The First Year Students’ Ability in Making Appointment through Telephone Conversation at The English Department of Bung Hatta University

Abstrak

English is the primary international language for communication. By speaking well we can connect with people from all over the world. English becomes an official language of international relations in this globalization era, because almost important commercial and political leaders prefer to conduct international communications in English. English skill can be a key to social and economic success in some countries (Rico, 2004:4). Relating to this, the reseacher conducted this study on purpose of finding out and describing the first year students’ speaking ability in making appointment through telephone conversation.

The population of this research was the first year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University. The number of population is 39 students. The sample of this research was chosen by using total sampling technique. The data were collected through speaking test. To make the test reliable, the researcher  used inter-rater method. It means that there were two scorers to check the students’ speaking performance. The correlation coefficient of two scores was 0.78. It means that the test was reliable.

The result of this research showed that the students’ speaking ability in  making appointment through telephone conversation at the English Department of Bung Hatta University was very good. In general, the students’ speaking ability in making appointment through telephone conversation was classified into very good ability. It was found that 95% students got very good ability. In specific, the students’ speaking ability in making appointment to see a doctor was very good. It was proved by finding that 95% students had very good ability, and the students’ speaking ability in making appointment to meet an office manager was very good, it was proved by finding that 85% students got very good ability.

Based on the result of this research, it can be concluded that the first year students’ speaking ability in making appointment through telephone conversation at the English Department of Bung Hatta University was very good. Therefore, the lecturers are suggested to give enrichment for students, in order that the students’ speaking ability will be best, the students are suggested to do more enrichment to improve their speaking ability to become the best, and for the futher reseachers, they are suggested to do related reseach about makin appointment with friends.

Key words : Speaking. Ability, Making Appointment, Telephone Conversation.