The Use of Podcast as an Alternative Media in Teaching Speaking: A Case Study at SMP Negeri 2 Legok Tangerang

peter mahmud marzuki; hamzah puadi ilyas, ph.d.; anen tumanggung, ph.d.;

The research was conducted to explore how podcast is applied in the
classroom to support the learning of students’ speaking skill in Junior High level. Refers to the initial observation in SMP Negeri 2 Legok kabupaten Tangerang, it is found that most students can achieve best result in written English exams and tests. On the other hands, the result will be different when it deals with conversation, discussion and role play. The pre-observation done prior to the study found that 7 out of 10 students sometimes hesitate to speak up in their class, since they are afraid in making mistake in front of others especially their classmates. Psychologically the above points may impact the students in learning speaking, such as happy when English lesson when comes, but being afraid and passive or having negative attitudes in
the classroom when the speaking activities begin. The observation-based data expose that most students in the class consisting of 48 students show eagerness to learn English through podcast. In term of reading and writing, they have got used to do it in their daily basis but when it deals with speaking and listening they revealed some difficulties. First, they come from middle lower family background that never practice English at home. Second, they are least given opportunities to use English in their daily conversation at school. Third, they got no extra English lesson outside school hours. On the other hands, they admitted that English is important for their future so they thought it is necessary to improve their English skills especially speaking.
It is suggested that to provide the opportunity to a big number of students
who have the eagerness to learn as well to speak English fluently, the teacher
should first understand the English ability of the students then encourage them to improve their mastery of English through podcast.