The Implementation of Role Play to Improve the EFL Speaking Ability of the Fourth

Semester Students of STIT Al Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang

Khudriyah
Khudriyah. 2010. The Implementation of Role Play to Improve the EFL Speaking Ability
of the Fourth Semester Students of STIT Al Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang. Thesis.
Graduate Program in English Language Education State University of Malang.
Advisors: (I) Dr.Hj. Arwijati Wahjudi, M.Pd, Dipl. TESL., (II) Dr. Johannes Ananto
Prayogo, M.Pd, M.Ed.
Abstract
Based on the researchers experience in the teaching of speaking and the
preliminary study, the researcher found some problems, namely the students speaking
ability was poor, their average score was 43.8 and their motivation to study was low. It was
because the teacher used monotonous technique in teaching speaking. To overcome these
problems, the researcher proposed one strategy in the teaching of speaking that is role play.
This study was designed to improve the students speaking ability using role play. The
study was intended to describe how role play can improve the speaking ability of the fourth
semester students of STIT Al Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang.
The study was collaborative classroom action research in which the researcher and
the collaborator worked together in conducting this study. The researcher acted as the
teacher while the collaborator observed the teacher and the implementation of role play.
This study was conducted in two cycles using the following procedures: planning,
implementing, observing, and reflecting. Each cycle consisted of three meetings. The data
of the study were gathered through the following instruments - observation checklist, field
notes, audio recording, and questionnaire. The subjects of this study were 30 students of
STIT Al Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang.
The finding of the study revealed that the appropriate model of role play as strategy
to teach speaking includes the following procedures. (1) brainstorming by turning the video
related to topic and questioning the students about what they have watched, (2) telling
students what is going to be done, (3) dividing students into pairs, (4) giving the handouts,
(5) drilling the handout to the students, (6) distributing the cards containing the situation to
each student, (7) guiding the students to make conversation and improvised it, (8) modeling
the students by performing role play with one of them , (9) asking them to make their own
conversation, and practiced on their own seat, (10) asking them to perform the role play in
pair, and (11) asking them to report their experience relate to the topic orally.
Furthermore, the finding of the study indicated that role play was successful in
improving students speaking ability. The improvement could be seen from the increase of
students average speaking score from 43.8 in the preliminary study, and 54.2 in Cycle 1, to
64.7 in Cycle 2. Besides, the finding indicated that role play was effective in enhancing the
students to be actively involved in the teaching and learning process. It was found that the
number of the students who were actively involved was 22 (73.3%).
It is suggested that English teachers apply role play since it can be practical
contribution on how to improve the students speaking ability with more practice of using
oral communication in their real and natural communication activities, and as a relevant
knowledge about the teaching of speaking. It is also recommended to the institution, that
the findings of the research are used for decision making that the teaching of speaking in
this institution have to use role play as the strategy. And for the future researchers, the
findings of this research can become a good reference as strategy to teach speaking.
Keywords: pole play, speaking ability