PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES OF SPEAKING PRACTICES FOR THE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMP N 9 YOGYAKARTA USING CUE CARDS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2017/2018

Abstract

The aim of this research was to provide more opportunities of English speaking practices for the eighth grade students of SMP N 9 Yogyakarta by using cue cards in the academic year of 2017/2018. This research was categorized as an action research. It was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle was done in two meetings. The subjects of this research were 31 students of class VIII D of SMP N 9 Yogyakarta. The research procedures were reconnaissance, planning, acting and observation, and reflecting. The data obtained were qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were gained from classroom observations and interviews with the English teacher and the students. The qualitative data were in the form of field notes and interview transcripts. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were gained through assessing the students' speaking performance by using a scoring rubric. The assessments were conducted twice, before the action was implemented and at the end of every cycle. The qualitative data were analyzed by assembling the data, coding the data, comparing the data, building interpretation, and reporting outcomes. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive quantitative analysis. The result of this research showed that the use of cue cards could improve the students' speaking skills in some aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, fluency, pronunciation, and performance. It is found that the students became more confident in speaking English. The accompanied actions also helped improving students' interest in learning English. The findings were also supported by the improvement of students’ speaking scores in some aspects from pre-test and post-test, such as grammar improved from 1.61 to 2.16, vocabulary improved from 1.76 to 2.42, fluency improved from 1.27 to 1.55, and pronunciation improved from 1.53 to 2.10.

Keywords: action research, speaking practice, cue cards