IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL BY USING DEBATE TECHNIQUE FOR THE THIRD GRADE STUDENTS OF IPS AND IPA AT SMA NEGERI 12 BANDA ACEH

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the level of influence of the implementation of debate
techniques in improving the ability of students of SMA Negeri 12 Banda Aceh in speaking
in English. Researchers use quantitative as a method in this study. Test and Questionnaire
are instruments that researchers use as well as data collection techniques. The subjects of
this study were students of class 1 IPS 2 and class 3 IPA 2 who were taken randomly. The
reason why the researcher took the research subjects randomly was to avoid biased results
and ensure the validity of the research results. This is because there is a lot of stigma among
the majority that science students are far superior to social studies students. After applying
the instrument and analyzing the results of the research, the researcher can conclude that
the improvement in the ability of students at SMA Negeri 12 Banda Aceh in speaking
English is very significant. In the results of the pre test, before the application of treatment
in the form of debate techniques, students' abilities were relatively low in speaking English;
some of them have no confidence to appear, it is difficult to convey ideas or ideas, as well as
they still have little vocabulary.
However, after the debate technique was applied, the students' ability to speak in English
was significantly improved, both in terms of fluency and confidence. This is due to the
elements in the debating technique that successfully support their appearance in speaking
English. In a debate, students are required to think of an idea and present it in front of
many people. Not only that, students are also required to be able to respond to ideas from
other students and be able to defend their own ideas so that this encourages the ambition of
each student to be able to show their best in front of many people. In conveying ideas,
defending ideas, and responding to other people's ideas, students are also taught how to
structure a good delivery so that it has a pattern or handle or is rare in mapping what
processes they have to go through when speaking in front of others. Therefore, as a result,
the authors conclude that the implementation of debate techniques in improving students'
English speaking skills at SMA Negeri 12 Banda Aceh is very positive.