SMART Journal Volume 1 No. 2, August 2015 Hlm.

93-101

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING PICTURES TO IMPROVE

STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL

Episiasi1), Ardayati2), Sinta Novianti3)

1
English Department, STKIP PGRI LUBUKLINGGAU
email: episiasi34@yahoo.com
2
English Department, STKIP PGRI LUBUKLINGGAU
email: Ardayati470@yahoo.com
3
English Department, STKIP PGRI LUBUKLINGGAU
email: Shintanovianti46@yahoo.com

Abstract

The problem of this study was “Is it significantly effective to use pictures to improve
students’ speaking skill to the sixth semester students of English Education Study
Program at STKIP PGRI Lubuklinggau?”. This study was conducted to find out
whether it is significantly effective to use pictures to improve students’ speaking skill.
There were two hypotheses; null hypotheses (H0) and alternative hypotheses (Ha).
The sample of the study was 23 students which were taken through cluster random
sampling. Research method of this study was pre-experimental with one group pre-test
and post-test design. The writer used speaking test and analyzed the data by using
conversion of score range, individual score, and match t-test. Based on the result of
data analysis, it was found out that students’ average score in the pre-test was 46.43
and post-test was 60.54. Finally, the results of matched t-test calculation shows that
the t-obtain was higher than t-table. The t-obtained was 31.37 while the t-table was 1.717. It
means that the null hypotheses (Ho) was rejected and automatically the alternative
hypotheses (Ha) was accepted. It can be concluded that it is significantly effective to
teach speaking skill by using pictures.

Keywords: Effectiveness, Speaking, Picture

1. INTRODUCTION levels Elementary School, Junior High

English is an international language School, Senior High School, and college.
which has been used by countries all over Many educators agree that students
the world. It is used in trade, science, should learn to speak English as a second
business, politics, education and more. language when interacting with others. It
People need English to communicate aims to make students capable of keeping
with others, particularly to establish and track of where English is used by all
maintain relationship. In Indonesia, walks of life and activities.
English as foreign language and one of Speaking is one of four basic skills
the compulsory subjects at school, for instead of listening, reading, and writing

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that have to be mastered by students so what they want to say. There are many
that it is a crucial part of second language ways to teach speaking. Teaching
learning and teaching. Henry G. Tarigan speaking can be done through dialogues,
(1981:15) states that speaking is a skill of pictures, games, etc. In brief, English
conveying words or sounds of teacher or lectures should be creative in
articulation to express or to deliver ideas, developing their teaching learning
opinions, or felling. Despite its process to create good atmosphere,
importance, for many years, teaching improve the students’ speaking skill, and
speaking has been undervalued and give attention to the speaking
English language teachers have continued components. In this study, the writer
to teach speaking just as a repetition of focuses on picture to improve students’
drills or memorization of dialogues. speaking ability. There is a phrase that
However, today’s world requires that the describes a picture means a thousand
goal of teaching speaking should improve words. Picture is a good media that can
students’ communicative skills, because, be used to motivate the students and
only in that way, students can express provide the participants with practice in
themselves and learn how to follow the improving speaking skill.
social and cultural rules appropriate in Based on the description above, the
each communicative circumstance. To writer conducted a study entitled The
most people, mastering the art of Effectiveness of Using Pictures to
speaking is the single most important Improve Students’ Speaking Skill to the
aspect of learning a second or foreign Sixth Semester Students of English
language, and success is measured in Education Study Program at STKIP
terms of the ability to carry out a PGRI Lubuklinggau in the Academic
conversation in the language. Year of 2014/2015. In this study, the
From the observation, the writer writer would like to find out whether or
often finds students’ difficulties in not it is significantly effective to use
learning how to speak up in classroom. pictures in teaching speaking skill to the
They are afraid of speaking English sixth semester students of English
because lack of vocabularies, feel Education Study Program at STKIP
unmotivated, and confuse how to express PGRI Lubuklinggau in the academic year

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SMART Journal Volume 1 No. 2, August 2015 Hlm. 93-101

of 2014/2015. manipulate) in order to assess their

possible effect(s) on one or more other
2. RESEARCH METHODS variables. An independent variable is
The writer used a pre experimental presumed to have an effect on, to
method with one group pre-test and post- influence somehow, another variable.
test design to conduct this research. Dependent variable is the variable that is
According to Borg, W. R in Latief presumed to affect by the independent
(2010:96) pre experimental designs is variable. The independent variable of this
experiment that is implemented only in research is the use of picture, and the
one class without control class. In doing dependent variable is the students’
this study, the writer used one group pre- speaking achievement.
test and post-test design. The design as Population is entry group of
follow: individuals or items in which statistical
measurement is investigated. Therefore,
Experimental T1 X T2 the population of this study conducted at
the sixth semester students of STKIP
Where
PGRI Lubuklinggau in the academic year
T1 : Pre-test of experimental group
2014/2015 with total number of students
X : Treatment (Picture)
were 64 students.
T2 : Post-test of experimental group Table 1 The Population of the Study
In this study, firstly the writer
administered the pretest to the students. No. Class Number of Students

Then, the writer gave treatment to them. 1 VIA 23

Finally, the writer administered the
2 VIB 26
posttest to the group.
There are two kinds of variables of 3 VI C 15

this research: the independent variable

Total 64
and dependent variable. According to
Fraenkel and Wallen (2009:42) Source: STKIP PGRI Lubuklinggau in

independent variables are those the the academic year 2014/2015

investigator chooses to study (and often

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Sample is the minimum number to given the pictures and asked to speak in
represent selective populations that are front of the class about fifteen minutes.
examined to gain the data or information The conversation was recorded by using
about the whole. Sample is items selected good accuracy, fluency and
randomly from a population and used to comprehensibility.
test hypotheses about the population. The data obtained were analyzed
According to Fraenkel and Wallen through three techniques, they were: (1)
(2009:90), sample is a group of subjects conversion of score range, (2) individual
on which information is obtained. Sample scores, (3) the matched t-test.
is items selected randomly from a
population and used to test hypotheses 3. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
about the population. Cohen, Manion, The study of teaching speaking skill

and Morrison (2007:15) states that there by using pictures was done to the sixth

are many methods of selecting sample semester students of English Education

such as random sampling, probability Study Program at STKIP PGRI

sampling, systematic sampling, stratified Lubuklinggau. This study was started

sampling, cluster sampling, volunteer from April 21st, 2015 until May 26th,

sampling, quota sampling and purposive 2015. Total population of the study was

sampling. 64 students from 3 classes. Sample of the

In this study, the writer took sample study was taken by using cluster random

by using cluster random sampling. sampling. The result was showed that

According to Fraenkel and Wallen class A was taken as the sample of the

(2009:95) cluster random sampling is the study. The sample consisted of 23

selection of groups, or clusters, of students.

subjects rather than individuals. So in There were three steps in conducting

cluster random sampling, the writer this research. It involved pre-test,

selected VI A as the samples of the study treatment and post-test. Firstly, the pre-

with total number of the students were test was done on Tuesday, April 21st,

23. 2015. The test was administered by 23

In this study, the writer used oral test students. The test was held to find out

in collecting the data. The students were students’ speaking score before having

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treatment. Secondly, the students were Students’ Speaking Score in the Pre-
give treatment by using pictures as a Test
media to improve their speaking
Pre-test was given in order to find
achievement. The treatments were given
out students’ speaking score before they
four times. It was started from April 28th,
got treatment from the writer. In this
2015 until May 19th, 2015. Thirdly, post-
th
study, pre-test was done on April 21st,
test was done on May 26 , 2015. Post-
2015. In conducting the pre-test, students
test was given to find out students’
were asked to describe one of the topics.
speaking scores after treatment.
The topics were your friend’s physical
There were three findings in this appearance and your future dream job.
study, they were: (a) the students’ scores Students were given 10 minutes to
in the pre-test, (b) the students’ scores in describe their friend’s physical
the post-test, (c) the result of normality appearance and their future dream job in
testing, (d) the matched t-test. The front of the class. The writer scored
speaking test consisted of three students’ speaking skill based on three
components. They are accuracy, fluency components. They are accuracy, fluency
and comprehensibility. By using the and comprehensibility. The pre-test was
result of the test, the writer got students’ given to 23 students from class A. The
speaking scores. The scores were gotten highest score for pre-test was 67 and the
by using inter-rater in analyzing the data. lowest score was 33.
It means that the scores were conducted
Students’ Speaking Score in the Post-
by two raters. The first rater was the
Test
lecturer of English at STKIP PGRI
Lubuklinggau. Her name is Ardayati, M. The post-test was given in order to
Pd. and the second rater was the writer find out students’ speaking score after
herself. Students’ speaking score was they got treatment from the writer. In this
calculated by adding the score from rater study, post-test was done on May 26st,
1 and rater 2. Then, the scores were 2015. In conducting the post-test,
divided by 2. students were asked to describe one of
the topics. The topics were your friend’s

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physical appearance and your future The Results of Normality in the post-
dream job. Students were given 10 test
minutes to describe their friend’s physical
Based on the result of normality
appearance and their future dream job in
calculation in the pre-test, the writer
front of the class. The writer scored
found out that obtained = 8.04 which is
students’ speaking skill based on three
the degree of freedom (df)= 5 (6-1) with
components. They are accuracy, fluency
significance level was 99% (0.5) and
and comprehensibility. The post-test was
given to 23 students from class A. table = 11.1. The criterion for normality
test was if obtained < table, it can be
The highest score for post-test was
concluded that the data distribution of
83 and the lowest score was 44. It
post-test can be considered as “normal”.
showed that students’ speaking
achievement increased because their The Result of Matched T-test
average score in the post-test was higher Calculation
than pre-test.
Based on the students’ score
The Results of Normality in the pre- obtained in the per-test and post-test, the
test writer calculated the matched t-test to
find out whether or not it was
Based on the result of normality
significantly effective to teach speaking
calculation in the pre-test, the writer
skill by using pictures to the sixth
found out that obtained = 5.49 which is
semester students of English Education
the degree of freedom (df) = 11.1 (6-1) Study Program at STKIP PGRI
with significance level was 99% (0.5) and Lubuklinggau in the academic year of
table = 11.1. The criterion for 2014/2015.
normality test was if obtained < table,
Finally, the result of matched t-test
it can be concluded that the data
calculation shows that the t-obtain was
distribution of pre-test can be considered
higher than t-table. The t-obtained was 31.37
as “normal”.
while the t-table was (1.717). It means that
the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected and
automatically the alternative hypothesis

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(Ha) was accepted. It can be concluded any unconscious mistake. Because of

that it is significantly effective to teach three factors above, consequently
speaking skill by using pictures to the students cannot express what on their
sixth semester students of English mind is related to the topics given by the
Education Study Program at STKIP lecturer. The topics were your friend’s
PGRI Lubuklinggau in the academic year physical appearance and your future
of 2014/2015. dream job.
Based on the problems above, the
Based on the findings above, the
writer decided to give treatment the
writer can interpret that after giving
students. The writer used pictures as a
treatment by using pictures, students’
media to help students in describing their
speaking score was higher. It means that
idea in the form of speaking skill. The
it is significantly effective to teach
writer took four meetings in giving
speaking skill by using pictures. It can be
treatment. It was started from April 28th,
proved from the difference between
2015 until May 19th, 2015. The materials
students’ average score obtained in the
of treatment were introduced themselves,
pre-test and post-test. In the pre-test,
give personal information, exchange
students’ average score was 46.36. On
personal information and explain hobbies
the other hand, in the post-test, students’
and interests. Students were asked to
average score increased to be 60.54. In
explain the topics in front of the class and
addition, the highest score in the pre-test
their performance were scored by the
was 67 and the lowest score was 33.
raters.
There are some factors that affect After giving treatment, the writer
why students’ score in the pretest was continued the next step. The last step was
low. Firstly, students have no preparation called post-test. The highest score for
to describe the material. Secondly, post-test was 83 and the lowest score was
Students cannot express what they want 44. It was showed that students’ speaking
to say in English, but the students know achievement increased because their
what they have to say, but it took time. average score in the post-test was higher
Thirdly, Students are afraid to talk in than pre-test. It can be concluded that it is
front of anyone as they are afraid to make significantly effective to teach speaking

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skill by using pictures to the sixth automatically the alternative hypothesis

semester students of English Education (Ha) was accepted. It can be concluded
Study Program at STKIP PGRI that it is significantly effective to teach
Lubuklinggau in the academic year of speaking skill by using pictures to the
2014/2015. sixth semester students of English
The effectiveness was considered as Education Study Program at STKIP
the result of pictures used by the writer in PGRI Lubuklinggau in the academic year
the treatment. Students’ speaking of 2014/2015.
achievement increased in the post-test
and it was influenced by some factors. 4. CONCLUSION
They were: Firstly, Pictures help students Based on the result of the study in
in expressing idea and information. the previous chapter, it can be concluded
Secondly, students feel confidence to that it was significantly effective to
describe the topics because they have a improve students’ speaking achievement
guideline from the writer. Finally, by using pictures to the sixth semester
students can describe briefly because they students of STKIP PGRI Lubuklinggau
have a good preparation and more in the academic year of 2014/2015. It can
information about the topics. be proven by the comparison of the
It can be concluded that teaching percentages of the students’ conversion in
speaking skill by using pictures has the pre-test and post-test. In the pre-test,
advantages in learning process especially the students’ highest score was 67
in describing someone physical reached by 1 student and the lowest score
appearance. Besides, students were was 33 reached by 5 students. The
motivated to be active in the classroom average score of the pre-test was 46.36.
and are able to give brief explanation On the other hand, the highest score in
based on the topics given by the writer. the post-test was 84 reached by 3 students
Finally, the result of matched t-test and the lowest score was 44 reached by 1
calculation shows that the t-obtain was student the average score of the post-test
higher than t-table. The t-obtained was 31.37 was 60.54. The data of the average score
while the t-table was (1.717). It means that of the pre-test and post-test showed that
the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected and students’ speaking scores improved after

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the teacher gave treatment by using Latief, Mohammad Adnan, 2012. Research
Methods on Language Learning an
pictures as teaching media. Introduction. Malang: UM Press.
In addition, Based on the statistic,
the result of matched t-test calculation
was 31.37and exceeded (1.717) as
coefficient of t-table with 95%
significantly level for one tailed test. It
can be concluded that in the pre-test, t
obtain<t table. On the other hand, in the post-
test, t obtain>t table.

Based on the conclusion above, the

writer found out that the use of pictures
as media in teaching speaking was very
useful for the students. The students who
were taught by using pictures got better
score and were motivated in speaking
English. The students also had great self
confidence in expressing their idea in
learning English.

5. REFERENCES
Cohen, Manion, & Morrison, Keith.
2007. Research Methods in
Education. New York: Routledge.

Fraenkel and Wallen. 2009. How to

Design and Evaluate Research in
Education. New York: McGraw-Hill,
Inc.

Henry G. Tarigan. 1981. Berbicara

Sebagai Suatu Keterampilan
Berbahasa. Bandung:Angkasa.

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