THE EFFECT OF GROUP WORK STRATEGY IN ENGLISH TEACHING AND LEARNING IN SMP BANDAR LAMPUNG

This research aims to analyze the effect of group learning strategies in teaching and learning English at the stage of junior high schools in Bandar Lampung. Moreover, this study used a descriptive qualitative research. Observation, open-ended questionnaires, and interviews were used in this study. The result of this study showed that the group work strategy had significant effect towards English learning outcomes. In addition, some teachers and students approved that the group work strategy is an active learning strategy. It was proven by teachers’ answers on open-ended questionnaires. In sum, it can be inferred that group work strategy can be used to make an active learning and improve students’ outcomes in learning English. Although in pandemic situation, group work strategy can be applied by using some application which can support teaching and learning English.


I. INTRODUCTION
In this online learning situation, it indirectly obliges the students to study independently. On the other hand, the learning strategy used by the teacher in teaching and learning process during pandemic are considered less effective. This is evidenced by the result of doing preobservation towards some students and their parents. Most of them complain about the online learning, many of them feel that they do not understand the lessons and the learning process itself. It is because of several factors that affect the learning process. One of the factors is the tehnical problems like the limited study time and unstable internet network connections which can affect the learning process. This is also based on an article by Melania (2020), there are obstacles in online learning for students, due to the weaknesses of the internet network signals, problems with their laptops during the exams or server errors, miscommunication, and students have to study independently because there is no collaboration in an open environment. With these obstacles, this proves that online learning is less effective if there is no additional face to face learning. Beside that, the online learning can limit to use the learning strategies in teaching and learning fofr the students. Students can only learn individually, and the impact of this is that sometimes students feel they don't understand and have misunderstanding about the lesson. Therefore, learning strategies are very important in order to achieve the learning objectives themselves.
In this study, researchers will find out the effect of group learning strategies (group work) in learning English on the learning outcomes of junior high school students in Bandar Lampung. On the other hand, Sanjaya (2007) states that learning strategies can be interpreted as those that are chosen, those that can provide facilities or assistance to students towards achieving certain learning objectives. Based on this theory, we can conclude that the learning strategy is the selection of certain types of exercises that are in accordance with the learning objectives to be achieved and each behavior that is expected to be achieved by students who in their learning activities must be able to be practiced. In other words, this shows that with a learning strategy, it is hoped that learning objectives will be achieved and can affect the process and learning outcomes. Furthermore, one of learning strategies is used in learning and teaching process is group work. Group learning is also one of the active, innovative, creative, effective, and fun learning strategy. Based on Aswan (2016) explained various kinds of learning methods, one of them is the group work method in creating active, innovative, creative, effective, and fun learning. On the other hand, group learning is very important to be applied as an English learning strategy. And, with group work, students can be more active and can increase their confidence in using English. And, the selection of the right learning method will affect the interest and learning motivation of students.
However, it should be realized that there are some teachers who find the difficulty to apply the learning method so they only use the lecturing method. And in this online learning, teachers can only use the lecturing method, it is difficult to apply the group work method. Therefore, from this problem, the researcher will find out the effect of group learning strategies (group work) in learning English towards the learning outcomes of junior high school students in Bandar Lampung.

II. THE METHOD
The research was carried out in Bandar Lampung both online and offline. The researcher observed several students who carried out English learning by applying group work strategies. Then, the researcher also distributed an open questionnaire on group work strategies to English teachers in junior high schools in Bandar Lampung. This activity was carried out in June 2021 which was attended by 20 English teachers from public and private schools.
The method of activities carried out by researchers regarding group work strategies which consists of four steps. The first is the analysis where the researcher examines in depth related to the use of group learning strategies used by teachers and students in learning English. In addition, the researcher also studied more deeply by observing, giving questionnaires, and interviewing several students about group work strategies in learning English. Next is the second step, where at this step the implementing team prepares seminar materials related to group learning strategies. Then in the third step, the team went through one of the stages of the implementation by holding a seminar for English teachers in junior high schools in Bandar Lampung. This activity was carried out on Sunday, June 16th, 2021 in Bandar Lampung. At this stage, the presenter explained several materials related to English and group learning strategies. The first speaker explained about the relationship of English with society and language as well as explained material related to strategies and learning methods in learning English. The second speaker explained about the media that can be used in learning English during the pandemic. Then, the third speaker explained about teaching writing in English class in the era of new normal by introducing learning media that can be used by small groups and individuals in online classes during the pandemic. Furthermore, the fourth stage is the last stage in research activities. This last stage is the preparation of the final report of the activities that have been carried out. In general, in carrying out this activity, researchers prove that this research can provide benefits to the process of learning English.

III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The points included in this study are the effect of group work strategies on junior high school students in Bandar Lampung. To see the effect of group learning strategies (group work), researchers used a questionnaire as a research instrument. Questionnaires were distributed to the teacher, then the teachers were asked to fill out a questionnaire totaling 20 statements that had been distributed. The questionnaire used is an open questionnaire, so that in addition to checking the given scale, the teacher also explains briefly the reasons for the questions asked.
Next, the researcher collected and analyzed the results of the questionnaire that had been filled out by the teachers. The analysis carried out by the researcher is by calculating the percentage of the teachers' answers from each aspect. This is done to present more specific research results.
Based on the percentage results from both aspects, group work and the effect of group work, it can be concluded that the use of group work strategies has an effect on learning English at SMP Bandar during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sanjaya (2007) states that learning strategies can be interpreted as those that are chosen, those that can provide facilities or assistance to students towards achieving certain learning objectives. Furthermore, Aswan (2016) describes various kinds of learning methods, one of which is the group learning method in creating active, innovative, creative, effective, and fun learning. On the other hand, group learning is very important to be applied as an English learning strategy. In addition, with group learning, students can be more active and can increase their confidence in using English. The selection of the right learning method will also affect the interest and motivation of students to learn.
Group work strategies have been widely used in Bandar Lampung in Junior High Schools both before and during the pandemic. Moreover, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many students feel they do not understand the lessons and the learning process itself. It is because of several factors that affect the learning process. One of the factors is the tehnical problems like the limited study time and unstable internet network connections which can affect the learning process. This is also based on an article by Melania (2020), there are obstacles in online learning for students, due to the weaknesses of the internet network signals, problems with their laptops during the exams or server errors, miscommunication, and students have to study independently because there is no collaboration in an open environment. So, group work strategies play an important role here. It can be concluded that the group work strategy has a positive effect on the English teaching and learning process in Junior High School in Bandar Lampung.

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1. Conclusions
Based on the discussion and the results of research that has been carried out in junior high schools in Bandar Lampung with a sample of 20 respondents the effectiveness of using group work strategies in learning English during the pandemic was measured using 2 aspects, those are Group Work and the Effect of Group Learning Strategies. This study produces an average score that can be seen in the rating scale.
Based on the discussion in Chapter IV, the conclusions from the per-aspect scores are as follows: 1. Aspects of group work After all things has been discussed and the data has been calculated, a score of 3.8 is obtained for group learning as one of the English learning strategies, 3.4 for the use of group learning strategies in learning English, 3.55 for the use of group learning strategies, 3 for the frequency of "often" in the use of group learning strategies, 1.7 for the frequency of "rarely" in the use of group learning strategies, 1.5 for the inappropriateness of group learning strategies in learning English, 1.2 for never using group learning strategies when teaching and learning English activities, 3.05 for the use of learning strategies groups are limited to certain English topics, 3.55 for combining group learning strategies with other strategies in learning English, and 2 for the use of group learning strategies in every teaching and learning process in learning English during and before the Covid-19 pandemic. So that it produces an average of 2.68, thus this aspect of group work is included in the effective category.

Aspects of the effect of group work strategies
In this part, a score of 3.65 for group work strategies is not new for Junior High School students in Bandar Lampung, 2.7 for the use of group learning strategies, 3.15 for the use of group learning strategies in the teaching and learning process of English, 3.4 for group learning strategies as support teaching and learning process in learning English, 3 for group learning strategies as one of the most frequently used strategies in the teaching and learning process of English, 3.25 for the effect of applying group learning strategies on students' understanding in learning English, 3.25 for the effect of applying group learning strategies on student learning outcomes in learning English, 3.45 for students' obstacles to the use of group learning strategies in learning English during the Covid-19 pandemic, 3.35 for the effect of using group learning strategies in learning English on improvement knowledge and skills, and 3.35 for the effect of implementing group learning strategies on students' self-confidence in learning English. From the data obtained an average of 3.27, thus the aspect of the influence of group learning strategies is classified as an effective criterion. from all the data described above, it can be concluded that the use of group work strategies has an effect on learning English at SMP in Bandar during the Covid-19 pandemic is effective.

Suggestions
From the calculations that have been carried out, it is concluded that the use of group work startegies has an effect on learning English at SMP Kota Bandar Lampung during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is included in the effective category. But actually it can still be improved to become a very effective criterion if a re-evaluation is carried out on the application of group work strategies to the teaching and learning process, especially in learning English. With a few points, they are: