Generic Structure of Narrative Text

Narrative text is a type of text that tells a story with the purpose of entertaining readers and often giving a moral lesson. It usually follows a clear structure consisting of orientation, complication, climax, and resolution. 

By understanding this structure, students can easily identify the flow of a story, from the introduction of characters and setting, the rise of problems, the peak of conflict, until the story ends with a solution.

Generic Tructure of Penanggungan Mountain Legend :

Generic Structure of Narrative Text

1. Orientation

   • Introduces the characters, setting (time and place), and background of the story.

   • Example: “A long time ago, an old man lived on Mount Penanggungan with his daughter...”

2. Complication

   • The part where a problem or conflict begins to appear. It makes the story interesting.

   • Example: “Jaka became arrogant and refused to share the rice seeds with poor neighbors.”

3. Climax

   • The highest tension of the story, where the problem reaches its peak.

   • Example: “Kiai came to remind Jaka, but both Jaka and Dewi ignored him.”

4. Resolution

   • The ending of the story where the problem is solved, either happily or sadly.

   • Example: “Jaka and Dewi turned into temples, which later were called Pari Temple.”

Listening Narrative Text. The Legend of Penanggungan Mountain

The Legend of Pari Temple

Listen and fill in the blank spaces with the correct words from the audio script.

A long time ago, an old man named Kiai Gede Penanggungan .......(1) on Penanggungan Mountain. He had supernatural ....... (2) and a ....... daughter(3), Dewi Walangangin, who was still unmarried. He prayed day and night for her, until one day a young man named Jaka Pandelegan .............(4) wishing to be his student. Kiai agreed but on one condition: Jaka must marry Dewi. Jaka accepted, and the .............. (5) lived happily.

Kiai taught Jaka many things. After years .................(6), the couple left to start a new life. Before they went, Kiai gave them pari (rice) seeds with a ..........(7): share with others and never be arrogant. In their new place, the seeds grew abundantly, making them rich. When poor neighbors ...........(8) for seeds, Jaka refused and told them to work hard instead.

Hearing this, Kiai visited to remind him of his ...........(9), but both Jaka and Dewi ignored him. Angered, Kiai said, “You two are like ..........(10), unable to listen.” Suddenly, they turned into temples. Because they stood among rice fields, people named them Pari Temple.

After completing and comprehending the story, now answer the following questions correctly.

1. Where did Kiai Gede Penanggungan live?
a. On Merapi Mountain
b. On Penanggungan Mountain
c. In a rice field
d. In a temple

2. Why did Kiai Gede Penanggungan pray day and night?
a. He wanted more rice seeds
b. He wished for a student
c. He hoped his daughter would get married
d. He asked for supernatural power

3. What condition did Kiai give to Jaka Pandelegan before accepting him as a student?
a. To live on the mountain forever
b. To marry Dewi Walangangin
c. To share rice with neighbors
d. To build a temple

4. What caused Kiai Gede Penanggungan to be angry with Jaka and Dewi?
a. They left him without saying goodbye
b. They wasted the rice seeds
c. They ignored him and broke their promise
d. They moved to another mountain

5. Why were the temples called Pari Temple?
a. Because they were built by farmers
b. Because they stood among rice fields
c. Because Pari was Jaka’s name
d. Because Dewi loved rice

Simple Past Tense & Narrative Texts

 

🔹 Introduction: 

Why Simple Past Tense Is Important in Narrative Texts

In English grammar, Simple Past Tense plays a crucial role in writing and understanding narrative texts. 

Narrative texts are used to tell stories, recount past experiences, or describe historical events. Because these events happened in the past, we use the simple past tense to express them clearly and accurately.

Example from a narrative:

One day, the boy went into the forest and found a strange bird.

In this example, "went" and "found" are in the simple past tense, showing that the actions happened in the past and are now completed.

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📚 Basic Grammar: Simple Past Tense

1. Function

The simple past tense is used to:

• Express completed actions in the past.

• Tell a sequence of events in a story.

• Report facts or situations that no longer exist.

2. Pola Kalimat (Sentence Patterns)

✅ Kalimat Positif (Affirmative)

S + Verb 2 (past form) + O

Subject	Verb 2	Object
I	visited	my grandmother yesterday.
She	played	the piano last night.

Note: Verb 2 bisa berupa regular verb (tambahkan –ed), atau irregular verb (bentuk berbeda).

 

❌ Kalimat Negatif (Negative)

S + did not (didn’t) + Verb 1

Subject	Auxiliary	Verb 1	Object
He	didn’t	go	to school yesterday.
They	didn’t	eat	the cake.

Gunakan Verb 1 (bentuk dasar) setelah didn't.

 

❓ Kalimat Tanya (Interrogative)

Did + S + Verb 1 + O?

Question	Answer
Did you watch the movie?	Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
Did she call you last night?	Yes, she did. / No, she didn’t.

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🔹 3. Contoh Kata Kerja

Base Verb	Past Tense (V2)	Type
walk	walked	regular
study	studied	regular
go	went	irregular
eat	ate	irregular
buy	bought	irregular

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🔹 4. Contoh Kalimat Lengkap

• ✅ I visited Bali last year.

• ❌ She didn’t eat breakfast this morning.

• ❓ Did they watch the football match last night?

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🔹 5. Keterangan Waktu Umum (Time Expressions)

• Yesterday

• Last night / last week / last year

• Two days ago

• In 2019

• When I was a child

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📝 Latihan Singkat

A. Ubah kalimat berikut ke bentuk negatif dan tanya:

1. He studied English last night.
   → Negatif: _______________________
   → Tanya: _______________________

2. They went to the zoo yesterday.
   → Negatif: _______________________
   → Tanya: _______________________

3. Regular vs Irregular Verbs

• Regular verbs: add -ed

  • play → played

  • clean → cleaned

• Irregular verbs: change form

• go → went

• eat → ate

4. Common Time Expressions

• yesterday

• last night / week / month / year

• two days ago

• in 2020

Examples:

• I watched a movie last night.

• She met him two years ago.

 

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🎨 Vocabulary Commonly Used in Narrative Texts (Simple Past Tense)

Here is a table of vocabulary often used in narrative texts written in the simple past tense:

Base Verb	Past Form	Meaning (Indonesia)
go	went	pergi
see	saw	melihat
find	found	menemukan
take	took	mengambil
come	came	datang
run	ran	berlari
tell	told	menceritakan
give	gave	memberi
say	said	berkata
think	thought	berpikir

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🎮 Narrative Example Using Simple Past Tense

Once upon a time, there was a poor farmer who lived with his son. One day, they found a magic lamp in the garden. When they rubbed it, a genie appeared and offered them three wishes. They asked for food, money, and happiness. The genie granted their wishes, and they lived happily ever after.

 

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💼 Summary:

• The Simple Past Tense is essential for telling stories and recounting past events.

• It is used heavily in narrative texts, where events are presented in sequence.

• Mastering regular and irregular verb forms will help you write better past-tense stories.

Narrative Text : Why Crocodiles Are Afraid of Dayaks (Part 2)

Read the example of Narrative Text below

Why Crocodiles Are Afraid of Dayaks.

Once, there was a Dayak man who was a good hunter. One day, he met a big crocodile on the path. The crocodile said he was hungry. The Dayak man was scared, but he invited the crocodile to his house to eat jungle fowls with him.

The crocodile came and ate the food happily. Then he asked to stay longer. The Dayak man agreed. His wife even wanted the crocodile to marry their daughter. At first, the man said no, but later he agreed.

After the wedding, the crocodile became lazy. He didn’t help with anything and ate a lot. He scared people with his sharp teeth and took their food. Everyone started to hate him.

One day, while the crocodile was sleeping, the Dayak people attacked and killed him. When the king of crocodiles heard this, he said the Dayak were right. The crocodile didn’t follow Dayak customs.

From that time, crocodiles are afraid of the Dayak people and never hurt them.

🟦 A. Important Words from the Story

Word	Meaning (in Bahasa)	Example Sentence
hunter	pemburu	The Dayak man is a good hunter.
crocodile	buaya	A big crocodile was on the path.
jungle fowl	ayam hutan	He carried two jungle fowls.
invite	mengundang	He invited the crocodile home.
cook	memasak	His wife cooked for the guest.
marry	menikah	The crocodile wanted to marry her.
lazy	malas	The crocodile became lazy.
scared	takut	The man was scared, but polite.
custom	adat	He didn’t follow the Dayak custom.
attack	menyerang	They attacked the crocodile.

1. Who was the Dayak man?
A. A king
B. A farmer
C. A hunter 
D. A fisherman

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2. What did the crocodile want when he met the Dayak man?
A. A house
B. A wife
C. Some food 
D. A friend

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3. What did the Dayak man bring home?
A. Fish
B. Two jungle fowls 
C. Fruits
D. Rice

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4. Why did the Dayak man invite the crocodile to his house?
A. Because he wanted a friend
B. Because he was afraid 
C. Because he loved crocodiles
D. Because he needed help

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5. What did the crocodile do after the meal?
A. He went home
B. He helped in the house
C. He asked to stay longer 
D. He slept outside

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🌟 Level: Sedang

6. Why did the Dayak man agree to let the crocodile marry his daughter?
A. Because he believed the crocodile would turn into a prince
B. Because his wife told him a story
C. Because he wanted to look important
D. All of the above 

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7. What was the crocodile like after the wedding?
A. Helpful and nice
B. Lazy and scary 
C. Hardworking and quiet
D. Kind and funny

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8. How did the crocodile get food from the neighbors?
A. He bought it
B. He helped them
C. He scared them 
D. He traded it

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9. What did the Dayak people do to the crocodile?
A. They gave him more food
B. They sent him away
C. They told the king
D. They attacked and killed him 

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10. What was the crocodile king’s reaction?
A. He was angry
B. He agreed with the Dayaks 
C. He wanted revenge
D. He didn’t care

Narrative Text : Tung-Tung Sahur Story (Part 1 )

 

1. What is Narrative Text? (Pengertian Narrative Text)

Narrative text is a type of text that tells a story. The purpose of this text is to entertain the readers or listeners with imaginary or real experiences that happened in the past.

Narrative text usually has the following elements:

• Characters → the people, animals, or things in the story.
• Setting → the time and place where the story happens.
• Complication → the problem that the characters face.
• Resolution → how the characters solve the problem.
• Moral value/message → the lesson that the readers can learn from the story.

🧩 Example themes of narrative text: fairy tales, folktales, legends, fables, and personal experiences.

 

4. Language Features of Narrative Text (Ciri Kebahasaan Narrative Text)

To help us recognize a narrative text, we can look at these language features:

🔸 a. Past Tense

• Narrative text tells a story that already happened.
• Most verbs are written in the past form.
• Example: walked, went, was, had, said

🔸 b. Action Verbs : These show what the characters do in the story.  

        Example: shouted, ran, helped, climbed, laughed

🔸 c. Time Connectives / Conjunctions

• These words help show the order of events.
• Example: once upon a time, one day, then, after that, finally, suddenly

🔸 d. Adverb of Time and Place

• Words that describe when and where something happened.
• Example: last night, in the morning, at the village, under the tree

🔸 e. Direct Speech (Quotation)

• Sentences that show what the character said.
• Example: “I must wake them up,” Tung-Tung said.

 

2. Example of Narrative Text:

Title: Tung-Tung Saves Sahur Again

Tung-Tung was a funny wooden man who lived in a small village in Indonesia. Every Ramadan, he had a big job. He walked around the village with his bat and shouted, “Sahuuur! Sahuuur!” to wake people up for their early meal before fasting. Everyone in the village loved Tung-Tung because he never missed a day.

One night, the sky was dark and it rained heavily. Tung-Tung almost stayed home because his bat was wet and heavy. But he remembered his job. “I must wake them up,” he said. So, he walked in the rain, hitting his bat and shouting louder than ever. Some people were already sleeping deeply, but they heard Tung-Tung’s voice and woke up just in time.

The next morning, the villagers said thank you to Tung-Tung. They gave him warm food and dry clothes. Tung-Tung smiled and said, “I only did my job.” Everyone laughed and promised to help him next time. Tung-Tung became the hero of the village once again.

 

1. What was Tung-Tung's job during Ramadan?
   a. Cooking food for the village
   b. Cleaning the streets
   c. Waking people up for sahur
   d. Teaching children
2. Why did Tung-Tung almost stay home one night?
   a. He was sleepy
   b. He lost his bat
   c. The rain was heavy and his bat was wet
   d. He was sick
3. What did the villagers do the next morning?
   a. They ignored Tung-Tung
   b. They gave him food and clothes
   c. They asked him to leave
   d. They scolded him
4. What is the moral message of the story?
   a. Be late for sahur
   b. Work hard only when it's easy
   c. Always help others, even in hard times
   d. Never walk in the rain

Answer the following questions based on the text above

5.      Who is Tung-Tung?

6.      What did he do every Ramadan?

7.      Why did he almost stay home one night?

8.      What did the villagers do after sahur?

9.      What is the moral value of the story?

 

 

 

Getting A Job for Fresh Graduate

 

1. What is a Job Vacancy?

A job vacancy is an announcement that a company or organization needs a new employee. It gives information about a job that is available. People who are looking for work can read the job vacancy to know the job details and how to apply.

For fresh graduates, a job vacancy is not just a job announcement—it’s a gateway to their first professional opportunity. By understanding a job vacancy, fresh graduates can:

1. Identify the right job that matches their skills, interests, and educational background.

2. Understand employer expectations, such as required qualifications, skills, and work responsibilities.

3. Tailor their application, including CV and cover letter, based on what the company is looking for.

4. Avoid mistakes, such as applying for jobs they are not qualified for or misreading key requirements.

5. Make better career decisions, because a job vacancy often gives clues about company culture, location, and growth potential.

In short, reading and understanding a job vacancy carefully helps fresh graduates apply smartly, prepare better for interviews, and increase their chances of getting hired.

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2. Parts of a Job Vacancy

Here are the common parts of a job vacancy:

1. Job Title – The name of the job (e.g., Office Assistant, Sales Staff).

2. Company Name – The name of the company that offers the job.

3. Job Description – A short explanation of what the employee will do.

4. Qualifications – The skills or experience needed for the job.

5. Location – Where the job is.

6. Salary – How much money the employee will earn (sometimes optional).

7. How to Apply – Instructions to apply for the job (email, phone, or address).

8. Deadline – The last date to send an application.

Examples of Job Vacancy

Exercise on How To Handle Telephone Call

 

Multiple-Choice Questions: Telephone Conversations

1. When answering the phone, it's polite to say:​

a) "Who are you?"

b) "Hello, this is [Your Name] speaking. How can I help you?"

c) "What do you want?"​

2. If you don't understand something the caller said, you should:

a) Ignore it.

b) Ask them to repeat it.

c) Hang up the phone.​

3. To politely ask to speak with someone, you can say:

a) "Give me [Name]."

b) "Can I talk to [Name], please?"

c) "I want [Name]."​

4. If you need to put the caller on hold, you should say:

a) "Wait."

b) "Hold on, please."

c) "Don't go anywhere."​

5. When leaving a message, it's important to include:

a) Your name and phone number.

b) Only your name.

c) Nothing.​

6. If the line is busy, you should:

a) Keep calling until someone answers.

b) Leave a message or call back later.

c) Hang up immediately.​

7. To confirm an appointment over the phone, you can say:

a) "Is it okay if I come?"

b) "Just checking, our meeting is at 10 AM tomorrow, right?"

c) "I don't remember the time."​

8. If you need to call someone back, you should:

a) Wait for them to call you.

b) Call them at your convenience.

c) Ask for their number and call them back at a suitable time.​

9. When ending a professional call, you should say:

a) "Bye."

b) "Talk to you later."

c) "Thank you for your time. Goodbye."​

10. If you don't know the answer to a question, it's best to say:

a) "I don't know."

b) "I have no idea."

c) "Let me check and get back to you."

Let's Get Practice

How To Handle Telephone Call (Part 2)

 

Mastering Professional Telephone Conversations in English

In today's world, talking on the phone is an important skill. Whether you're answering calls, asking questions, or helping customers, using the right words and being polite can make a big difference.​

This guide will help you feel more confident when talking on the phone in English.

1. Answering the Phone

Begin with a polite and professional greeting. Clearly state your name and, if applicable, your company's name.

Examples:

• "Good morning, ABC Corporation. This is Linda speaking. How may I assist you?"
• "Hello, this is John from XYZ Ltd. How can I help you today?"​

2. Making a Call

When initiating a call, introduce yourself and state the purpose of your call.

Examples:

• "Hello, this is Sarah from Global Tech. I'm calling to discuss our upcoming project meeting."
• Good afternoon, my name is Michael, and I'm reaching out regarding your recent inquiry."​

3. Asking to Speak with Someone

If you need to speak with a specific person, use polite requests.

Examples:

• "May I speak with Mr. Thompson, please?"
• "Could you connect me to the marketing department?"​

4. Putting Someone on Hold

Sometimes, you may need to place a caller on hold. Always ask for their permission first.

Examples:

• "Would you mind holding for a moment while I check that information?"
• "Please hold while I transfer your call."​

5. Taking and Leaving Messages

If the person requested is unavailable, offer to take a message or inform the caller when they can expect a return call.

Examples:

• "I'm sorry, Mr. Davis is currently in a meeting. Would you like to leave a message?"
• "She is out of the office at the moment. Can I take a message or have her return your call later?"​

6. Clarifying and Confirming Information

To ensure accurate communication, don't hesitate to ask for clarification or confirm details.

Examples:

• "Could you please repeat that last part?"
• "Let me confirm: your appointment is scheduled for Thursday at 3 PM, correct?"​

7. Ending the Call

Conclude the conversation politely, summarizing any agreed-upon actions.

Examples:

• "Thank you for calling. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out."
• "It was a pleasure speaking with you. Have a great day!"

Dialogue 1: Scheduling an Appointment

Receptionist: Good morning, Dr. Smith's office. This is Emily speaking. How may I assist you?​

Caller: Good morning, Emily. This is James Anderson. I'd like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith.​

Receptionist: Certainly, Mr. Anderson. Are you looking for a specific date and time?​

Caller: Yes, I was hoping for next Tuesday in the morning.​

Receptionist: Let me check Dr. Smith's schedule. Please hold for a moment.​

(After a short pause)

Receptionist: Thank you for holding. Dr. Smith is available at 10:00 AM next Tuesday.​

Caller: That works perfectly.​

Receptionist: Great. I've scheduled your appointment for 10:00 AM on Tuesday. Is there anything else I can help you with?​

Caller: No, that's all. Thank you very much.​

Receptionist: You're welcome. Have a great day!

Dialogue 2: Asking About a Job Opening

Receptionist: Good afternoon, Tech Solutions. This is Laura. How can I help you?​

Caller: Good afternoon. My name is Sarah Lee. I saw a job ad for a software developer on your website.​

Receptionist: Yes, we have that job opening. Would you like to speak with someone in Human Resources?​

Caller: Yes, please.​

Receptionist: Okay, please hold on.​

(After a short pause)

HR Representative: Hello, this is Mark from Human Resources. How can I help you?​

Caller: Hi Mark, I'm Sarah Lee. I'm interested in the software developer job. Can you tell me how to apply?​

HR Representative: Sure, Sarah. Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@techsolutions.com.​

Caller: Thank you very much.​

HR Representative: You're welcome. Good luck!

Watch and Learn the dialogue on the video

Click Here ​to Practice your knowledge