Review Journal Improving the speaking skill using reading contextual internet-based instructional materials in an EFL class in Indonesia

 

Improving the speaking skill using reading contextual internet-based

instructional materials in an EFL class in Indonesia

Konder Manurung 2015

 

            Speaking skill is the most important skill of the language, because one of the indicators if someone has the ability to use the language is by communicating. Someone says able to masteries speaking skill if they can convey the meaning, messages, or information properly and be able to make conversation with other. The author explained to improve this skill, many aspects are needed such as the instructional technique, the instructional materials, the instructional media, the teachers and students, and even the speaking components. However, there are quiet some issues to improve this skill especially for ESL (English as a Foreign Language) and ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. The ignorance from the teachers about their students’ accuracy and fluency in speaking after the teaching learning process, the grammatical of the language which most of the students find it difficult, and the cultural differences are some of the issues in improving speaking skill.

            The author said if the role of teaching techniques is very important to improve the speaking skill. Heaton (1998) mentioned if there are three components of the speaking skill which learners must mastered, such as fluency, accuracy, and comprehensibility or appropriacy. In order to meet the purpose of the teaching, learners must have the opportunities to practice like presentation and communication during the teaching of speaking. Not only that, well developed instructional materials also have big impact to improve learners’ speaking skill, and so this is has been the main concern of the author to study the contextual internet-based instructional materials for improving speaking skill of university students in Indonesia especially the students at English Education Department at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Tadulako University.

            This research used CAR (Classroom Action Research) as a method with the step of this method are planning, implementation, observation and reflection. This research conduct in two cycle which each meeting consists of four meeting. The subjects of his research are 29 students of English Education Department at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Tadulako University who enrolled in the speaking IV class 2013/2014 academic year. To collect the data, the author scoring individual oral presentation and participation in each cycle. Field notes which is based on the classroom situation and interaction and observation which is based on the way individual students speak and respond during the class were also conducted.

            The result was found out if the implementation of contextual internet-based instructional materials can improve students’ speaking skill. To achieve that, there are two ways in using contextual internet-based instructional materials. First, the procedure in the selection topic is contextual and based on the interest of students find in the internet. Second, allowing students to actively participate I classroom meeting and discussion. The author explained potentially improve the speaking skill of the students in the Speaking class in EFL teaching at the university level.

            This journal has several advantages such as: first, the use of words in this journal is easy to understand. In this journal, the author did not use terms that can confuse readers, so that readers can easily understand the content contained in this journal. Second, In this journal the author also lists in detail the results of the methodology he has done. In addition, the author also attaches the chart of the result he used in his research. Third, the author conducted research twice to ensure the results of the study were successful. However there are some disadvanatges from this journal, such as: first, the author took research samples only from single background. second, there is an abbreviation like word TIRS that is not explained. Also there is some words that that I found mistype. Third, the font used in the journal looks too close in one alphabet to another. So, it is quite uncomfortable to read.