ABSTRACT
This study analyses the implementation of 2013 Curriculum – hereafter Characters Curriculum for Senior High School Grade XI General Programme English materials ‘Pathway to English’ in Indonesia. The material is published by Erlangga Publisher – one of well-known publishers in Indonesia and distributed to some pilot schools, which implement Characters Curriculum. By using a qualitative exploratory study, an exploration towards the implementation of Characters Curriculum was explored. The data was collected by using semi-structured interviews to investigate some pre-service and in-service teachers on the implementation of characters curriculum by using ‘Pathway to English’ book as the main materials in their schools – the pilot schools. The results and achievements of the study in pilot schools will contribute to the appropriate application of evaluation and development of the Characters Curriculum to all schools in Indonesia. In this study, the analysis of English materials is focused on some essential elements of language syllabus – objectives, language learning philosophy, methodology, materials used, and evaluation. It is found that General Programme English materials ‘Pathway to English’ based on Characters Curriculum has some strengths and some weaknesses related to teacher’s creativity, learning context, and learners’ knowledge. The study recommends some input on teaching methodology, which leads to improvement of teacher’s creativity and the development of learners’ knowledge, related to cultural awareness of English language use in their context. This study also suggests some evaluation on Characters Curriculum related to materials, methodology, approach and technique of implementing Characters Curriculum, to have clear instructions for teachers to teach within national standards. Furthermore, the teaching methods could be created based on the context where the learners learn the language. Thus, this curriculum will give some chances for teachers to teach and reach not only knowledge but also cultural awareness and the value of learning to be implemented in their real lives.
KEYWORDS
School-Based Curriculum, Characters Curriculum, English Material Development, and Teaching Methodology