English Communication Skill of Science and Mathematics Teachers of a Junior High Private School in Surakarta

Abstract

This study observed the use of English as a Medium Instruction (EMI) by Science and Mathematics teachers. Gillet's proposal on rhetorical function (2012) was employed in this study. This study also found out the commonly used rhetoric function according the data observation on teachers' utterances. By using quantitative method, this study found out the commonly used rhetoric function according to the data observation on teachers' utterances in SMP Kristen Kalam Kudus Surakarta. The result indicated that from fifteen rhetorical function uses proposed by Gillet (2012), only thirteen were used by Science and Mathematics teachers in SMP Kristen Kalam Kudus Surakarta and the major finding that the mostly used rhetoric function is giving instruction (31%). By analyzing giving instruction, I find that this category is effective to be applied in the classroom since the teachers make the students being active to understand, answer and other activities during teaching and learning process in the classroom. Therefore, the teachers should review the way they present the lesson in the classroom. It is also important for other researchers trying to find strategies how to teach other lessons using EMI, then the goal of applying EMI in the classroom can be reached and the students can master the lesson well.