INQUIRY LEARNING

NARRATIVES

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Learning a language means learning its vocabularies. We use

the vocabularies in communication either in spoken form or written
form. We try to send messages, share information and ideas by
using the language. In general, no language acquisition is possible
without understanding the vocabulary, either in the first or the
second language (Kweldju, 2004:18).
The process and the way that we go through in learning and
using the target language usually take hard effort especially in
learning a foreign language. This is because a foreign language is
different from a mother language. The differences can be in the
rules of the sounds system (phonology), the word formation
(morphology), the word structures (syntax), the words meaning
(semantic), and the social context (sociolinguistic). These can cause
problems in learning a foreign language. However, teachers of a
foreign language should always motivate their students to keep
practicing using the language. They should use many methods
which can interest their students in using the target language in
classroom communication.
Students often find difficulties in using a foreign language
because they lack of vocabularies and they often forget easily new
vocabularies after they get the meaning from dictionaries.
Sometimes in speaking classes, students can not speak fluently
because they lack of vocabularies. They say only a few sentences
because they can not find the appropriate vocabularies to be used
in expressing their ideas. The same problem is found in writing
classes that students can not write essays easily because they lack
of vocabularies. Even though they have already learned the
strategies or techniques in writing essays, still they find difficulties
in constructing sentences. They find difficulties in choosing and
using the appropriate vocabularies. This article is not aim at
neglecting the students problems in sounds system, grammar, and
so on. Nor is it aim at placing vocabulary as the most influential
factor in foreign language mastery. It just intends to bring
vocabularies as one of students most difficult aspect to the
discussion. This writing concern with the ways teachers can use to
help their students to improve the vocabularies since vocabularies
are very crucial in learning a foreign language. This writing is
hopefully can give suggestions to improve or enlarge students
vocabularies toward English as a foreign language.
1.2 Definition of Narrative

Narrative text is a story with complication or problematic events

and it tries to find the resolutions to solve the problems. An
important part of narrative text is the narrative mode, the set of
methods used to communicate the narrative through a process
narration.

1.3 Kinds of Narratives

1. Legend
It simple a story which relates to on how place is formed.
2. Fable
Simple fable is a story about animal which behave like
human.
3. Folklore
The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a
community, passed through the generations by word of
mouth.
4. Fairy Tale
Story which relate much which magic things.
5. Epic
An epic tale is a literary work about a hero, amazing
adventures or an otherwise intense or amazing story.
6. Biography
A biography is simply a bio that gives an account or
detailed description about the life of a person. It entails
basic facts such as childhood, education, career,
relationships, family and death.

1.4 Social Function of Narrative

The social function of narrative is to amuse, entertain and to

deal with an actual or vicarious experience in different ways. It
also deals with problematic events which lead to a crisis or
turning point of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution.
Story, as an important part of culture, is very identical to the
narrative. Story or narrative can be used to convey moral value
which is very helpful to build ones personality. Even a character
of a nation can very much be influenced by stories (fairy tale,
legend, fable, myth) which spread all over the nation and are told
from generation to generation.