A. Background (rev 2)

As we know that, language is something crucial in human life. Language is one of the most important things in communication and it is used as a tool of communication among the nations in all over the world. As an international language, English is the most widely used language in the world. It shows that English is very important to be learned by the students for international communication.

In Indonesia, English considered as the first foreign language and taught formally from elementary school up to the university level. There are four skills had to be mastered  in English language: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. As a part of language skill, writing is very important to support communication among human being. Language is not only spoken, but also written. It is a basic language skill, just as important as speaking, listening, and reading. So that, writing must be taught for student.

Writing has a higher status than speaking because almost every body can speak but only a few people can write. We must write with correct grammar. We organize what we write into sentences and paragraphs. We use more formal vocabulary and we do not use slang. It demands us to have good ability in writing sentences, especially to compose text correctly.

Moreover, writing as a language production is consider as a difficult subject for students. In fact, the students have many ideas or experience but they can not explain or describe into the written form. Most of students do writing activity to full fill the requirement of writing assignment, and also they only follow the instruction given by their teachers. If the teachers do not give them any tasks to do such as doing exercise, taking a note, making summary, or writing a paragraph, the students will do nothing to improve their writing skill. This indicates that students are not interested in their writing.

 Teach writing is not an easy job, but it is a necessary one. Without these skill the students will have difficulties in develop other skill. It can be very rewarding when we see our student’ progress and know that we have helped to make it happen.

In order to make teaching writing successfully, some factors such as; quality of the teacher, students’ interest and motivation, the teaching method, teaching materials, etc have to be considered. Materials become very important in the education field. Teachers need to choose appropriate, engage and interesting materials for students.

Unfortunately, there are mistakes of teaching in the class which cause students can not understand writing material fully. One of them, mistake of descriptive text teaching. Learning of descriptive text writing still use conventional methods and materials. Teacher becomes center of study. Students are less involved in learning process. The materials are unfamiliar and difficult so that students feel bored. Teachers need creativity for design their own material to increase students learning motivation.

For that reason, an English teacher should think about materials and techniques that is hoped will help the students in mastering writing skill. In this research, the materials will be designed based on contextual approach, because the descriptive text material will be taken from students real-life environment. As Junior high school students they need the material which easy to understand and using contextual approach will appropriate in their age. Contextual approach will help them to start thinking realistic and critical because the material will be connected to their real word situation. The researcher believe that by designing a module through contextual approach will help students in writing descriptive text.