IMPROVING VOCATIONAL STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL THROUGH ROLE PLAY TECHNIQUE

Abstract

This study was attempted to improve vocational students’ speaking skill through
Role Play Technique. This study was conducted by using classroom action
research. The subject of the research was class XI EK 2 SMK Negeri 1 Merdeka,
Berastagi, consists of 21 students. This research was conducted in two cycles. The
instruments of collecting data were diary notes, observation sheet, questionnaire
sheet, interview sheet and tests. Based on the speaking test score, it was found that
the students’ score kept improving from the first test to the third test. In the
orientation test, the mean score was 37.66, in the first cycle test, the mean score
was 48.33, and in the second cycle test, the mean score was 57.33. There was
improvement of students’ achievement from 57.33-37.66 about 19.67 points.
Based on the data from diary notes, observation sheet, questionnaire sheet and
interview, it was found that the students agreed that Role Play technique helped to
encourage them to speak, to express the language through appropriate
expressions, to think that speaking is not difficult. Thus, it was found that
teaching-learning process ran well. Students were active and interested in
speaking in the classroom. The result of the research shows that Role Play
Technique can improve vocational students’ speaking skill.