AN ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ABILITY IN DEBATE AT THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF BUNG HATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

INTRODUCTION In learning English, we often talk about the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) to be processed by students, and all of the skills are integrated. Speaking is a process of interaction to establish the meaning that assumes producing and receiving and processing information [1]. Speaking is highly important because human beings and speaking are inextricably linked. Being able to speak becomes one important goal to achieve in learning English. The Debate is one of the speaking activity methods for students to develop their ability in speaking. Atchison (2017) has stated that the simplest meaning of debate is the formalized order of argumentation [2]. Speaking and the ability to deliver arguments, ideas, and confidence to speak in audiences. The debate can be one of the best educational experiences in students' lives. It can help students with their English language skills. Many related theses are belonging to this research. First, the study done by Rasyid, Perdana, and Dayu (2020) found that the fifth-year student of UNISKA Banjarmasin get a good score in the debate class [3]. Second, the research done by Lestari (2018). She found that the students of Airlangga University had lowest score obtained by the students in the content of the structure which is the hardest problem that is often faced by the higher education students [4]. Third, the research done by Chania and Amri (2019), found that the most type of errors made by the SEA Debate students’ was omission errors which consisted of 77 errors or 50,66% of errors [5]. Fourth, the study done by Claudia (2017), found that the speech ability of the second-grade students was high. Based on the previous-related research above, this research and previous research discuss the debate. This research conducted the study in the second year students’ speaking ability in debate at the English Department of Bung Hatta University. METHOD Descriptive research was used as the research method in this research. Data is collected in descriptive research to test hypotheses or to answer questions about the current state of the study's subject [6]. The population of this research was the second-year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University who registered in the academic 2020/2021. The researcher used the total sampling technique to select the sample. It means all the population would be the sample of this research. The total sample of this research was 37 students. To collect the data, the research made a group by using the Whatsapp application to give the information. Then, the students’ team is divided into two sides, affirmative and negative (pros and cons). There were 6 teams and the researcher gave alternative topics. After that, the students were given 3-5 minutes to show the argument and it was recorded. The researcher converted the score into Bung Hatta University’s criteria, and the researcher classified the students’ ability who have very high, high, moderate, and low. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The results of the research showed the students had very high ability in speaking debate at the English Department. It was demonstrated that there were 21 students (56,46%) who were classified as having very high ability in debate. Meanwhile, 19 students (51,35%) have low ability in expressing arguments. Specifically, 37 students (100%) had very high ability in using appropriate vocabulary in delivering debate. Then, 32 students (86,49%) have the low ability in using correct grammar in delivering debate. Next, it was found that 37 students (100%) had very high ability students’ in pronouncing the words in delivering debate. Last, were 33 students (89,19%) who have very high fluency ability in delivering debate. Those are described in the table below: Table 1. The Tabel of All Findings No Aspects The Number of Students Ability Number Percentage 1 The Students’ Speaking Ability in Debate 21 students 56,46% Very High 2 The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Expressing Arguments of The Debate 19 students 51,35% Low 3 The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Using Appropriate Vocabulary in Delivering Debate 37 students 100% Very High 4 The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Using Correct Grammar in Delivering Debate 32 students 86,49% Low 5 The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Pronouncing The Words in Delivering Debate 37 students 100% Very High 6 The Students’ Fluency Ability in Delivering Debate 33 students 89,91% Very High 1. The Students’ Speaking Ability in The Debate The results of data analysis show that 21 students (56,46%) had very high ability in debate. . It was not in line with a study conducted by Rasyid, Perdana, and Dayu (2020), the fifth-year student of UNISKA Banjarmasin that was 21 students who got a B score on the debate. So, these two studies found different findings of students’ ability in the debate. 2. The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Expressing Arguments of The Debate The researcher found that the second-year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University had low ability (51,35%) in expressing arguments. Besides, a study was conducted by Lestari (2018), showed that the higher education students had average grades in expressing arguments of the debate. So, these two studies found different findings. This study showed that students had problems in expressing arguments of the debate. It is contrary to a study conducted by Lestari (2018) that found 2 students had problems in expressing arguments of the debate. 3. The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Using Appropriate Vocabulary in Delivering Debate Based on the analysis, the researcher found that students had very high ability (all of the students) in using appropriate vocabulary in delivering debate. It was supported by the idea of Fauzan (2014) the students assumed their English was weak and that they lacked vocabulary [7]. Besides, a study was conducted by Claudia (2017), showed that the second-grade students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University had a high ability in using vocabulary. It was proved by the fact that 100% using appropriate vocabulary in deliver a speech. So, these two studies had similar findings. 4. The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Using Correct Grammar in Delivering Debate The result show that the second-year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University had a low ability (86,49%). It is in line with a study which was conducted by Chania and Amri (2019), which showed that the SEA Debate at English Department of Faculty of Languages and Arts of Universitas Negeri Padang was a higher number of grammar errors. It was proved by the fact that omission errors consisted of 77 errors or 50.66% of errors. So, from these two studies were found similar findings. 5. The Students’ Speaking Ability as a Debater in Pronouncing The Words in Delivering Debate The researcher found that the second-year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University had a very high ability 100% in pronouncing the words in delivering debate. In addition, based on a previous study was conducted by Lestari (2018), the higher education students were excellent grades (9 students out of 30 students) in pronunciation. So, these two studies showed similar findings. This study showed that the students had a very high ability. 6. The Students’ Fluency Ability in Delivering Debate The results show that the second-year students at the English Department of Bung Hatta University had very high abilities (33 students out of 37 students) fluency ability in delivering debate. Besides, a study was conducted by Lestari (2018) showed that the higher education students had a good grade in fluency. It is proved by the fact that 16 students who have the good fluency of speaking English. So, these two studies found different findings. This study showed that just 4 students had a little problem in fluency in delivering debate. It is contrary to a study conducted by Lestari (2018) that found 5 students had problems with fluency. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS Based on the result of the data analysis, the research concluded that the second-year students at The English Department of Bung Hatta University had high ability in debate. Related to the study, the researcher proposes some suggestions. The lecturers are suggested to give more exercises and practice speaking to improve the students’ speaking ability in expressing arguments and using appropriate grammar. The students are suggested to practice more, also build their self-confidence and critical thinking, enthusiasm in expressing arguments, especially in the debate. Then students are also suggested to always practice themselves in the use of language, specifically in the use of grammar because it can help them to improve their ability to speak English well. The next researchers are suggested to study a debate, especially in expressing arguments and using appropriate grammar. Due to the fact that the second year students had a problem in expressing their arguments in the debate and using appropriate grammar, the researcher hopes that the future researchers will do the research regarding this problem. Keyword: Ability, Speaking, Debate.