Improving students’ speaking skill in mastering transactional and interpersonal dialogues through task based-material

Oleh :
Ratih Dewi Suparno - X2208535 - Fak. KIP

Abstrak This thesis is written to identify the improvement of students’ speaking skill by using task-based material. The objectives of the research are to describe whether or not task- based material can improve students’ speaking skill especially in mastering transactional and interpersonal dialogues and to find out to what extent task-based material can improve students’ speaking skill especially in mastering transactional and interpersonal dialogues. The method used in this research is action research. The research was conducted in two cycles from February 16th to March 9th 2010 to the eight grade students of SMPN 14 Surakarta. The research data were collected by using techniques of qualitative and quantitative data collection which include: observation, interview, research diary and pre-test and post-test. Audio-video recording and photographs were also taken during the implementation of the research to provide more accurate data. The data are analyzed through re-reading the research diary, pre-research observation report, and field note. The research finding proves that task-based material is an effective approach in teaching speaking to improve the students’ speaking skill especially in transactional and interpersonal dialogues. The research findings include: 1) Task-based material is able to improve the students’ speaking skill especially in using grammar, using the appropriate vocabulary, and pronouncing the words correctly. Through task-based material, students have a much chance to practice the speaking with the partners. It encourages students to speak and share the problems with the partner and the researcher so that by practicing more they can speak fluently and understand the grammar well; 2) Task-based material is able to improve the process of teaching and learning speaking. For example through task-based material the students are interested in joining the teaching and learning speaking process due to the use of interesting pictures, realia, role play and real dialogues in the class. The students participate in class actively. The students are more active in asking and answering the questions iv during the lesson and the class is alive. Therefore, task-based material is very potential to be applied in speaking class.