During a school observation period, the document summarizes an English language lesson the author observed being taught at Sekolah Kebangsaan Simpang Lima in Selangor, Malaysia. The lesson was taught to a Year 1 class of 30 students by teacher Madam Zainab binti Ali, who had 24 years of experience. Madam Zainab used both humanistic and behaviorist teaching methods. For the humanistic approach, she created a comfortable environment, allowed student freedom and choices during activities, and gave them opportunities to express themselves. However, she also used behaviorist techniques like a token system to encourage student focus and participation. The document analyzes how both theories were effectively applied during the lesson.

1. On 19th July to 23rd August 2013, we were assigned to go to school where we have to
observe how the teaching and learning process being applied in the real classroom situation.
I have completed my second School Base Experience (SBE) with my batch mate, Nur Faiza
Amira binti Suliman. To complete the assignment and course, I have chosen Sekolah
Kebangsaan Simpang Lima located at Sungai Besar, Selangor. It is a rural school area. The
reason why I choose this school is that I want to see the level of proficiency of English
language in the school. Other than that, I want to see how the teacher in the rural area
applies their approaches and methods in conducting an English class. Based on my
observation, I found that there are two different levels of proficiency in this school. Since the
school have two classes, the first class would be the students who are good at their
proficiency in English where they can completely understand and able to speak in the
language. However, the second class could not really understand and have lack ability to
speak in the language. This essay would be discussing on an English language lesson
during my second SBE.
I have asked permission from an English Language teacher, Madam Zainab binti Ali
to enter her English classes during the week. She has been teaching for 24 years and she
has been transferred to various type of school before she has been posted in SK Simpang
Lima. This lesson is conducted for Year 1 Bestari which consists of 30 students. I found that
the students are energetic and excited when the teacher comes in. Madam Zainab informed
me that she would use a variety games and activity especially for the class to attract their
interest in English. I have asked few students do they love English and they answered yes.
They said they love the teacher too.
Based on my observation, humanistic theory is being used in her lesson.
Humanistic theory concentrates upon the development of the child’s self-concept. If the child
feels good about him or herself then that is a positive start. Feeling good about oneself
would involve an understanding of one’s' strengths and weaknesses, and a belief in one's
ability to improve (Bill Huitt, 2001). Meaning to say that humanistic theory allows the
students to choose how they want the lesson to be. They have a right to choose their own
styles of learning where teacher gives them freedom. Freedom means that the students are
given choices to learn subject that they are interested in, not restricted by the teaching
methods, school ethos or curriculum. It gives the opportunity for students to discover things
by themselves and experiencing something that they would satisfy.
Madam Zainab starts her lesson with greetings and asking the student’s state of
health. She asked them where they have been during the holiday and how are they. She
also claimed that she misses them so much and it is nice to have them back. The students

2. feel happy and replied that they also happy to meet her again. This theory of humanistic is
being used to make the students feel comfortable and safe. So that they would not feel
scared and shy. Then she starts the lesson with singing and then let the students tell her
what day is today.
She has conducted a lesson with a theme ‘Wild Animals’. After she had explaining
and introducing the theme for the lesson, she will ask her students to acting out in the class.
In this activity, she gives them freedom to choose what kind of animal they want to be and
what kind of dialogue they want to have. It gives the student excitement as they can create
their own creativity on the acting. They also will be more enjoy and satisfy with their own
choices. After that, Madam Zainab also has asked her student’s opinion about their friend’s
presentation. Were they enjoyed it or not. So the students can voice out their feeling and
they do comment on their friends acting. From that she can choose which of them can be the
winner of the game.
In her class also she will make sure that everyone is involved. Even if the students
are passive, she will try to make the students to speak by giving them motivation. She will
come near to the students and help them to construct sentence and guide them to speak. In
her class, she also will ask questions and let the students to answer. She does not mind if
her students make any mistakes because she will correct them.
Other than that, during the ‘Simulasi’ game, she had given a freedom for the students
to mingle with their friends and explore the entire class to imagine like they were in the zoo.
Then the teacher will guide them and gives them opportunity to mention what kind of animals
that they have seen.
There is one situation where in her class suddenly a girl is vomit. A boy who is sitting
beside the girl scream shouted and says that he cannot stand with the smell. It is humiliating
the girl and right after that the teacher pause the lesson to see the girl’s condition. She
asked another girl to help the vomit girl to the toilet. And then she advised the boy not to say
such words again if this thing happens because the girl will feel uneasy and shy. The teacher
says that he have to say sorry to her. Pity her because she is not well and he should support
her. From her lesson, this theory was successfully being practiced in her lesson.
However, Madam Zainab was not fully applied humanistic theory in her class. She is
also using behaviourist theory while teaching. It is because she wants the students to
behave and concentrate on her class. Before conducting a lesson, she will ask the students
to mention few key words that they have learnt on the previous day. This is to make sure
that they will focus during her lesson. Other than that, the reason why she uses behaviourist

3. is that she wants to keep the class silence and focus during her teaching. It is because some
students are naughty and keep on bother other students while learning. So she uses ‘Token
System’ to reward the students. If they behave wrongly, she will minus their marks at the
token chart. By this kind of way, it helps in encouraging other students in the class to
behave and involve actively in her lesson.
There are some implications of using humanistic theory in classroom teaching.
.
As a conclusion, both behaviourist and humanistic theory are good to be applied in a
teaching class especially for year 1, 2 and 3 students. It is because it will strongly attract the
students to be involved in the activity as they loves to play.