Using Project Work To Improve Students’ Speaking Competence (A Classroom Action Research At Eleventh Graders Of Smk Negeri 2 Sumbawa Besar In The Academic Year Of 2011/2012)

Oleh :
Abdul Mujib - S89080912 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

This research was conducted at SMK Negeri 2 Sumbawa Besar in the Academic Year 2011/2012). The research was aimed at: (1) finding whether the use of project work in teaching English improve the students’ speaking competence; and (2) describing the students’ response to the use of project work in teaching speaking. The research methodology applied in this study is a classroom action research (CAR). This action research process consists of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The reason why the action research is applied in this research because it allows the researcher to investigate the English teaching and learning problems, especially the students’ speaking problems and to discover a way out of the problems. In this research, the researcher uses two kinds of data, quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data in the form of number were collected from the students’ pre-test and post-test scores which were implemented before and after the cycles. While the qualitative data, in the form of words were collected from the result of teaching and learning documents, observation, interview, questionnaire, tests, and field notes. The quantitative data of this research were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, in which the researcher compared the highest and lowest scores and means. Meanwhile the qualitative data were processed and analyzed by using constant comparative method in which any newly collected data compared with previous data. The research findings show that: (1) the implementation of project work in speaking class can improve the students’ speaking competence. It could be seen from the good progress of the students’ achievement in the evaluation. The mean of post-test scores was better than pre-test mean score. Then, the mean score in the second cycle was better than mean score in first cycle; (2) the implementation of project work has created the students’ positive responses toward the English teaching and learning especially speaking. It could be seen from their interest and participation in following the teachers’ instruction or direction in doing the class activities. The students’ positive responses were also seen by the students’ good interaction and collaboration in group works. Therefore, the researcher suggests that the English teacher should apply project work in conducting speaking class, because it can create a comfortable atmosphere and make students feel fun in following the learning activity.