CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A. Research Findings
CHAPTER IV
FINDING AND DISCUSSION
This chapter focuses on elaborating the finding and discussion that has been collected from interview to address the research question that has been mentioned in chapter 1.
F said that:
Vlogging is making videos by recording yourself, recording daily activities and uploading them on YouTube or Instagram. Usually, it's a blog where we only write about our activities, but now there is a video version, that's why it's called vlogging.
Based on the interview, 3 out of 5 participants argued that vlogging is an activity to record about daily life. Besides, a participant, BF, stated another statement which is:
Vlogging is storytelling which has elements and goals to educate viewers in the form of video blogs.
And the last participant, IF, also had a slightly different definition about vlogging. IF stated:
So, in a way I perceived that, vlogging depends on the purpose of someone doing a vlog. For myself, vlogging is documenting the trips that I do such as traveling or it can also be a medium to share opinions.
From all the opinions above, it showed that each of the participants had different purposes in doing their vlogs. They differently define vlogging based on their vlog‟s contents. But all the participants agreed that vlogging is an activity of producing a video by recording their selves.
2. Impact to Enrich Vocabularies
Four of the English vloggers who participated in this research believe that doing an English vlogging helped them to enrich their vocabularies.
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As argued by MA:
Absolutely, yes. It is very helpful because we are like being challenged to find new words and also sometimes correct the wrong vocabs.
BF added:
Of course, it is able to increase vocabulary. Moreover, being helped by frequently reading or listening to podcasts when looking for references to make videos also increases vocabulary.
Also, MP gave her statement:
Before I made a video, I made a script first, so when I made the script, I learned new vocabulary.
Most of the participants said that vlogging contributed to expand their vocabularies because before making a vlog, they have created a script to assist them in delivering the speech. Within the process of writing a script, they found and learned new vocabularies. By listening or reading when browse for references helped to enrich vocabularies likewise.
Meanwhile, a participant, F, argued that:
To increase my vocabulary, I don‟t think so. This vlogging is just a way to practice the vocabulary that I have learned. So, this does not increase but only strengthens the memory of the vocabulary.
From the answer above, we can consider that even though vlogging did not improve his vocabularies, but it still gave a positive impact that was reinforcing his vocabulary mastery.
3. Impact to Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way in which we make the sound of words. Of course, it is essential to pronounce the word in a correct way. Mistakes in pronunciation causes to misunderstanding. Therefore, doing a vlog assists to improve pronunciation.
As said by BF:
Of course, very influential. For example, let's say we are preparing to make a vlog, it would be better if we talk in front of the mirror first or record it with the camera and then we will see the results. If there are words that are complicated, we repeat them again. And this affects the improvement of pronunciation.
Then, MA added:
Moreover, by frequently vlogging, it means that we often say these words, yes, our pronunciation will automatically get better.
Four of the participants admitted that the more often we speak the more our pronunciation get better. Based on the answers above, we can see that there was a good impact of English vlogging on pronunciation.
On the other hand, the remaining participant showed the contradiction.
MP stated that:
For pronunciation it has no effect at all. I apply what I have mastered before.
This participant believed that she has mastered pronunciation well even before starting vlogging. So, when she was doing her vlog, she applied what she has mattered.
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4. Impact to Grammar
Grammar is considered as the complicated skill to be mastered by language learners. It has a number of requirements. Based on the interview, three of the participants experienced the impact of vlogging on their grammar skills.
The participant BF assumed:
Yes, this vlogging also affects grammar. Learning grammar takes time. No one is immediately fluent in using grammar in once doing a vlog.
Grammar itself is formed because we learn and often practice in conversation. So over time due to frequent vlogging the grammar can be improved.
Also, MA stated:
Yes, for example, when we have uploaded the video, then there are grammatical errors, there will be someone who will help to fix it in the comments or there are also those who just remind us like "that is wrong, you should...".
Both participants agreed that doing a vlog impact to improve their grammar skill. The improvement came from the habit of using grammar correctly when speaking in the video. Likewise, sometimes got feedback from the viewers to correct the mistake.
Further, a participant argued that she did not feel any improvement in grammar, but it gave to another impact.
As IF said:
Personally, my grammar improves when I use that in writing, better than speaking. I don‟t think vlogging improves my grammar, but my practice in writing improves my grammar a lot. So, what I practice through writing, I
implement it in speaking. Maybe it just raises my awareness to use sentence grammatically when speaking.
Meanwhile, two of the participants confronted to those statements because they didn‟t get any impact of vlogging towards their grammar skills.
As argued by MP:
I don‟t think so. I don‟t think vlogging improve my grammar. I can say that before I start vlogging I have mastered grammar. I just apply it in my speaking.
Two of the participants had the similar opinion about the impact of vlogging on their grammar skills. They did not acquire any impact because they have already mastered grammar before and just apply it into their speaking.
5. Impact to Fluency and Accuracy
After their confidences raised up, vocabularies enriched, pronunciation got better, and able to use grammar appropriately, last but not least, fluency and accuracy also need to be improved. Becoming fluent in English is an ambition of each language learners because it makes us sounds like a native speaker.
Regarding to the interview, all the participants approved that vlogging has potential to improve their fluency and accuracy.
The participant MP stated her argument:
If there is an influence on fluency, yes. Because by memorizing the script often, I got used to saying English sentences. Likewise, when I talk to other people in the future, because I have used this sentence before, I don't
need to think again to compose the sentence.
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Also, MA added:
Also, in vlogging, there is a rule that there must be a tempo, it can't be too fast or too slow, just adjust it to the script that we have made.
In terms of accuracy, IF stated that:
But with vlogging, it does improve awareness of how to use sentences accurately.
Three answers above have already represented the idea of other participants that is there was impact of vlogging on their fluency. This vlogging helped them to be more fluent in speaking. By often memorizing script they were accustomed to English words. They also drilled to pay attention with the intonation, tempo, and when to pause in speaking. As well, they were more aware to accurately arrange sentences before using it in speaking.
6. Speaking Skill Before and After Implementing Vlogging
At the beginning of the interview, the researcher asked them how long they had been doing this vlogging. Their answers varied, some have been 5 years, 3 years, some have just started a year ago. Even so, there must be an influence on their speaking skills before and after vlogging.
As participant MA said:
Before I do this vlogging, for me English is just a theory. Because in the past, when I studied English at the Islamic boarding school, I only studied Grammar and kept memorizing, I didn't practice much. Then I learned how to make this vlog, I looked at other people's vlogs, I learned how to make videos in English and also learned how to use English correctly. I could say that before I started vlogging, my English was around 20%.
Now it's up about 50%.
The same argument was mentioned by F:
Before I vlog in English, I stammered because I rarely practiced it. So, one way of practice that I do is vlogging. Of course, after vlogging my English is more fluency, more fluent, more confident, and the articulation or pronunciation can't be denied nor improved.
When they first start vlogging they have to compose a script as a topic of conversation in the vlog. The more often they vlog, plus their confidence also increases, they get used to doing vlogs directly without having to write a script first.
As stated by BF below:
But after blogging, it seems to boost 2x. When you start vlogging, you have to make a script first, but now because you've been vlogging a lot, you can do it directly without scripting.
Then, IF also delivered a statement:
If you compare it, the first time I made a vlog was 2016, I repeated it many times, then I made the script first and then memorized it, I'm not confident with the English either. And the latest one that I did, what I feel was like now it's already done without making a script, just talk in English. Then there's no more aaa eeee, thank God. So, I think it did improve a lot from the past.
It is undeniable that doing English vlogs had a lot of positive effects on the development of their speaking skills. As the interviewees mentioned in their interview, before they start vlogging, they only study English theoretically, they often stutter because they rarely practice speaking, and they also need a lot of effort to make a vlog such as making scripts, memorizing it, then retaking videos over and over again. Then, they gradually improved. After frequently doing this
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English vlogging, they felt a significant change when compared to the early days when they started vlogging. For instance, they learned English practically, they became more fluent, confident, their articulation and pronunciation also got better, they were even able to do vlogs without scripting first.
7. Encountered Challenges in Creating a Vlog
All the participants have had challenges when they were creating video blogs. These challenges arise as a result of some factors, including factors that generate with the content creator itself and the tools used in making the video.
As stated by MA:
It could be an idea. And this idea is a problem for all content creators. This idea is rare and once you find it, it should be written down, so you don't forget it.
Another participant, F stated:
If the challenge in terms of English is like I have to write a script first, then have to read it, memorize the sentences, then finally you can say it in front of the camera… Choose the right costume.
In addition, IF told another her challenges, that was:
The challenge at first was like not being confident about speaking in front of the camera. Also, I always thinking about “would people like what I am posting?". Then the challenge is that there is still a lack of confidence in talking to the camera in front of crowded people. Then it's time, if we have other activities that we prioritize, vlogging will become secondary. There is a lot of time spent in vlogging, especially if we do everything ourselves, starting from making videos, editing takes a lot of time.
Furthermore, MP also argued:
The problem with the process of making the video starting from the angle of shooting. Also, the challenge is in choosing a sound that is not copyrighted but still in accordance with the vibes of the video that we will
make. Then it's also a bit difficult to think about the intro, sometimes confused about how to start the video.
Based on the answers above, we can see that the challenges differ among all the participants. To conclude, the challenges that vloggers face when doing a vlog were lack of idea, making a script, memorizing, and practicing before doing a vlog, lack of confidence, lack of time, negative mind such as “would people like what I am posting?”, choosing the suitable costume, determining the angle of shooting, and selecting back sound and intro of the video.
Meanwhile, all the participants had the similarity in using the tool to record and edit the vlog, which are smartphone and laptop.
BF said:
...now I only use one smartphone to record and edit the video.
8. Assessment Tool and Feedback
A participant, MA, told his experience with vlogging as an assessment tool and feedback.
He said:
For example, when we have uploaded the video, then there are grammatical errors, there will be someone who will help fix it in the comments or some will just remind us like "...you say it wrong, it should be...". So, as the owner of the channel, when i read the comments i will fix the error.
Feedback is not only obtained from teacher at school. The participant agreed that this vlogging can also be a media for him to get feedback. He got this
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feedback from his viewers whom he didn‟t even know. This answer proved that vlogging could be a media to get feedback on errors we have made. Absolutely, this is a good impact to improve English skill.
9. Generate New Method in Speaking Practice
The most crucial component of speaking is practice. In fact, a number of English learners don‟t have a sufficient time to practice English due to unsupported environment. Therefore, learners can develop their speaking abilities by using English video blogs.
The following is told by F:
When I don't have a partner to practice speaking, I do a vlog to practice speaking.
Moreover, IF also said:
I vlog using English to be honest as a medium for speaking practice, because I want to be able to speak English fluently but the environment in my hometown is difficult to have a circle that can be asked to speak English regularly. Finally, I used vlogs as a medium for practicing speaking.
In accordance with the interviews above, doing a vlog can overcome one of the common speaking problems which is neither having partner nor unsupported environment. The key point to be able to speak English well is to keep talking. By doing a vlog, people don‟t necessitate partner to talk to.
Therefore, every time people want to practice speaking, they can make a vlog to drill their English-speaking skill be better.
10. Acquiring Other New Skill
Beside helped to practice speaking skill, vlogging also helped to gain other skills. Within process of creating a vlog, a vlogger needs to be creative and innovative in designing his or her video to attract people to watch it. And this is requiring a good skill in editing. The more often you edit video, the more your editing skill increased.
As stated by MP:
By vlogging I can gain video editing skills. I also often look at people's vlogs, this also helps me to be more creative and come up with new ideas.
Another statement also said by IF that:
I have acquired skills such as being able to edit videos, practice confidence in speaking in front of people. Especially now that presentation skills are like skills that we must have. It really improves.
All the participants had the similar argument that by doing a vlog really helped them to improve confidence to speak. The participants experienced that their public speakings was increased as they used to share their video to be consumed by public. This also led to improve their presentation skills which is considered as a must have skill nowadays.
Additionally, BF argued:
By vlogging also increases my listening skills. Because before we vlog we learn from the videos of other content creators, we watch their videos and listen to their podcasts. So, when I watch videos in English, I turn off the subtitles so listen carefully to what is being said. Vlogging also affects connections and relationships. From this vlogging, suddenly I got an erratic job, some suddenly asked for a collab and all kinds of things.
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This current answer showed another gain that participant obtained since being a vlogger. Vlogging helped him to improve his listening skill because he used to listen too others‟ English video before making his own English vlog.
Further, vlogging also widen his connection and relationship as he was once offered to do a video collaboration and even a side job. In this case, doing a vlog could be a called a job and increases financial income.
To sum up, English vlogging did not only help to improve English speaking skill, but also improved confidence, public speaking, presentation skill, editing skill, be more creative, listening skill, broaden social network, and source of incomes.