Encouraging Students’ Interest in Learning English Through Annual Program, “The Election of Miss and Mister Smanti’ in SMA Negeri 3 Merauke

Abstract

SMA  Negeri  3  Merauke  used  to  be  a  pioneer  of
International Standard School which is often  called RSBI.  It was
the only senior high school in Merauke with that status at the time.
Since bearing  a predicate as the pioneer of international standard
school,  SMA  Negeri  3  Merauke  has  been  activating  many
programs  which  aim  at  improving  English  ability  either  for
students  or  for  teachers.  One  most  attractive  activity  for  the
students  is  the  annual  program,  ‘the  election  of  Miss  and  Mister
SMANTI’.  The  program  that  imitated  the  famous  program  in
television,  Miss  Indonesia,  got  surprising  responses  from  the
students,  the  students’  parents,  even  the  school  committees.  It  is
recognized  as  the  prestigious  one  since  the  election  demands  the
contestants’  English  ability.  More  evidence  of  the  success  is  that
the program even led the other schools in Merauke to imitate the
same program in their annual school programs. This paper aims to
show  how  the  program  encourages  students’  interest in  learning
English.  Through  the  observation,  it  can  be  known  how  the
program runs and works. The series of the program concern with
encouraging students’ interest in learning English include; 1) preactivity  session;  quarantine,  promotion,  and  oration,  2)  main
session; performance, 3) following session; the role of the elected
‘Miss and Mister SMANTI among their schoolmates.