Audio Aids

Technology has become an integral part of all aspects of human life. Almost in all human activities take advantage of technology, either simple technology or sophisticated technology. Technology is made to facilitate the activities of human life. For example, technology that can provide information has a very big influence on the way humans in the learning process to gain knowledge. Information technology can serve as a learning medium designed and developed in order to convey information and knowledge needed by the audience.

According to Dr.Benny A. Pribadi, M.A in his book media and technology in learning (2017, p.4) mentions:

“Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes, and the like, or it can be embedded in machines which can be operated without detailed knowledge of their workings.”

Technologies are made to help humans in doing their activities. Technologies are made in accordance with its essence, its done to facilitate the activities of human life. The development of technology is very rapid, proven to have helped a lot in improving human performance in many fields. Although, it gives a lot of positive contributions for human life, but often also gives negative things to human life.

Therefore, humans should view technology as something that is neutral as a means to be able to assist in performing tasks and activities of work. The development of this technology has influenced various aspects of human life, present in various media as a tool to facilitate students in learning and learning activities.

a.      Learning Media

The use of media as a means of learning has long been done, it since humans do the process and learning activities. Media that contains information and knowledge is generally used for the purpose of making learning process more effective and efficient. In doing human learning process always utilize various media. The role of media in this case is as a tool in the learning process. The development of media used in the learning process basically goes hand in hand with technological developments.

In essence, technology was created to facilitate humans in conducting life activities. Technological developments capable of producing various media that occur today have a significant influence on all aspects of human life including how humans do learning activities. By doing the learning process a person will have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to live the life of the future.

In the process of learning media is used as a tool to provide additional information to students. It can also be used as an intermediary between the sender of information and the recipient of the information. This media is used to make it easier for students to understand their lessons.

The description upstairs is supported by Dr.Benny A. Pribada, M.A in the book Media and Technology in Learning, he says that “media can be interpreted as an intermediary between the sender of information that serves as a source or resources and receiver of information or receiver” (Dr.Benny A. Pribada, M.A, 2017, p.15).

Media acts as an intermediary process of delivery and delivery of messages and information. By using the media as a learning tool, the process of delivering messages between the sender and receiver can take place more effectiveness. This process can be illustrated from the resource person passing through the media until finally to the receiver.

Following the explanation above media in harmony with the definition of instructional media proposed by Heinich (2008) "something that contains information and knowledge that can be used to conduct the learning process".

Media used for learning activities, to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes called the term learning media. Various learning media can be used to support learning activities to run effectively and efficiently.

In addition, William (2003) also put forward the classification and variety of media as a means of:

1. Non-projected media such as photos, diagrams, cast or display material.
2. Projected media foe example LCD.
3. Audio aids such as cassettes, compact discs, audio containing about recording lessons, keynote speakers, and recorded music.
4. Media images or video media such as VCD, DVD, and blue rays disc.
5. Media used computer-based.
6. Multimedia.

Of the many media in learning, the authors chose to use audio media as one of the tools used to help improve a student's speaking ability in the use of English in everyday life.

c.  Audio Aids Technologies

In writing this thesis the writter chose to use audio aids as a tool for improving the ability to speak English for students, especially in students who are embarrassed to speak using English in their school or daily life. By means of audio media this will make it easier for students to learn because they can easily learn through listening to songs, listening to a story and learning how to pronunciation in English correctly. Learning how to pronounce a foreign language or pronounciation will be more effective and efficient if using audio media. So that all can foster students' confidence in the use of English.

Audio media has its own peculiarities as a means that can be used to study information and knowledge. This media utilizes sound elements to convey information and knowledge to its users. audio media is widely used to practice specific verbal skills such as practicing skills in using foreign languages.

Audio aids is a type of media that is effective and efficient to be used in accordance with the learning objectives to be achieved that is to train the ability of users to hear information and oral knowledge comprehensively. Although this type of media can be used to convey virtually any type of information and knowledge, some experts believe that audio media is essentially appropriate for use in learning about language skills as well as art.

Audio or audio recording program is one type of learning media that can be used to convey information and knowledge to users. According to its characteristics, the use of audio programs in learning activities is very appropriate to be used in training the understanding of information and knowledge conveyed through sound elements. Audio form aids can be a record, compact disc audio, and audio tapes.

Audio media can contain recordings of a wide variety and types of sound sources, such as human sounds, animal sounds, music sounds, and sounds that exist in nature and the environment. The variety and type of sound can be used to obtain and learn information and knowledge as necessary.

Audio media can be used for various purposes related to information and science communication activities, such as recording a speech or interview someone to increase knowledge, as a tool to make a summary of interviews conducted on a relevant source on a particular topic and many other things which can be used through audio media.

Audio media is commonly used to train and develop an assault ability in hearing and understanding information and knowledge communicated through sound elements. In foreign language subjects for example, audio media is used to train the pronunciation and ability of a person to hear and understand a story that is verbally disclosed or known as listening comprehension.

Audio media is also useful for training a person's ability to understand key ideas and explanations of an information and knowledge communicated through a sound recording. Audio media should be utilized in accordance with its potential as a media that uses sound elements to communicate information and knowledge to the audience.

Audio media has been used extensively to convey information and knowledge to individuals or groups of people. This audio medium is a popular medium for use in learning and explaining certain information and knowledge, especially in language and art.

Using audio aids in teaching is one way to enhance lesson plans and give students additional ways to process subject information. The term audio implies that one should be able to grasp directly the meaning and content of what is heard through auditory senses. Audio aids refer to any device used to help as to communicate an idea or information. In learning languages audio aids are used to enhance oral presentation. Moreover, an audio product is any audio item such as photography, picture, audio or video tape, slide or filmstrip, that is prepared singly or in combination to communicate information or to elicit a desired audience response.

According to Edgar Dale “Audio-visual aids are those devices by the use of them communication of ideas between persons and groups in various teaching and training situations is helped. These are also termed as multi sensory materials”. Audio-visual aids are any means that make learning task enjoyable and motivating carried on through the sense of hearing or sight.

To conclude audio-visual materials make the learning process more concrete, real and vital what makes the teaching and learning easy and successful. Those materials are of great importance in educational field especially in teaching languages.