THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STUDENTS’ RESPONSE TO THE GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD AND THE STUDENTS’ COMPETENCE IN LEARNING SIMPLE PAST TENSE AT THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS OF SMPN 17 CIREBON

NAEL AL ROHMAH: THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE STUDENTS’ RESPONSE TO THE GRAMMAR TRANSLATION METHOD AND THE STUDENTS’ COMPETENCE IN LEARNING SIMPLE PAST TENSE AT THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS OF SMPN 17 CIREBON Learning language means learning all aspects of language i.e: listening, speaking, reading and writing. All aspects of language can not separate from grammar, especially in writing. Mostly, students assume that the meaning of grammar refers to the structure or patterns of sentences. Most of them, assume that grammar is difficult. That assumption can make them lazy to learn grammar, including to learn simple past tense. It causes a lack or weakness in their competence. So, teacher has to look for an appropriate method to improve their competence in learning grammar, especially simple past tense. There are many approaches and methods in learning language. One of them is Grammar Translation Method. In Grammar Translation Method, the teacher is a centre in class who teach grammar deductively. Student study grammar deductively; that are given the grammar rules and examples, are told and memorize them, and they are asked to apply the rules to other examples. After that grammar activity, students are taught to translate from one language to another. The objective of research is to find out the effect of grammar translation method as variable X on the students’ competence in learning simple past tense as variable Y at the second year students of SMPN 17 CIREBON. The method of the research is quantitative research. The writer only took one class as sample; that consists of 32 students from a population that consists of 231 students. The techniques of collecting data are: observation, interview, questionnaire, and test. The qualitative data are analyzed by observing the objective condition of the school, and the quantitative data are analyzed by using product moment. From the data that the writer get, it be known that there is significant and positive correlation between the students’ response to the grammar translation method and students’ competence in learning simple past. By using product moment ( r ) the value of rxy is 0.35 is existing between 0.20–0.40, it indicates that there is low correlation between variable x and variable y. And by using “t” formulation, the correlative significant is 2.06 and if it compared with the value of distribution are 2.02. It means that the value of t account > t table. So, the Ha is accepted and Ho is rejected. Then, the result of determination coefficient is 12.25%. It means the level of the effect of grammar translation method toward students competence in learning past tense is 12.25%, and 87.75 is influenced by other factors. The conclusion of the research is there is significant and positive correlation between the students’ response to the grammar translation method and students competence in learning simple past tense. But Grammar Translation Method just gives low effect on the students’ competence in learning simple past tense