The Use of Content Analysis to Assess Letterland Book for Kindergarten Students

Most of previous researches investigated the use of Letterland method in teaching English. However, only few researches concern with the Letterland book that have many differences with local story books in Indonesia. This research was aimed to find out how the quality of Letterland book refers to listening, reading, and vocabulary skills, language content (topic, subject content and social and culture values) and the effectiveness of Letterland book. Content analysis method was applied in this research. There were two instruments which are used in this reseach, they are : document and interview that involved teachers in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center. This research used Cunningsworth theory as guidance to analyse the quality of Letterland book. The findings showed that listening, reading, vocabulary skills in Letterland book are categorized as good book. The language contents of Letterland book is qualified as good EFL book criteria. Teachers in Star Kiddy Preschool Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center stated that Letterland book is effective to learn English for children. However, there were problems in the implementation of Letterland book such as: limited time, new teachers that had not expert on Letterland book. Therefore, this research was expected to be the an overview of teachers that learnt English by using Letterland book for children.


INTRODUCTION
Teaching English to children is totally different from teaching adult. It is not as simple as giving a toy to the children who are crying. It happens because children are unique in their characteristic and have a special way of learning a new thing. They learn directly from their environment not only from their peers but also from the adults. By asking, listening to people around them, and experienced things, they are able to get knowledge. Therefore, as teachers, especially English teachers should know young learners' characteristic and how they learn a foreign language.
The use of story book is method that effective to learn English for children. For some kindergartens that have new curriculum, English Language Teaching (ELT) story books play a very important role. Story book would allow children to feel, think, and experience. Another contributing factor to the attraction is the pictures in the storybooks. These pictures which are related to the text, serve as a tool for the children to understand the meaning and context of the story. They help in retaining children's attention and the big colorful pictures would build up children's interest.
One of story book in teaching EFL is in the form of Letterland book. Some teachers use "Letterland" book because they think that it was an effective approach to teach young learners. Yaverbaum (2003) insisted "Letterland concept is of an invisible, secret place, located somewhere in the written word and inhabited by fictional animals and people". By using Letterland, students will learn about sounds by a combination of alphabet letters. They will not only learn about the correct sounds of alphabets but also about how to pronounce the correct sounds in form of words. In addition, students will learn how to read the stories which relate to the letter in "Letterland" and write the letters or words appropriately.
The effectiveness of Letterland has been proven by some researches that have been conducted for teaching English. Putri (2015) investigated teaching vocabulary through Letterland for Kindergarten. The research was begun by observing two teachers in Bethany Kindergarten School who teach in Letterland class. She observed two classes with different teachers. While observing the classes, she recorded how the teachers taught in class to find out the teaching vocabulary technique through Letterland. After reviewing teachers" video recording and discover the teaching vocabulary techniques, she interviewed each teacher. As the result, there were four techniques that they used to teaching vocabulary. They are picture, real object, guessing and translation.
Although Letterland is believed in to develop children's language skills, most of previous research investigated the using of Letterland method in teaching English. They just focused on the implementation of Letterland method for kindergartens students. However, only few researches concern with the Letterland book that ha s many differences with local story book in Indonesia. Therefore, this study is initiated to assess how the quality of Letterland book conduct listening, reading, and vocabulary, culture, and effectiveness for teaching English.

METHODS
The researchers had an assumption that teachers have some problems to teach English for children. It was because English is not used in daily conversation for children. Moreover, they had not used the interesting book to introduce English for children. On the other hand, students were bored to teach English. It was because they think English is difficult and boring. In addition, Letterland book is written by the author whom has different culture with Indonesia learners.
In this research, the researchers used content analysis to assess Letterland book which the specific thing is in the content analysis. The subject in this research focused on Letterland book that used by Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center. In addition, the object of this research focuses on the six points of the analysis textbook, such as: the implementation of language skills (listening, reading, vocabulary), topic, subject content, social value, the advantages and disadvantages of Letterland book.
The role of the researchers was as the main research instrument to collect the data. The data source was the materials covered by "Letterland", a book which is used by students in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center. The book was written by Lyn Wendon. Since the object on this research is a book, so the researcher will do some procedures to collect data.
In collecting data, the researchers conducted some steps as follows: (1) the researcher was as the key instrument for collecting the data and gained more data from the English teacher through interview; (2) the checklists were designed by the researcher to analyze the English textbook based on Cunningsworth theory; (3) the interview guide is used to interview teacher of Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center to obtain more information about the Letterland book.
The procedures of data analysis were as follows: (1) analyzing the data based on Cunningsworth theory to find out how much each item of the checklist will be good story book criteria. Evaluation rating scale is chosen as the instrument because the source of the data was in the form of document material. Evaluation rating scale that is used by the researcher is Likert-Scale. Likert Scale is a kind of rating scale that is able to measure the quality of textbook based on several factors by rating it into ordinal level. Each ordinal level has specific position and scoring number indication. The four categories are poor, fair, good, and excellent. The range of score is started from 10 up to 100. 2) matching the result of findings with the information that is obtained from teacher; (3) finding out how much each item of the checklist that confirmed good story book criteria; and (4) concluding the result of the analysis in the form of percentage which is called the level of suitability that is completed by dividing the number of criteria and fulfill by the story book with the total number of the evaluation criteria and multiply by 100%. The percentage showed whether the Letterland book is Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The Quality of Listening Materials Letterland Book for Kindergarten Students
The average of percentage obtains by Letterland book reached 58% for listening quality that was categorized as good. The highest score of listening material in Letterland book is 74%. It evaluates about the use made of the visual medium to provide a meaningful context and show facial expression, gesture in Letterland book. It is categorized as good score because Letterland book use some characters to recognize the alphabets with the sound tricks and gestures.
Meanwhile, the lowest score of listening material in Letterland book is 51.25%. It was about pre-listening tasks, question, etc. It could be categorized as fair because pre-listening or question that is found in Letterland book is not enough to learn listening skill for kindergarten students.
Listening aspect covers seven criteria in which the criteria adopt from Cunningworth theory. Letterland book is categorized good book for Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center students. Letterland book is contained specific listening in the course. It also has specific listening passage. Then, Letterland book set in a meaningful content for listening aspect. Letterland book has given the prelistening, question, etc that can assist the students to recognize the alphabets through listening section. The recorded material on audio-cassette like in terms of: sound quality, speed of delivery, accent, and authenticity has already provided by Letterland book. Letterland book also has video material for listening section. Lastly, Letterland book uses the visual medium to provide a meaningful context and show facial expression, gesture.

The Quality of Reading Materials Letterland Book for Kindergarten Students
Letterland book gains 67% toward reading materials. It means that Letterland book is categorized as good book. The highest score of reading materials is 75%. It is categorized as good score. It is about the subject matter in Letterland book is appropriate for kindergartens. It shows the interesting, challenging, topical, varied, culturally, acceptable, unlikely to date reading materials for children. Meanwhile, the lowest score of reading materials for Letterland book is 60%. It is about the emphasis on reading for pleasure and for intellectual satisfaction. It is categorized as fair book because Letterland book do not emphasize on reading materials for pleasure or intellectual satisfaction.
Reading section got 67% that is categorized good book for Star Kiddy students. There are seven criteria which are based on Cunningsworth theory that indicate the quality of reading materials in Letterland book. Letterland book uses reading text for introducing new language items (grammar and vocabulary), consolidating language work, etc.) Letterland book focuses on the development skills and strategies. Then, the reading materials in Letterland book is linked to other skills work. In Letterland book, there is emphasis on reading for pleasure and for intellectual satisfaction. Letterland book also has the subject matters which is appropriate (interesting, challenging, topical, varied, culturally, acceptable, unlikely to date). To help comprehension for reading section, Letterland book sets the scene, provides background information, and gives pre-reading question. Last, the materials in Letterland book involve the learner's knowledge system. Letterland book has not used reading text for introducing new language items (grammar and vocabulary), consolidating language work, etc.). This is different from the result of the study about the use of Letterland for reading by Rochmah (2015). Actually, the researchers concluded that in using Letterland method related in teaching reading had given the influence to the early stage of reading. However, the researchers found that there were two children who were difficult in focusing the learning. They need more time to identify Letterlanders character. For the other children they were in the same range when they were having difficulty to learn the letter sounds by using Letterland method.

The Quality of Vocabulary Materials Letterland Book for Kindergarten Students
The quality of vocabulary materials in Letterland book obtains 54% and it is categorized as fair book. The highest score of vocabulary materials is 71.25%. It is about the material that can enable students to expand their own vocabularies independently by helping them to develop their own learning strategies. It is categorized good because Letterland book has pictures to help the children explore the vocabularies. Meanwhile, the lowest score of vocabulary materials is 55%. It is about vocabulary-learning material is included in its own right. It is categorized as fair score.
Letterland book is categorized fair book for Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center students in vocabulary materials. There are five criteria from Cunningsworth theory that represented the quality of vocabulary materials in Letterland book. Letterland book includes the vocabulary-learning materials in its own right. Then, there is principle basic for selection vocabulary in Letterland book. Letterland book also has the distinction between active and passive vocabulary, or classroom vocabulary. Vocabulary materials in Letterland book are presented in a structured, purposeful way. Last, the materials in Letterland book are enable students to expand their own vocabularies independently by helping them to develop their own learning strategies.
It is supported by Isnaniah (2018) in which the researchers found that the children had been taught by Letterland technique will have courage in vocabulary as well. It is because the characters are easy to memorize and friendly for the children. Thus, it also makes the children enthusiastic in learning. It showed that children were very attractive in learning and children can answer the worksheet perfectly. However, the researchers also found that there were still problems in teaching by using Letterland. The crowded class is one of the problems, so when the teacher taught in the class there were some of students make a noisy. Though, it can be solved by giving reward to children who still pay attention, because reward is one of the strategies to get children attention.

Letterland Book Meet the Requirements of Good EFL Book Criteria in Term of Language Content (Topic, Subject Content and Social/ Culture values) The Topic and Subject Content
The language content of Letterland book in term of Topic obtains 75.25%. It could be categorized as good book. The highest score of topic is 80% that evaluates about the topics of Letterland book. It is categorized good score because the topics in Letterland book are interesting, challenging and motivating for children. Meanwhile, the lowest score of topic is 71.25% that is grouped as good score. It is about the sufficient variety in the topic of Letterland book.
From the finding research, topic and subject content of Letterland book is categorized good for Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center students. The quality of topic and subject content in Letterland book is evaluated by four criteria that adopted from Cunningsworth theory. Letterland book has topic that relevant to the young lerner's needs as English language learners. Then, topics of textbook in Letterland book are interesting, challenging, and motivating for Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center students. In Letterland book, there is sufficient variety in the topic. Lastly, Letterland book are organized affectively. (e.g. according to topics and skills etc).

The Social and Culture Values
The average of percentage obtained by Letterland book in term of social/ culture values reaches 59%. It is categorized fair score. The highest score of social/culture values is 70%. It is categorized as good score. It is about the social and cultural contexts in Letterland book. In Letterland book, the social and cultural contexts are comprehensible to the learners. Meanwhile, the lowest score of social/culture value is 52.5%. It is categorized as fair score. It is about women that are given equal prominence to men in all aspects of the Letterland book. In Letterland book, men are prominent to represent the characters of alphabets in Letterland book.
Social and value culture obtains 59% and it is categorised fair book. In this aspect, there are five criteria that indicated the quality of Letterland book in social and value culture. The social and cultural contexts of Letterland book are comprehensible to the learners. Then, learners can interpret the relationship, behaviour, intentions etc of the characters portrayed in Letterland book. Women are given equal prominence to men in all aspects of Letterland book. The characters in Letterland book exist in some kind of social setting, within a social network. Lastly, social relationships are portrayed realistically in Letterland book.

The Effectiveness of Letterland Book for Kindergarten Students
The following description is about the findings of the effectiveness of Letterland book for kindergarten students by using observation checklist and interview. This interview uses open-ended questions to explore information about the effectiveness of Letterland book. Based on this study, the researcher conducts the observation checklist and interview to explore detailed information about what the differences Letterland book from other books and the benefit of Letterland book for teaching English.

The Differences of Letterland Book from Others
Mrs. Denny said that Letterland is more interesting than others. She said that Letterland book describes about characters of each letters which has different name, sound, and action trick. On the other hand, other books usually only describe about sound. Furthermore, Mrs. Farida also said that Letterland book is interesting. She said that in Letterland book, it contains/introduces letter with its characters/ name in which children can know it easily. The character of the letter is also has the phonic and sound trick. The children can learn letter by phonic letter and how the letter character sound out with moving their part of body (in which children more often move around). Thus, the letter can understand easily than another letter from others book.

The Benefits of Letterland Book
Mrs. Farida said that the benefits of teaching based on Letterland book are she can teach more meaningful, because the letter has name/character. It sounds with act, so the children likes to follow it (children likes to move). It means that, learning letter from Letterland book easier to understand or to memorize by children. Moreover, the letter has a story in which children likes to hear the story. In addition, second teacher also said that Letterland is more interested than others. The children can recognize the character's name, sound, and action trick in funny way. Teachers can use various materials, sand paper, sand, flash cards and real objects. They also can conduct games to reinforce more about Letterland.
In order to find out the effectiveness of Letterland book for Star Kiddy Preschool, the researcher also observes the assessment reports of students which assessed some aspects. Those aspects are about how students say the Letterland character's name and letter sound in response to letters. Teachers also assess the ability of students to identify images stars with letters, arrange and pronounce the letters independently. From the assessment reports of students, most of them got good scores and it indicated that Letterland book assisted the students to recognize the letters.

The Effectiveness of Letterland Book for Listening Skill
Listening is basic skill to introduce the new language for young learners. Therefore, Letterland book uses videos and audios to introduce letters for students. In Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center, students are recognized about letters by using video about Letterland story and song. After they watched the videos about Letterland, teachers retold the story and repeated sound tricks of letters in Letterland song. For example, teacher told about "Peter Puppy" that represents letter "p". Then, she shows the sound trick of letter "p" with sound "peh...peh… peh" slowly. If the students have understood the letters and sound trick in Letterland, teacher gives the words that relate to the letters such as "mmm...monkey" for letter "m".

The Effectiveness of Letterland Book for Reading Skill
Basically, Letterland book was created by Lyn Wendon in the late 1960's as a way to help students who struggled with learning to read. By using the unique characters with simple stories, Letterland book motivates students to listen, to think and to learn. The stories of Letterland book shows letter sounds & shapes and allow students to develop to word building, and reading. In Star Kiddy, students are introduced the characters (a-annie apple, bbouncy bean, c -clever cat) etc. Then, teacher shows how to sound them and do the action trick. They also guide the students to sound out and imitated the action trick. After that, teacher read the story book, and encouraged students to identify words and pictures that are started with those letters such as: a; apple, ant, arrow, b; ball, boat, bunny, c; cat, cake, cow.

The Effectiveness of Letterland Book for Introducing New Vocabularies
Letterland book for students in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center can help them to enrich vocabulary for foundation stage to read can be carried out. Letterland book has contains of Letterlanders picture which colorful. Each page introduces a new Letterland character and repeats the character's letter sound at the start of many words. For introducing the new vocabularies, teacher in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center shows up characters which it surroundings to everything that start with letter sound. For example, teacher tells a story about "Harry Hat Man" that likes to hammer and shows hammer picture in Letterland book. To explain other information about letter "h", teacher also uses the flashcard to gives other relation how the letter exists in some vocabulary outside Letterland book.

The Problems with the Use of Letterland Book
The researchers also asked teachers of Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center about the problems that are faced by them when they used Letterland book in teaching English. Mrs. Farida said that students are confused to distinguish English and Indonesian. When they learn about letters by using Letterland book, they are able to understand easily. However, it does not happen when they had to spell or read letters in Indonesian. The students often use English pronunciation to spell or read Indonesian words. In addition, students are confused to recognize the characters and sounds in Letterland book. Thus, teachers have to reinforce characters and sounds in Letterland book by using songs, stories, flash card, etc.
Mrs. Denny also said that there are problems with the use of Letterland book in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center. Some teachers in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center are one of problems with the use of Letterland. Some teachers are new in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center, so they have not understood about Letterland book. They have not joined training Letterland which held by Letterland organization. Therefore, teaching learning process by using Letterland book has not effective for students.
Besides, the big problem within the use of Letterland book is limited time. Teachers for preschool are not as same as for Junior high school or Senior High school. Teachers have to persuade students to join the class because students often cry or feel sleepy when they go to school. Teachers need additional time to encourage them. Therefore, the use of Letterland book cannot be effective because of limited time.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings and discusion, it can be concluded that Letterland book is classified as good book for Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center. It can be seen from the level of suitability. The average of percentage obtained by Letterland book reaches 58% for listening quality that is categorized as good. Then, Letterland book gains 67% toward reading materials. It means that Letterland book is categorized as good book. The quality of vocabulary materials in Letterland book gains 54% and it is categorized as fair book. After that, the language content of Letterland book in term of topic obtains 75.25%. It can be categorized as a good book. Then, the average of percentage obtains by Letterland book in term of social/ culture values reaches 59%. It is categorized fair score. From the interview with teachers in Star Kiddy Preschool and Learning Center, Letterland book is more interested than others. Learning letters from Letterland book easier to understand or to memorize by children. The letter has a story in which children likes to hear the story. In addition, children are able to recognize the character's name, sound, and action trick in funny way.