IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITIES AT GRADE VIII OF SMP N 2 DEPOK IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2012/2013

摘要

The objective of this action research study was to improve the students’ speaking skills through communicative activities at grade VIII of SMP N 2 Depok in the academic year of 2012/2013. The actions were conducted based on the curriculum and in line with the course grid and lesson plan developed before conducting the actions.udThis research study consisted of two cycles involving communicative activities in the forms of various information gap activities and games as the main actions. They were ‘helping my classmate activity’, ‘giving me a favour activity’, ‘serving the customers activity’, ‘inviting to the party activity’, ‘finding a day activity’, ‘filling the schedule activity’, ‘search game’, and ‘survey game’. Using classroom English, communicating the objectives of the lessons to the students, conducting pre-communicative activities, giving feedback, giving handouts, asking students to bring a dictionary, using media in the teaching and learning processes, and giving rewards were the complement of the main actions. The data were obtained by observing the teaching and learning processes, interviewing the collaborators, holding discussions with the collaborators, and taking pictures during the actions. The instruments of this study were observation sheets, interview sheets, a recorder, and a camera. The data collected were qualitative in nature. The data were analyzed from the vignettes and interview transcripts during the actions. To avoid the subjective analysis, investigator and time triangulation were used. Democratic, process, outcome, catalytic, and dialogic validity were also used to fulfill the validity and reliability of the data.udThe research results showed that the students’ speaking skills improved through communicative activities. The improvements were achieved gradually which covered some aspects such as students’ responsiveness, fluency, accuracy, self confidence, and cooperation. The students got better atmosphere of learning and got lots of opportunities to speak up. It resulted in the improvements in not only the students’ quantity but also their quality in producing the language. They became more confident to speak in English. All implemented actions were successful to make the students active in joining the teaching and learning processes.