1

AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST GRADE

STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ABILITY IN ASKING
& GIVING OPINION AT JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL 11 PADANG

Meilisa Hartianti1, Ernati2, Fitrina Harmaini2

1
The Student of English Department, the Faculty of Teacher Training and
Education, Bung Hatta University
E-mail:Meilisahartianti@gmail.com

Abstract

The aim of this research was to find out the first grade students’ speaking ability in
asking & giving opinion at SMPN 11 Padang. The design of this research was
descriptive. The population of this research was 224 students of the first grade of SMPN
11 Padang who are registered in 2016/2017 academic year. The researcher used
convenience sampling technique in taking the sample. It means the sample was the
students who present at the time. The instrument used was speaking test. The coefficient
correlation index of the test was 0.85, it means that the test was reliable. The result of
this study showed that the students’ speaking ability in Asking & giving opinion was
high. It was supported by the data that 50% students had high ability, in specific,
students’ ability in expression content is low, it is supported by the data that 97%
students had low ability, students ability in appropriate vocabulary is high, it is
supported by the data that 100% students’ had high ability, students’ ability in using
grammar is high, it is supported by the data that 57% students had high ability,
students’ ability in fluency is low, it is supported by the data that 53% students’ had low
ability and students’ability in pronunciation is low, it is supported by the data that 90%
students had low ability. Based on the result, the researchers gives suggestion for the
teacher to maintain students’ ability and also improve it. English teachers are
suggested to improve their students’ speaking ability in asking and giving opinion
through giving more practices in speaking especially asking and giving opinions. For
the next researchers by having the result of this research, the researcher suggested them
to find out the students’ difficulties in expressing of asking & giving opinion. Especially
in content, fluency and pronunciation.
Keywords : Speaking, ability, component

INTRODUCTION by others. In addition someone needs

Speaking is one of the language skills feedback for communicating directly. It is

to express feeling or idea to someone. defined as a process of building and

When someone speaks it must be listened sharing meaning through the use of verbal

or oral form (Chaney:1998:13). By
communicating, people are able to change
the ideas, so that they can know the
situation in the world. Speaking is a
crucial part of the foreign language
learning and teaching, because it can be
used for students to express their idea
orally in foreign language. In modern life,
people should be able to speak English as a
foreign language because by mastering
English we can understand what the foreign
people say and then get well communication
with other people in the world. Thus,
speaking English is an important subject in
the education. In fact, every school in
Indonesia has English subject. The
government also obligates students to learn
English in many level of education, from
junior high school, senior high school until
university levels. Learning English covers
four skills; listening, speaking, reading, and
writing.
At junior high school, students learn
speaking. There are many topics covered in
the curriculum. Students must learn about
some expressions, they are expression of
2
Asking & giving thing, asking & giving
help, expression likes and dislike, asking &
giving fact and asking & giving opinion. In
expression of asking & giving opinion,
students are hoped to be able to express their
opinion about an issues, because they had
already learned it.
In general, the purpose of this
research was to describe the first grade
students’ speaking ability in asking &
giving opinions at junior high school
eleven padang. Specially the specific
purposes of this research are :
1. To describe of the first grade students’
speaking ability to use content in asking
and giving opinion at SMPN 11 Padang?
2. To describe of the first grade students’
speaking ability to use grammar in asking
and giving opinion at SMPN 11 Padang?
3. To describe of the first grade students’
ability to use appropriate vocabulary in
asking and giving opinion at SMPN 11
Padang?
 3

4. To describe of the first grade students’ In this research, the researcher chose

fluency ability in asking and giving convenience sampling technique.

opinion at SMPN 11 Padang? Convenience sampling technique is the

process of including whoever happens to

5. To describe of the first grade students’
be available at the time. Gay (2009:134).
pronunciation ability in asking and giving
The advantages of this sampling are the
opinion at SMPN 11 Padang?
availability and the quickness with which
RESEARCH METHOD
data can be gathered. So, in this research,

The design of this research was the researcher used convenience sampling

descriptive method. Gay (1987: 189) states to select a number of sample. The total

that descriptive research involves number of sample is 30 students.

collecting data in order to test hypothesis

The instrument for collecting data in
or answer questions concerning the current
this research was speaking test. The
status of the subject of the study.
students are asked to speak with their
Descriptive research is a research which
partner in form of dialogue in using
describes the condition and the phenomena
expression of asking & giving
in order to get the real information without
opinion.Then the students chose the topic
experimental manipulation. In this case,
that is interested for them.
the researcher wants to describe the
- Going to a concert
students’ speaking ability in using

expression of asking & giving opinion. - Jogging on the beach

The population of this research was the

- Talking about new classmate
first grade students of SMPN 11 Padang.
-Having new English book
The total number of population was 224

students. They were divided into 7 classes. -Own topic

 4

Then, the students were asked to perform y = The scores given by the second

their conversation in front of the class, in scorer

period time 3-5 minutes in pairs, and the
 xy = The total cross product of xy
researcher used hand phone as media to

record the students’ speaking in practicing coefficient of correlation of the test

dialogue. based on Arikunto (2012) as follows :

To find the reliability, the .81 - 1.00 : very high

researcher used inter-rater technique. It .61 - .80 : high

means that there have two scorers (first
.41 - .60 : Moderate
scorer and second scorer).
.21 - .40 : low
To find out the correlation
-00 - .20 : very low
coefficient of the two sets of scorers, the

researcher used Pearson Product Moment After analyzing coefficient correlation, it

formula(Arikunto2012:87). was found that correlation index of two

n XY  ( X )( Y ) scorers is 0.85 it means that the test was

rxy 
{n X 2  ( X ) 2 }{n Y 2  ( Y ) 2 } reliable.

The researcher followed the next

Where :
procedures in collecting data:
rxy = The coefficient correlation

between two scores 1. The researcher asked the

students’ to choose their partner.

n = The number of students
2. The researcher gave 5-10
x = The scores given by the first
minutes to prepare a conversation in
scorer
 5

pairs a and practice in front & two respond

of asking &
of the class orally.
giving opinion
3. The researcher listened and in the
dialogue.
recorded the students speaking by
3. There was 10
using phone as a media.
one expression
4. The writer plays the and one
respond in
recording and made transcription.
expression of
5. The writer gave asking &
giving
transcription and recording to second
opinion.
scorer.
4. There are 5
6. The first and second scorer no any
expression and
give score based on the following
respond in
criteria : expression of
asking &
Table 1 Scoring Criteria
giving opinion

Aspect of Criteria score in the

speaking dialogue.

Content 1. There was 20 Pronunciati 1. 100% 20

more than two on Pronounced

expression of words are

asking & correct and

giving opinion easy to

in the understand.
15
dialogue. 2. 80%
15 pronounced
2. There was
one expression words are
 6

correct. 10 Vocabulary 1. 100% of 20

vocabulary is
3. 60%
appropriate.
Pronounced
words are 2. More than
correct. 5 80% of words 15
is appropriate.
4. 40%
Pronounced 3. More than
words are 60% of words
10
correct vocabulary is
appropriate.
Grammar 1. 100% 20
pattern of 4. Less than 5
sentence are 40% of words
correct. vocabulary is
appropriate.
2. 80% pattern 15
of sentence are Fluency 1. There is no 20
correct. hesitation.
10
3. 60% pattern 2. More than
15
of sentence are 20%
correct. hesitation.

4. Less than 5 3. More than 10

40% of 40%
sentence hesitation.
5
pattern is
4. More than
correct.
60%
hesitation.

Modified from Muler, 2004

To analyze the data, the researcher used

the following procedures;

 7

1. The writer Found out the average FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

score by using the formula :

Findings

Score1  score2 The first Grade Students’ speaking

2
ability in expressing of asking and

giving opinion.
3. The researcher classified the
Related to the data, the highest
students ability by using KKM in which
possible score of the test was 100 and the
KKM is 78, as
lowest one is 5. Based on the data analysis,
follows.
the highest score that has been gotten by
≥ 78 Good ability
the students is 95 and the lowest one is

< 78 Bad ability 57.5 (see appendix 5). After calculating the

average score from scorer 1 and scorer 2,

4. The writer counted the percentage
the researcher classified the student’
of students’ ability by using the
ability based the school criterion of SMPN
following formula.
11 Padang. The school criterion is 78;
R
P X 100%
T students who have score more than 78 are

classified into high ability and less than 78

Where :
classified into low ability. Based on the
P = Percentage of students
criterion, the result of the data showed that

R = The sum of the students 15 students (50%) have high ability and 15

who had good, and bad ability students (50%) have low ability (see

appendix 6, 7 and 8). In specific, the

T = Total of sample.
students’ ability to express content is low
5. Finally, the researcher interpreted
ability, in using vocabulary is high ability,
the result of data analysis.
 8

in using grammar is high ability, in The first grade students’ speaking

fluency is low ability, and in pronouncing ability to use vocabulary in expressing

words is low ability. of asking and giving opinion

The first grade students’ speaking In term of choosing and using the

ability to express the content in asking appropriate vocabulary in dialogue, the

and giving opinion highest possible score is 20 and the lowest

one is 5. The highest score that has gotten

To find out the students speaking
by students is 20 and the lowest one is
ability to express content in asking and
17.5. After calculated the average score
giving opinion, the researcher firstly
from scorer 1 and scorer 2, the researcher
counted the students’ scores. The highest
classified the students’ ability into high
possible score in this term is 20 and the
ability or low ability. Students who have
lowest one is 5, the highest score that has
more than 15.6 score were classified into
gotten by students is 17,5 and the lowest
high ability and students who have less
one is 10. After calculating the average
than 15.6 classified into low ability. The
score from scorer 1 and scorer 2, the
results of the data analysis showed that
researcher classified the students’ ability
there were 30 students (100%) who have
into high ability or low ability. Students
high ability and 0 students (0%) who have
who have more than 15.6 score were
low ability.
classified into high ability and students

who have less than 15.6 classified into low The first grade students’ speaking

ability. The results of the data analysis ability to use grammar in expressing of

showed that there is only 1 students (3%) asking and giving opinion

have high ability and 29 students (97%)

In this component, the highest
have low ability
possible score is 20 and the lowest one is
 9

5. Based on the criterion of scoring, the who have more than 15.6 score were

highest score that has gotten by students is classified into high ability and students

20 and the lowest one is 5. After who have less than 15.6 classified into low

calculating the average score from scorer 1 ability. The results of the data analysis

and scorer 2, based on the school criterion showed that there are 14 students (47%)

of SMPN 11 Padang, the researcher who have high ability and 16 students

classified the students’ ability into high (53%) who have low ability.

ability or low ability. Students who have In term of students’ fluency, the

more than 15.6 score were classified into highest possible score is 20 and the lowest

high ability and students who have less one is 5. The result of the data analysis

than 15.6 classified into low ability. The showed that the highest score that has

researcher found that there were 17 gotten by students is 20 and the lowest one

students (57%) who had high ability and is 5. After calculating the average score

13 students (43%) who had low ability. from scorer 1 and scorer 2, the researcher

classified the students’ ability into high

The first grade students’ fluency ability
ability or low ability. Students who have
in expressing of asking and giving
more than 15.6 score were classified into
opinion
high ability and students who have less
In term of fluency, the highest
than 15.6 classified into low ability. The
possible score is 20 and the lowest one is
results of the data analysis showed that
5. Based on the result of data analysis, it
there are 3 students (10%) have high
was found that the highest score of
ability and 28 students (90%) have low
students’ in fluency was 20 and the lowest
ability.
one was 7.5 (see appendix 21). The
DISCUSSION
researcher classified the students’ ability

into high ability or low ability. Students

 10

The first grade students’ speaking (100%) in expressing of asking and giving

ability to express the content in opinion. It means that they can use

expressing of asking and giving opinion appropriate vocabulary. For example :

The students ability in content was Leoni : What do you think about our new

low (97%) it means that most students classmate?

were difficult to express content. referring Nella : I think she is beautiful and friendly.

to the recording, they found difficulties to

The expression in the example are
use expression of asking & giving opinion,
appropriate, because the first and second
for example :
student can respond based on topic and the

X : What do you think about student are familiar with the topic because

Bukittinggi? they have learnt it. So, it was easy for them

to use appropriate vocabulary.

Y : Bukittinggi is beautiful city.

The first grade students’ speaking

From that example it is explain that
ability to use grammar in expressing of
the student X had no respond after
asking and giving opinion
student Y answer the question, It means
The students’ ability in using
this conversation not extended and there
appropriate grammar in expressing asking
unability between this students to make an
and giving opinion was high (57%). For
expression.
example :
The first grade students’ speaking
Vannisa : What is your opinion about your
ability to use vocabulary in expressing
classroom?
asking and giving opinion

Putri : in my opinion, my classroom are

The students’ ability in using
clean and comfortable
appropriate vocabulary was high ability
 11

From the example above, the The first grade students’ speaking

students’ are already used the function and ability to pronounce words in expressing

words class correctly. For example the of asking and giving opinion

student used word “your” and “my”

In term of pronunciation, the
because it needs possesive form and the
students have low 28 (90%). Many
students used “are” because the form of
students did not know how to pronounce
this sentences is nominal.
the word well. They just read the word

The first grade students’ fluency ability best on the spelling like reading

in Indonesian language example”picture“

expressing of asking and giving opinion students pronounce it / “pikstur” , but the

correct one is / “pikc∂r”.

The students’ fluency in expressing of

asking and giving opinion was low 16 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

(53%). It was probably caused by the fact

Conclusion
that they are not accustomed to speak in
Based on the findings as already discussed,
expressing of asking and giving opinion.
the researcher drew some conclusions:
So that they usually make hesitant and

unsure of their ability. For example :”in my 1. In general the first grade students’

op-opinion, spiderman-spidermen movie, it speaking ability in expression of asking

look-it look”. The correct one is speak & giving opinion are 15 (50%) high and

without hesitant. So that, from the 15 (50%) low.

example, we know that the students repeat 2. The first grade students` speaking

the syllabels many times and distract the ability to express the topic (content) in

meaning for the hearers. So the students’ expression of asking & giving opinion it

fluency ability was low. was low. It was supported by the fact;
 12

there were 29 (97%) students who their SUGGESTIONS

ideas incorrectly. Based on the conclusion above, the

3. The first grade students` speaking researcher had some suggestions for the

ability to use grammar in expression of teacher, the students and further

asking & giving opinion it was high. It researcher as follows:

was supported by the fact; there were 17 1. For the English teacher

(57%), students who understood how to

The researcher suggested English
write sentence correctly.
teachers can defend students` ability and
4. The first grade students` speaking
also improve it. For students who have
ability to use the appropriate vocabulary
difficulties in expression of asking &
in expression of asking & giving opinion
giving opinion, she suggested English
is high. It was supported by the fact;
teachers to find the appropriate ways to
were 30 (100%) students have known
improve students speaking ability
appropriate vocabulary.
especially in Content, pronunciation and
5. The first grade students` speaking
fluency, for example asked students to do
ability to pronounce the word in
more practice and used it in daily life and
expression of asking & giving opinion is
also used role play as the strategies
low. t was supported by the fact; there
2. For students’
were 27 (90%) students who have low
She suggested that the students
ability in pronounce.
can defends their ability and improve it
6. The first grade students` fluency in
by using it in daily life. For the students
expression of asking & giving opinion is
who have difficulties, she suggested
low. It was supported by the fact; there
students to do practice more especially in
were 16 (53%) students who have
content, pronunciation and fluency in
hesitation.
speaking. Then she also suggested
 13

students to practice English using

conversation in daily life.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arikunto, S. 2012, Dasar-dasar Evaluasi

Pendidikan : Edisi 2, Jakarta: Bumi
Aksara.

Chaney, A.L., and T.L, Bunk. 1998.

Teaching Oral Communication in Grads
K-8. Boston: Allyn&Bacon.

Gay, L.R. 1987. Educational Research:

Competencies for Analysis and
Application. 3th ed. Melbourne: Merill
Publishing Company.

Gay, L.R. and Mills, G.E. 2009.

Educational Research: Competencies for
Analysis and Application. (9th edition).
New jersey : PEARSON