IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL THROUGH DESCRIBING PICTURE AT THE EIGHTH GRADE OF SMPN 22 SAMARINDA IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025

Abstract

Yulia Puteri. Improving Students’ Speaking Skill through Describing Picture at the Eighth Grade of SMPN 22 Samarinda in Academic Year 2024/2025 – Undergraduate Thesis. Supervisor: (1) Dr. Umar Fauzan, M.Pd. and (2) Dra. Sitti Hadijah, M.Pd.

Speaking is a key skill in mastering English. In teaching speaking to improve the ability of students, teachers must find interesting learning methods to improve student interest in learning and make it easier to understand the material that has been given. The research objective was to identify the improvement of students’ speaking skill at the eighth grade of SMPN 22 Samarinda in academic year 2024/2025.

This research utilized classroom action research, which was implemented in two cycles. Each cycle comprised three meetings: two focused on learning activities and one on testing. Each cycle followed four steps: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Data were gathered through observations and tests to evaluate the progress of the actions taken. The average score and percentage of the class served as representative measures to indicate improvements in the students' speaking abilities.

The research found that from the score of the student record obtained, it was known that only 4 students managed to get a minimum score of 75 and 32 other students got a score below the minimum score. Student learning outcomes improved from the first cycle with an average score of 66 and reached the learning target in cycle 2 with an average score of 76, with a student percentage of 81%. Based on the results of this research, it shows that through the use of Describing Picture was able to improve the interest and learning outcomes of students at the eighth grade of SMPN 22 Samarinda in academic year 2024/2025.