340
THE USE OF VOICE OF AMERICA (VOA) LEARNING ENGLISH APPLICATION TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’
SPEAKING ABILITY AT FOURTH-SEMESTER STUDENTS OF ENGLISH EDUCATION AT STKIP YPUP MAKASSAR
Adrianus Salang1 , Rina Asrini Bakri2 , Rita Roswita Duyo3
1STKIP YPUP Makassar, Email: [email protected]
2STKIP YPUP Makassar, Email: [email protected]
3STKIP YPUP Makassar, Email : [email protected]
ABSTRACT
This research is intended to find out whether VOA Learning English Application improved the students' speaking ability at the fourth semester students’ of english department at STKIP-YPUP Makassar.This research used a pre-experimental research method. The population of this research was the fourth semester students’
of english department at STKIP-YPUP Makassar. It consisted of one class with a total number of 28 students. This research used the porposive sampling technique which took 17 students in the class as the sample. The result of this research showed that the mean score of the post-test was higher than the pre-test (8,94 >
13). The result of the t-test value was higher than t-table (3,20 > 2.120). Finally, the researcher concludes that using of voice of america (voa) learning english application to improve students’ speaking ability at the fourth semester of english department at STKIP-YPUP Makassar.
Keywords: VOA Learning English Application, Speaking Ability.
INTRODUCTION
English is foreign language that very important means in communication which is used by many countries in this world. The countries that use English as an official language are England, USA, Africa, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, etc. And the country that use English as a second language are Bangladesh, Brunei, Ethiopia, Israel, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, etc. So, it called as an important role as an international language and many people in this world from many countries that learn English and apply it in their speaking daily. This is why the Indonesian government chooses English as the first foreign language to be taught in schools. English was introduced to us from the first grade of elementary school to the twelfth grade of Senior High School. The objective of this study is to improve students’ speaking ability by using VOA Learning English Application and to know how VOA Learning English Application can improve students’ speaking ability in fourth semester students’ of English department at STKIP – YPUP Makassar. This research is expected to be useful contribution to improve students speaking. It was giving some knowledge to the students and to know the benefit of using VOA Learning English Application as media in learning English through Speaking. The researcher limit the research about using the application and this research focuses on accuracy, fluency and comprehensibility element of speaking.
341 Sabinus (2013) Increasing Student’s Listening Comprehensiom by Using VOA:
Special English Video. Pontianak. Tanjungpura University. This research has similarity in using the same application. Along with Muzdalifah (2018) about “VOA Special English:
Increasing Student’s Speaking Skill at Faculty of Computer Science” at Lancang Kuning University, Pekan Baru, shown the result that this product was highly effective.
Speaking skill is an ability to orally express opinion, thought,and feeling to other people. Moris in Novia(2002), states that speaking is the the novice means of communication among member of society in expresing their thought and is as the representationof social behavior. Speaking is one of four language skill. It is productive skill that must be mastered by the students in learning language in order to be good communicator. They are to be able to give their opinion to the others because of speaking, and they are to be able to express their feelings in speaking. Moreover, they are going to be known by the others because of their speaking skill. Fulcher (2003:23) states
“speaking is the verbal language to communicate with others. Its function is to convey message which lies in the structure and meaning of all languages, whether this is written of spoken”. Hornby (1995:1140) says that speaking is to talk or say something about something. He also said that speaking can be defined as to know and be able to use a language and to make speech to an audience, because speaking is the most important skill in communication. In teaching learning process, media is needed to improve speaking ability. Media can give effective relationship between students and materials. Arsyad (2003) states that media is graphic, photographic or electronic instrument for catching, processing, re-arranging visual or verbal information. In other word, he states that media is instrument that can be used to distribute some points in a material of subject. Rohani (1997) defines media as everything that can be used to send or distribute in communicating process. The communication refers to teaching and learning process.
According to Rayandra Asyhar (2011:45) there are four kinds of media: audio, visual, audio-visual, and multimedia. The Medias can be explained as follow:
1) Audio Media
Audio media is kinds of media which is used in learning process and rely on hearing of students only. The visualization of message, information, or concept that wants to convey to the student can develop into some kinds like picture, illustration, sketch, graphic, chart, diagram, and merger from to shapes or more.
2) Visual Media
Visual media is kinds of media that is used only rely on eyesight sense from the student. Teacher can use this kind of media to help in make the material more simple and understandable for student. For example teacher make summaries in Microsoft power point and then show that Visual media is kinds of media that is used only rely on eyesight sense from the student. Teacher can use this kind of media to help in make the material more simple and understandable for student.
342 3) Multimedia
Multimedia are a media which are involving some kinds of media and tools integrated in a process or learning activity. Same with audio visual media, multimedia also combines some media to show the data but multimedia is more completely in showing the data or material. This is because when the data showed, it can combine by giving sound, picture, and video or connect that media to the internet and of course it is need other media like access point to connect the media to the internet.
Voice of America (VOA) Learning English Definition of VOA Learning English
VOA is the official broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S international broadcasters working under the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio and TV and the Internet outside of the U.S. The Voice of America (VOA) is a dynamic international multimedia broadcaster with service in more than 40 languages. Serving an estimated weekly global audience of 141 million, VOA provides news, information, and cultural programming through the internet, mobile and social media, radio, and television.
VOA is funded by U.S Government through the broadcasting board of the Governor. On October 19, 1959, the Voice of America broadcast the first Special English program. It was an experiment.
VOA Products and Programs
1) VOA broadcasts about 1.000 hours of radio and television programming each week to an estimated global audience of 100 million people. Language services have unique websites and use a variety of social media platforms such as Face book, Twitter, and YouTube to share content and interact with the audience.
2) VOA’s world-renowned music and English-language learning programs are enjoyed by millions of people around the world.
3) VOA’s seven TV studios produce a range of programs including news, call-in and interview formats.
4) Journalists in VOA’s 30.000 square foot News center work around the clock with a global network of correspondents to provide a continuous stream of balanced and comprehensive news and analysis on key issues, U.S government policies, and cultural developments.
METHODS
The method that used in this research was pre-experimental using one group pre-test and post-test. Pre-experimental designs was the simplest of the group research designs involve the assessment of the functioning of a single group of persons who received social work services. Furthermore, to explain more about how the design works the researcher put the form of pre-experimental design in bellow :
Pre-test Treatment Post-test
01 X 02
343 Where:
01 = The result of the students’ pre-test X = Treatment
02 = The result of the students’ post-test
(Gay, 2012 Variable of the Research
1. Independen variable
According to (Sugiyono, 2015: 96) "independent variables are variables that influencing or causing the change or occurrence of a variable dependent (bound).
2. Dependen variable
According to Sugiyono, (2015: 97) "The dependent variable is a variable thatis affected or is the result, because of the independent variable. Therefore, the independent variable is the use of VOA Learning Application while the dependent variable is the Students’ speaking.
The population of this research was the fourth semester of English department students at STKIP – YPUP Makassar” with total population are 28 students. The researcher took the total sampling technicque by choosing all of the students as the experiment class. So the researcher took 17 students as the sample of this research. The instrument used in this research, to got specific information about the VOA learning application and the students’ responses. Toward the method, the researcher used:
a) Speaking test: the speaking test is used to know the students speaking ability.
b) Audio/video recorder: will use to collect data.
Procedure of collecting data
To collect the data the researcher did the procedure bellow:
a) Pre-test
Pre-test was given to the students before the treatment. It aimed to know basic knowlwdge of the students ability in speaking. The researcher gave a test about favorite object.
b) Treatment
After giving pre-test, the researcher gave the treatment throught VOA Learning English Application. The treatment conducted three times by using the following procedures:
1) Firstly the reseacher ask the students to download VOA learning english application on app store.
2) Then the researcher explaned about VOA learning english application.
3) The researcher asked the students to try used this application.
4) Open basic fiture in this app.Read and listen carefuly the conversation on basic fiture.
5) Memorize the conversation.
6) Repeat the conversation in the front of the class with a partner.
c) Post- test
After giving treatment, the researcher gave post-test, the procedure of the post-test same as the pre-test. It aims to find out the result of students’ achievement in
344 speaking after giving the treatment. The procedure of this post test that each students’
introduced their self in the front of class.
The mean score of the students will be found out by means, following the formula:
𝑥̅ =𝛴𝒙 𝑁 Where:
𝑥̅ : Mean Score
𝛴𝑥 : The Sum of the Score N : The Total of respondents
Gay, 2004
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results
This study’s findings include the description of pre-test and the students pre-test score, the description of the treatment, the description of post-test and thestudents’ post- test score, scoring clasification, the comparison of the pre-test and post-test, the frequency and rate percentage of the students score, the mean score and total score the comparison between pre-test and post-test, t-test value and hypotesis testing. These findings were clearly explaned in detail below.
In the pretest, the researcher found that there were some students had a diffilculties to express their idea, and they were shy to speak in the front of the class because they had many bad limited pronounciation, vocabulary and lack of grammatical knowledge. So the researcher gave the treatment by using VOA learninhg english application while it conducted in four meetings. In the first meeting the researcher gave the topic about favorite object. Second meeting, the researcher gave the topic about news.
The last meeting the researcher gave the topic about favorite artist.
The result of data analysis, where the target of the of the research was to improve students speaking ability. There were two targets of the researcher namely fluency and comprehensibility which was tabulated from pre-test and post-test speaking.
The findings were explained below:
Table 1. The row score of students’ pretest (X1) and post-test (X2), gain/difference between matched pairs (D), and square of the gain(D2)
NO NAMA PRETEST
(X1
POSTEST (X2)
GAIN (D) SQUARE OF GAIN (DXD
1 RM 9 14 5 25
2 CT 9 12 3 9
3 WG 10 14 4 16
4 FS 7 11 4 81
5 CL 8 14 6 36
6 EY 9 12 3 9
345
7 LD 9 14 5 25
8 MY 8 13 5 25
9 NS 10 13 3 9
10 TY 9 14 5 25
11 CP 9 12 3 9
12 ML 9 12 3 9
13 FI 10 14 4 16
14 RK 8 13 5 25
15 MA 9 12 3 9
16 NA 9 14 5 25
17 NF 8 13 5 25
N=17 ∑X1= 150 ∑X2= 221 ∑XD= 71 ∑XD2= 378
Where:
∑ X1 = The total score of students’ result in pre-test
∑ X2 = The total score of students’ result in post – test
∑ XD = The total gain/difference of matched pairs
∑ D2 = The total square of the gain
Based on the table 4.5 above the researcher describes about The sotal row of students pre - test (X1) and post test (X2) gain of difference with the matched pairs (D) , and the square of the gain. The total socre of pre - test was 150 and the total row of post - test were 221 The gain or the difference between the matched pair were 71 and the square of gain (D2) were 378. The minimum gain ( D ) of students score was 3 and the maximum score of gain ( D ) was 6.
Calculating the mean score of the students’ fluency, comprehensibility and accuracy in pre-test and post-test
mean score of pre-test 1. fluency
∑X = 47 ( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 47
17= 2,76
2. Comprehensibility
346
∑X = 55 ( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 55
17= 3,23 3. Accuracy
∑X = 50 ( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 50
17= 2,94
mean score of post-test 1. fluency
∑X = 71 ( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 71
17= 4,17 2. comprehensibility
∑X = 79 ( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 79
17= 4,64 3. Accuracy
∑X = 71( the total score of students in fluency) N = 17 ( the total number of students )
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 71
17= 4,17
mean score of gain
∑D = 71 ( The total of gain) N = 17 ( Total number students )
347 𝑋 =∑𝑋
𝑁 = 71
17= 4,17
Findings the improvement of the students in speaking fluency, comprehensibility and Accuracy.
%𝑋2 − 𝑋1 𝑋1 . 100 13 − 8,94
8,94 . 100 = −87%
T- test value
𝑋 =∑𝑋 𝑁 = 71
17= 4,17
𝑡 = 𝐷
√∑ 𝐷2− (∑ 𝐷)2 𝑁 𝑁(𝑁 − 1)
𝑡 = 4,17
√∑ 𝐷2− (378) 17 17(17 − 1)
𝑡 = 4,17
√∑ 378 − (378) 17 17(17 − 1) 𝑡 = 4,17
√∑ 378 −22,23 272 𝑡 = 4,17
√∑ 355,77272 𝑡 =4,17
1,30 𝑡 = 3,20
348 Discussion
The result of the mean score of students' post - test was higher than the students' pre - test. Where 8,94 was as the mean score of students' pre - test and 13 was as the mean score of students' post - test. The mean score of students' pre - test was lower than post - test such as ; the mean score students' in fluency had improvement from 2,76 to 4,17, in comprehensibility from 3,23 to 4,64 and in accuracy had improvement from 2,94 to 4,17.
It could be said that the use of VOA learning english application was more effective in fluency. In pre - test, the students' fluency were lowest but their comprehensibility and accuracy not too bad. In pre - test, some students could not pronounce some words such as best, but, go, exact, excited and their fluency were low. When the post - test was given, the students' pronunciation almost were good and most of them could not pronounce the words usually, bath, wake up and their accuracy were good. Besides that on fluency, mostly students were a little bit good only some students were still low. Based on the result of the test, the researcher found that there was a significance different between the result of pre - test and post - test after comparing it with the value of t-table. It means that there was a significance different result of the test before and after teaching and learning process.
Regarding to the explanations above, there were also some researchers who had conducted the research by VOA learning english applicationin teaching speaking . It was supported by the statement of Muzdalifah ( 2018 ) stated in her research conclusion that the students' speaking ability had significantly improved after being taught by VOA learning english application. It proved enough the effects as well as the benefits of VOA learning english applicationin enhancing the students speaking ability. The problem of the students in speaking decreased even did not recover all perfectly. VOA learning english application was able to decrease the students' errors in doing speaking English.
CONCLUSION
By observing the result of the data and discussion in the previous chapter , the researcher made some conclusion as follows Using VOA learning english application in teaching English significantly improved speaking skill of the fourth semester english departement students’ at STKIP YPUP Makassar.
349 REFERENCES
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