Improving Students' Speaking Performance through Mastering Question Words in Islamic University Setting

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the State Islamic University of Datokarama Palu has shown that a collaborative classroom action research can enhance students' speaking skills by mastering question words. The study involved 22 students and used methods such as class observation, field notes, questionnaires, and speaking tests. The results indicated that the use of question words increased students' motivation, responsiveness, and enthusiasm, ultimately leading to better speaking performance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research aimed to identify students' speaking performance at the English Department of the State Islamic University of Datokarama Palu and develop it through mastering question words method.
  • The study used a collaborative classroom action research design, dividing into two cycles, and involved 22 students.
  • Data collection methods included class observation, field notes, questionnaires, and speaking tests over six meetings of speaking lessons.
  • The research found that the use of questions in the teaching and learning process helped increase students' motivation, responsiveness, and enthusiasm, as well as their courage to speak English.
  • In the first cycle, only 5 students (23%) met the success criteria, whereas in the second cycle, 17 students (77%) achieved the desired level of speaking proficiency.
  • The study suggests that the mastering question words technique can improve students' speaking performance and enhance their understanding of question content before responding.
  • Additional authors of the research include Abdul Gafur Marzuki, Andi Nurfaizah, who collaborated with Ana Kuliahana, the lead researcher from the English Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, State Islamic University of Datokarama Palu.
  • The study's findings have implications for improving students' speaking skills in Islamic university settings.

Statistics:

  • 22 students participated in the research, divided into two cycles.
  • Only 23% (5 students) of the researchers met the success criteria in the first cycle.
  • 77% (17 students) of the students achieved the desired level of speaking proficiency in the second cycle.
  • The research used a collaborative classroom action research design.
  • The study involved six meetings of speaking lessons with a range of data collection methods.

Sources:

  • Developing Students' Speaking Performance through Mastering Question Words in Islamic University Setting. JINOP (Jurnal Inovasi Pembelajaran), 2025, 11(1).
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.22219/jinop.v11i1.32697.
  • Publisher: Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.