Gaining Confidence Through English

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Gaining Confidence Through English

Tri Murniati, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto

[email protected]

Abstract

As English is widely known and used in most part of the world, its

popularity is significantly increased. This motivates people to learn English based

on various reasons. Some are motivated because English facilitates their business

while some other, perhaps having different reasons such to improve their personal

capability. Since the global era is started, people are more aware to English not only

as something which can support their activities but also as a means of self-

empowerment. Such phenomenon can be easily found in our daily life. University

students, for example, are willing to join an English club wishing that they can

master English comprehensively even though they are taking English as their major.

It seems that learning English through lectures is not sufficient. That is why

students are in a high spirit of following activities such as English club. Meanwhile,

some competitions such debate, reading and speech competitions are always havinga warm welcome. Those phenomena are certainly worth to have a deep exploration

for the result will surely show how worth English is for us. This article will discuss

about how English is used as a means of gaining confidence in the process of

empowering oneself especially by the students of English major by joining English

clubs and competitions.

Key words: confidence, English, self-empowerment, students

1.Introduction

This research begins with the basic assumption that students are all unique. Duringlectures, it is easy to spot students who are outstanding. The outstanding students

are usually outspoken, active, and confident compared with the other students. This

different behavior is usually obviously seen since it is revealed during lectures. One

clear explanation for that phenomenon is that the outspoken students are actually

those who join English club. Question such as how can English club influence

students' performance during classes, then, pops up. What motivate them to join

such club is worth to be questioned further especially because they are English

Department students. This shows that English has attracted the students more and

more. That is why learning English during classes is not enough.

Further question which emerges is what are actually their motivations and

expectations in joining such club. To accomodate the answers of those questions, aquestionnaire is needed. The questionnaire will dig out the information which then

will be used to answer the question research. Such a questionnaire is designed and

intended to cover the information needed for the data analysis. This paper reports

on a study undertaken to investigate the motivation of students to join English club.

The finding will also be expected to cut open their expectations and also to reveal

the impacts of joining such club.

2.Literature Review

2.1 English as A Global Language: Fame and Reputation

English as the worldwide language is certainly has an undoubtful reputation.

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English is currently the undisputed language of science and technology, and

scientific journals in many countries are now switching from the vernacular to

English. In specific disciplines, English appears to be the universal language of

communication(Nunan, 2003). As the consequence of that fact, people nowadays

must know English. Mastering English is also considered as a means of

empowerment. Such case happened to the immigrants who come to USA. Without

sufficient English-language abilities, the immigrants will have difficulties in doing

their job and that will keep them in low-paid jobs. It can be concluded that English

is the language of opportunity (Crystal, 2003).

Such a phenomenon also happens in Indonesia. Nowadays, English is the language

of people in doing their bussiness. It is used as the means of communication with

their client or colleagues. As global era is started, English gains its reign. The ability

in spoken and written English becomes one of the requirements of job vacancy.

That is why job seekers try their best to be able to master English by following

English courses for example. The society in Indonesia also perceive English as a

most wanted language. Parents usually encourage their children to take English

lesson seriously. They are indoubt of getting English tutor for their children.

English teacher also has a good reputation since the society in Indonesia believe

that English is important. Being English teacher, then, becomes one of the bestfuture dreams of the children in Indonesia. As a result, English department is known

as a favorite department for university student.

2.2 Maslow's Motivation Theory

People do something because they have reasons to do it or they have something to

be achieved. It is, then, known as a motivation. Motivation basically means as

incentive or drive. To have a brief understanding on motivation, one should

understand motivation theory. Motivation theory is not synonymous with behavior

theory. The motivations are only one class of determinants of behavior. While

behavior is almost always motivated, it is also almost always biologically, culturallyand situationally determined as well (Maslow, 1943). One of motivation theories

which has given a base-foundation in the development of motivation theory is

Maslow's motivation theory.

This 'classic' theory which is developed by Abraham Maslow concerns on the

premise that human's need can be classified into five levels known as hierarchical

needs. The five needs are the physiological needs, the needs for safety and security,

the needs for love and belonging, the needs for esteem, and the need to actualize the

self (Boeree, 2006). In fulfilling those need people tend to be motivated to fulfill the

basic needs before moving on to other needs. The five-stage of human basic needs

is summarized as follow:

a)The physiological needsThese refer to the human needs for oxygen, water, nourishment, sex, sleep, wages

and food. If such needs are not fulfilled then one's motivation will arise from

the quest to satisfy them. The higher needs such as social needs and esteem will

not emerge until one has met the basic needs.

b)The needs for safety and security

Safety and security needs will come when the physiological needs are taken care of.

People, then, will seek for safe circumstances, stability, and protection. If a

person feels that she or he is in harm's way, higher needs will not receive much

attention (Boeree, 2006).

c)The needs for love and belonging

During this stage, one might need a feeling of acceptance, a feeling of fitting or of

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belonging to a group. People need to affiliate with others and to be accepted.

d)The needs for esteem

According to Maslow, there are two versions of esteem needs, the lower and the

higher one. The first is the need for the respect of others, the need for status,

fame, glory, recognition, attention, reputation, appreciation, dignity or even

dominance. The latter includes the need for self-respect, such as feeling

confidence, competence, achievement, mastery, independence, and freedom

(Boeree, 2006). Self-esteem is the value you place on what you believe to be

true about yourself. How you see yourself and feel about yourself determines

how much value you place on yourself as a person. Self-esteem means

appreciating your own worth and importance and having the character to be

accountable for yourself and to act responsibly toward others (Mattews, 1998).

e)The needs to actualize the self

Even if all these needs are satisfied, we may still often (if not always) expect that a

new discontent and restlessness will soon develop, unless the individual is

doing what he is fitted for. A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a

poet must write, if he is to be ultimately happy. What a man canbe, he mustbe.

This need we may call self-actualization (Maslow, 1943).

However, the latest development of this theory shows that there are three additional

needs which complete Maslow's original theory. They are cognitive needs, aesthetic

needs, and transcendence. Huitt (2007) notes that Maslow has broaden the fifth

level needs. The first is cognitive needs which concern with the expression of the

natural human need to learn, explore, discover, and create a better understanding of

the world around them. It is about getting to know and to gain knowledge. Next is

aesthethic needs. As Maslow has stated before that when one need is fulfilled the

higher need emerges. Therefore after the cognitive needs are met aesthetic needs

will pop up. People are then aware of fulfilling their desire of beauty, balance,

form, order and symmetry. The last is self-trancendence. Actually Maslow puts self-

actualization (from the first version) into the same level with self-trancendence(from the latest one). The final stage of Maslow's hierarchy of needs decribes how

people's attempt to find themselves and also to realize their own potential. It is

something that goes beyond their ego. When this final stage is reached, one feels of

becoming self-actualized and self-trancendent, getting wiser and they automatically

know what to do in various situations of their life.

1.Methodology

This research was considered as a descriptive analytic research. The data gained

from the questionnaire filled by students of English Department who join English

club. About 20 students of English Department were taken as the respondents ofthis small research. The richness of the the respondents' explanation is the main

consideration to be taken as data source that is why this research did not pay much

attention on the number of the participant. The qualitatively gained data from the

questionnaires were used as the source of the the next step, the analysis. The

answers from the questionnaires then were classified and processed in order to

answer the research questions. Those data were connected to the theory of

Motivation by Abraham Maslow to reason and to prove the assumptions made in

the first place.

2.Results and Discussions

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skills. By joining such club, automatically they deal with some organizational

matters especially when they have to hold and organize events. This is also related

to the fulfillment of cognitive needs. For those who never hold or organize events,

they will have a full exploration and challenge. It can be said as a fulfillment of

getting a brand new knowledge and information. Experiencing new activities will

help people to widen and broaden their mind. In this case, respondents are

motivated to join clubs because they want to have and experience such thing.

The last 25 % of the respondents considered that they want to expand their network

by getting many friends and link. They believe that by joining a club they will have

the opportunities. It is actually proven since the members of the English club are

from various departments. It is likely to happen that joining club will surely widen

and broaden the respondents' network and link. Having many friends is considered

the fulfillment of Maslow's third level needs, love and belongings needs. It happens

when people feel affiliated with others and being accepted. No wonder some of the

respondents feel that they have a new family after joining the club. It is because

they have an attached feeling among their club's members.

While motivations help individual to highlight their action, expectations also play a

great role. Expecting something will give people a reason to do an action. In this

case the respondents also have some expectations in joining the club. Someexpectations found in this small research are getting personal

development/empowerment, getting new experiences, going abroad opportunity,

and achievements.

Most of the respondents have a high expectation that they will have improvement in

their English skill and also get organizational skill. They expect to have a self-

improvement. Almost 95% of the respondents have an expectation of an improved

English skill. They all want their English skill to be better such as having a good

public speaking and being good debater. Getting achievements is also expected

since most of the respondents admitted to have followed some competitions (mostly

debate competitions) during their membership. By getting achievement, people are

recognized and got attention. It can be said that their esteem needs are met.About 10% of the respondents also hope to get scholarship and the opportunity of

going abroad. They believe by mastering English they can explore the world. As the

global language, English is surely the right key of entering the global world.

Having new experiences also becomes the expectations of 40% of the respondents.

It is quite clear that the respondents would like to fulfill their cognitive needs by

joining club since they feel like to know and to explore many things.

4.2 Impacts of Joining English Club

During their membership in the club, the respondents have some regular activities.

For those who follow the club's activities regularly, they feel a significant change.However, for those who rarely follow the regular activities, they do not feel the

same. It shows that changes are closely related to how often the respondents follow

the regular activities in their club. It is proven that about 5% (1 respondent) thought

that being a member of a club does not support the study. The main reason is that

the respondent rarely follows the regular activities of the club.

On the other hand, 90 % of the respondents agreed that joining a club supports their

activities during lectures. It means that they feel suppported by following activities

in the club. The respondents admitted that they were confident while having a

presentation. It happens because their public speaking ability is improved. By

joining a club and then follow its activities regularly really make a significant

change for the respondents. Some of the respondents who think that joining a club

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supports lectures have opinions that lectures give them theories while club gives

them the opportunities to practice. The respondents think that they have intensive

English speaking practices when they follow the activities in the club regularly.

This is something they cannot have in lectures since they surely have limited time

to practice English during lectures (many subjects are taken, and speaking classes

are limited in time). Therefore lectures and club's activities fit each other.

Related to Maslow's fourth level need, the esteem needs, it is quite clear that the

respondents gain great confidence while having presentation or lectures for

example since they do not have difficulties in delivering the speech. Therefore they

get more attention and recognition from both lecturers and friends. This will

increase their self-confidence. Following competition is also the media of

developing the respondents' English skill. In debate system, 5% of the respondents

believe to be considered the media of practicing some aspects of English namely

speaking, listening, writing and reading. Most of the respondents admit that

following competitions help them to improve their English skill

In short, it can be summed up that the impacts of joining the club are increasing

confidence, supporting study at campus and improving skills (such as public

speaking, debate skill, and soft skills). People say practice makes perfect, this

proverb is actually proven in this case. By following regular activities in the club,the respondents feel the direct impact on their personal life. It is also proven that

following activities in the club helps them in dealing with their study.

3.Conclusions

The findings of this research all point towards a general conclusion that joining

English club is considered as a means of self-empowerment. The eager desire to

master English is the most recognized motivation to join English club. They are

also expecting to be better in their English. It means that English departments

students believe that English can be used as a means of self-empowerment and as

an effort to improve their English skill ability. Besides, by joining English club theydo not only get new experiences but also get new friends and broaden their

network. Their expectations are more or less the same with their motivations. From

the data, it can be concluded that the impacts of joining club are clearly seen and

sensed. By joining club, the respondents have regular activities of practicing

English therefore they have an improved English skill. It, then, helps them to deal

with their study during lectures. They also gain a great deal of confident feeling in

their performance during lectures since they feel an improved English skill.

References

Boeree, C. George. 2006. Personalities Theories: Abraham Maslow. ShippenburgUniversity. Retrieved November 14, 2011 from, [ http://www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/perscontents.html]

Crystal, David. 2003. English as a Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press

Huitt, W. 2007. Maslow's hierarchy of needs.Educational Psychology Interactive.

Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University Retrieved on November 14, 2011

from, http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/regsys/maslow.html

Maslow, Abraham H. 1943. A Theory of Human Motivation, Psychological

Review, 50, 370-396, An internet resource developed by Christopher D.

Green (http://www.yorku.ca/dept/psych/classics/author.htm)

Nunan, David. 2003. The Impact of English as a Global Language on Educational

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