Book Review: Buku Guru Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris untuk SMA/MA Kelas XI by Otong Setiawan Dj.

The book titled "Buku Guru Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris untuk SMA/MA Kelas XI" by Otong Setiawan Dj. This book serves as a guide for teachers in teaching English, focusing on the 2013 curriculum. Here is a review of the book:

1. Book Identity

- Title: Teacher's Guide for English Language and Literature for SMA/MA Class XI

- Author: Otong Setiawan Dj.

- Publisher: Yrama Widya

- ISBN: 978-602-277-649-9

- Publication Year: 2014

- Number of Pages: vi + 128 pages

- Book Size: 17.6 25 cm

- Cover Illustration: W. Abdul Aziz

- Layout: Junenti

- Montage: Erna Rosmayanti

- First Printing: August 2014

2. Book Purpose

This book is designed to assist teachers in implementing English language learning at the 11th grade high school level, emphasizing a balance between cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects. The learning material presented follows the Core Competencies and Basic Competencies established in the 2013 curriculum.

3. Structure and Content

The book is organized into several units focusing on language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as language elements like grammar and vocabulary. The book's presentation structure is very systematic, and each unit includes several core sections, namely:

1. Instructions for Using the Teacher's Book: Provides guidance to maximize the use of this book in the learning process. Teachers are instructed to thoroughly understand the Core Competencies, Basic Competencies, and Indicators to be achieved in each unit.

2. Assessment Guide: The book also provides detailed assessment rubrics to evaluate student performance in terms of performance, grammar, pronunciation, and speaking fluency.

3. Lesson Plans: Each unit has a lesson plan that includes time allocation, learning objectives, and media and resources that can be used. The book also provides comprehensive guidance from opening activities (Getting Started), core activities such as Listening, Speaking, and Grammar Review, to closing activities like evaluation.

4. Description of Learning Activities: In each unit, learning activities are described in detail, including activities like listening to dialogues, understanding texts, and practicing conversations through role-play. This aims to improve students' communication skills, both in formal and informal contexts.

5. Vocabulary and Grammar: Each unit includes vocabulary and grammar exercises relevant to the theme being studied. For example, in Unit 1, students learn about expressions of asking for and giving opinions and identifying language structures in relevant dialogues. The vocabulary presented focuses on everyday communication contexts, such as expressing opinions, suggestions, reservations, and others.

4. Book Strengths

1. Competency-Based Approach: This book is highly focused on developing students' competencies, both cognitively and affectively. With clear guidelines for Core Competencies and Basic Competencies, teachers can design more focused learning that meets students' needs.

2. Student Character Development: One important aspect of this book is the integration of character development, such as honesty, responsibility, and cooperation, which is incorporated into learning activities. This aims to shape students who are not only academically intelligent but also of good character.

3. Active Learning: This book encourages active learning methods through group activities, discussions, and role-play. This provides space for students to interact and apply the material they have learned in real situations.

4. Continuous Evaluation: The assessment system outlined in this book strongly supports continuous evaluation. Teachers can use various rubrics to assess different aspects of student abilities, from pronunciation to grammar.

5. Teacher Creativity Adjustment: This book also gives teachers the freedom to adjust learning methods and strategies according to classroom conditions. Teachers are expected to innovate by using sources and media other than textbooks.

5. Book Weaknesses

1. Media Limitations: Although this book provides comprehensive guidance, teachers still need to provide additional media, such as audio and visual, for listening activities and other activities involving technology. This book is more suitable for schools with adequate facilities.

2. Dense Material: Each unit has quite dense material coverage, which can be challenging for students with developing language skills. Teachers may need to provide extra time or remedial activities to ensure all students understand the material.

6. Conclusion

This book is designed with a competency-based approach that balances cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects. With various interactive activities such as discussions, role-play, as well as grammar and vocabulary exercises, students can develop English language skills comprehensively.

The strength of this book lies in its clear and detailed guidance, structured assessment system, and flexibility given to teachers to adjust learning methods. However, the challenges faced are the need for additional media and the potential for a rather dense material load for students.

This book is very suitable for use in schools that want to implement the 2013 curriculum with a more active and contextual approach. Teachers are expected to innovate with available resources, as well as provide enrichment and remedial if needed, so that all students can achieve the expected competencies.