Improving Primary Students' Pronunciation and Speaking Ability by Drilling Technique

meitiyani, m.si; dr. ir. suciana wijirahayu, m.pd.; hamzah puadi ilyas, ph.d.;

The objective of this action research was to improve the primary students’ pronunciation and speaking ability by drilling technique. This action research was conducted in three cycles. The cycles consisted of seven meetings in total. The research involved substitution drill technique that were conducted in pairs and in groups. The substitution drill technique was based on the language functions such as expressing the daily tasks, telling the time and using adverb of frequency in sentences. Conducting integrated pronunciation teaching, reading aloud, and directed response tasks were the complements of the main activities. The data were obtained by observing the students in learning process in the classroom, interviewing the students, and assessing and
evaluating. The validity of the data was gained by applying students’ speaking competence based on the rubric and by oral proficiency score. The research results showed that the students’ pronunciation and speaking competence
improved through the use of drilling technique. In all cycles, the students were more confident and were not afraid of making mistakes when speaking. They had used right intonation and fluently. They had put correct stress when pronouncing words. They actively participated during the teaching and learning process. The drill technique had increased students awareness of having correct pronunciation. The use of drill technique could improve students’ pronunciation and encourage students to speak up fluently. Religious values explored from the texts provided by the institution and selected by the students were reported in this study. Based on the data there are many changes experienced by students both from the pronunciation of words and expressing their activities or experiences with their interlocutors. This can happen after the teacher gives dill techniques to increase their self-confidence in speaking. This makes the researcher conclude that in learning a foreign language the competence of speaking and pronunciation of a child can be trained by getting used to listening, seeing, and speaking other words. Techniques of repeating words and sentences are very effective in building one's confidence to talk with other people and they look very enthusiastic to respond and express their opinion. Media of research like pictures, poem, songs, video would be included at the observation.