The Influence of Students’ Attitude in Anticipating Their Future on Their English Achievement: A Case at State Vocational High School 2 of Purworejo in the Academic Year of 2011/ 2012

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating Vocational High School Students’ attitude in anticipating their future and its influences on their English achievements. The researcher then further describes the students’ attitude in anticipating their future and their English learning achievements to see if students’ attitude can influence the students’ English achievement effectively. The respondents in this study are 95 of tenth grade students of Vocational High School 2 of Purworejo majoring in Office Administration. All the respondents have studied English as a foreign language in formal school settings for at least six years. The data of the research includes students’ answering questionnaire, and the students English achievement test. The questionnaires consist of nine items about students’ educational insight and ten items about students’ receiving attitude, and three items about students’ preparing their future. The English achievement test is collaboratively prepared by English teacher at that School with the researcher. To collect data for the study, all the participants are asked to complete the questionnaire under the supervision of the researcher during class time. Before having them fill out the questionnaire, the researcher briefly explains to them the purpose of the study and shows them how to respond to the items and mark their responses on the questionnaire. The participants are given 15-20 minutes to complete the questionnaires. As a result, the research finding tells that 64% of the students have very good attitude, 35% of others are in high category which means they have good attitude, and another 1% percent is in moderate level. It means that almost students have good attitude. On the other hand, about a half of the students who have good achievement. There are only 7% of the students who have very good achievement, 48% of others have good achievement. Then, the writer interprets that the students’ attitude still doesn’t contribute any effect to their English achievement. It may be caused by the lack of students’ insight about the importance of the attitude to improve their achievement, especially in English. Although, it is really needed to gain their better future after they graduate from school.