaching English as a Foreign Language and also the
weaknesses possessed by the learning method "Puppetry." This study uses
descriptive methods in writing. To complete the data, information retrieval
through previous research was also conducted. This study's result indicates
that there are several advantages and disadvantages in the "Puppetry" method,
although this learning method is also a learning strategy that can be said to be
innovative. But this study was limited to the role of puppets in English
language education as a foreign language that had been carried out by several
previous researchers. Further studies can focus on using the "Puppetry"
method in learning by eroding the weaknesses that have been obtained from
previous researchers.

Keywords: Puppets, English Language Learning Media, EFL

 INTRODUCTION

A. Background
Learning media is an essential tool to streamline the teaching and learning process
in the classroom. Same with other lessons, learning English as a foreign language by
using learning media will attract attention and facilitate students. There are two
categories of teaching media that we are familiar with, namely traditional and modern.
In today's development, the use of modern learning media has been applied to
almost all learning classes because of its diverse nature and increasing efficiency in
the classroom. The result is that many traditional learning media have been
abandoned. However, traditional learning media is still essential today. One
significant emphasis given by schools today is on various types of realistic learning
experiences, such as life that involve educational construction activities.
Real and familiar things give substance to the learning experience. Many things can
be done by modifying learning media or providing a new idea. One of them is the
puppetry method. Models bring the world in miniature to classrooms, dolls have been
used for years to dramatize stories and to entertain and inform people. They are
essential teaching resources for today's class. This is in line with Dempsie cited in,
Yap, Mavis 2006, Stated that:
“...Using a classroom puppet is like team teaching. Children like the change of pace
and variety that comes from using a puppet to introduce a lesson or help solve a
classroom conflict. A puppet can add that special spark to motivate and capture the
children’s attention that the ‘regular' teacher can't do." Yap, Mavis (2006).
Hence the making of this report aims to provide information about excellence and
also problems that can be found in the puppetry method.

B. Research problem
1. What are the benefits of the use puppets in teaching English as a foreign language?
2. What are the disadvantages of puppets in teaching English as a foreign language?
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Learning media is essential to streamline the teaching and learning process in the
English class. There are two types of learning media that can be used, namely
traditional and modern. Traditional media are printed or real materials that can be
used in teaching and learning materials that are considered user-friendly and cost-
effective tools (Bajracharya, 2016). But in this age of globalization, more use of
modern media is found. Cuff, 2001 says "Today's academic digital design is
impressive but also paradoxical."
Therefore, the making of this report is a development to provide information on the
puppetry method which is a traditional learning media which is believed to be able to
build pedagogical lessons to the student. This is in line with (Firaz, Peer, et al. 2014)
in Owaduge, 2018 p. 6 stated that “The craft of puppet design and construction is a
lifelong learning process and offers many entry points for engaging students and
engaging them in new design experiences.”
Dolls are teaching media that are flexible enough to be adapted to the experiences
and abilities of students at all levels. The use of the puppetry method is also believed
to be a powerful method to provide comfort and pleasure to students, even shy
students. This indeed encourages students to be more active without having to be
depressed and afraid. As in Reidmiller's writing, 2008 Candice reported that "I saw an
excitement in them (the students) that I hadn't seen in a long time." The puppetry
method in learning English as a foreign language will be able to increase the
enthusiasm for learning and the students' pleasure in learning without creating a fear
of wrong which usually occurs in students who will learn English as a foreign
language.
In the division, several types of puppets can be used for this puppetry learning
method. The following are two types of puppets that can be made and used by
teachers and students easily according to (Owaduge, 2018 p. 6):
“1. Hand Puppets: generally, consist of head figures, can be dolls, head figures or
toys, animal head figures, and loose clothes or dresses that are placed on top of the
operator's hand, with the wrist not visible. The index finger fits into the doll's head
and the thumb and middle finger slide into thin arms to form two free hands. Hand
puppets are operated from below.
2. Puppet Dolls: usually have jointed bodies made of rigid wire, umbrella ribs, or
thin wooden sticks that are attached to the arms, legs or head. The trunk can also be
used to place animal pieces, stage furniture or scenery above or offstage or to move
them while on stage.” (Owaduge, 2018 p. 6)
 DISCUSSION

Puppetry is a method of playing or performing puppets/puppets played and

executed by a puppeteer. The use of the puppetry method is advantageous in creating
a pleasant learning atmosphere so that students feel comfortable and do not feel tense
in learning English as a foreign language. This is in line with Korosec, 2013 p. 6 says
"The use of puppets (including visual expression and music) can be a significant
contribution to a more humane and less stressful educational system in integration
with a group." These are the advantages and disadvantages below. found in the use of
the puppetry method in EFL learning

The Advantages of using Puppets as a media for learning EFL

Puppet shows are objects that are manipulated by the mastermind. They often use
figures such as humans or animals. Puppet movements are controlled by hand
movements, sticks, or strings. Puppet shows are the oldest learning methods because
this method is often done in the past until now. Below are the benefits that can be
obtained using the puppet show learning method:

1. Students can develop their narrative abilities

Vivian Parley (1990) states that "in storytelling, as in play, the social interactions we
call interruptions usually improve the narrative." Every student may work harder if
there is a group goal. Through such performances (puppet games), students can
explore stories by working with their peers and also increasing their individual
abilities, as well as to develop shared views, groups, but also in creating and forming
individual views, "said Ruth Bennett (2002) & (Ruddell & Ruddell, 1994).

2. Helping children develop creative, cognitive and problem-solving skills.

According to Jean Piaget's theory, play puppets can help children develop creative
and cognitive skills by forcing them to use their imagination. They play roles, rules,
situations, and solutions. Through this imaginative game, children understand the
difference between fantasy and reality.

3. Puppetry helps students to add vocabulary.

In the puppetry method, students will play dialogues with themselves and puppets or
can be with their friends because this method is a method of performance. Reidmiller,
2018 stated that students could create an intelligent dialogue between puppets and
enter vocabulary words appropriately and help to learn vocabulary. This method
creates a comfortable environment that can invite students to explore languages and
conventions in English.

4. Puppets create a fun learning

The puppetry method is undeniably able to create a fun and entertaining learning
atmosphere because we use a doll and drama at the same time. With this, students will
not feel pressured to learn new languages , and they feel happy in learning. They will
learn without realizing. Dolls motivate children to work. Shy children can speak in
public through puppets. Quiet children could get out of their safety zone, and they
become more expressive. Children can express their thoughts, fears, and feelings,
which are sometimes difficult to voice (Çağanağa & Kalmış, 2015).

The Weakness of Using the Puppets Method for Learning English

There are several obstacles faced by teachers in applying the Puppet Show
method, namely:

1. Too many students while the facilities and infrastructure are still limited.
As we know that not all schools for elementary school children have excellent
facilities, and infrastructures such as the school level above, Classes that are too large
and the number of students who exceed the capacity to make non-technical constraints
such as lack of clarity in the discussion of some students. This will be very annoying
if they start shouting at each other.

2. The success of this method depends on the creativity of the teacher.

For the use of the puppetry method shown for pre-school age children, a teacher
must create a puppet and also a drama dialogue that will be played by the puppet. In
Setyarini, 2010 it was written that "there was disappointment expressed by students
that they lacked time for English lessons so that they could not complete the activities
they had prepared." Therefore, the teacher also had to use his creativity to prepare a
brief but also clear story.

3. The Puppetry method can be used for all ages but will not always be accepted
by teenage students.
This method is believed to be a method that is suitable for all ages but returns to
the creativity of how a teacher makes it easy to be accepted by adolescent students. In
a study conducted by Riedmiller, (2008) 7 people admitted that the puppetry method
was fun and acceptable, but five other students gave negative responses.
 CONCLUSION

Puppetry or puppet shows are a drama performance using puppets played by a

puppeteer. The puppetry method is a very well-known traditional learning method
from ancient times. Usually, this method is used to provide education on the history of
religion and also education. In learning English, this method can also be used. There
are several advantages of using the puppetry method for EFL learning, namely: (1)
Developing narrative abilities. (2) Develop creative, cognitive and problem-solving
skills. (3) add new English vocabulary. (4) Creating fun learning. But everything on
the face of the earth always has two different sides; this method also has several
weaknesses like the following: (1) 1. Too many students while the facilities and
infrastructure are still limited. (2) the success of this method depends on the creativity
of a teacher. (3) Puppetry methods can be used for all ages but will not always be
accepted by teenagers. So, it can be suggested that the puppetry method is a method
using puppets that are played. This method is very innovative and fun to give to
today's children who are starting to leave this traditional game. Behind the simplicity
of this method, many benefits are generated if we as teachers make this method for
learning.
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