AN ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS’ PROBLEMS IN PRONOUNCING ENGLISH DIPHTHONGS AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT OF BUNG HATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

Abstract

The researcher used descriptive design in this research. The population of this research was the second year students at English Department of Bung Hatta University. The total number of population was 55 students. They were distributed into two classes; Class A and B. In selecting the sample, the resercher used cluster random sampling technique. The number of sample was 31 students. The instrument used to collect the data was pronounciation test. The researcher found the reliability index of this test was .73. The result of the data analysis showed that most of the second year students of English Department of Bung Hatta University had problems in pronouncing English diphthongs. It was proved by the fact that 70.96% students had problem and only 29.03% students had no problem in pronouncing them. Specifically, there were 77.42% students who had problems in pronouncing diphthong /ei/, 70.97 % students had problems in pronouncing /ou/, 67.75% students had problems in pronouncing diphthong /i∂/, 54.48% students had problems in pronouncing diphthong /e∂/, 54.48% students had problems in pronouncing diphthong /u∂/ and 90.33% students had problems in pronouncing diphthong /o∂/. Based on the findings, it could be concluded that the second year students of English Departmen of Bung Hatta had problems in pronouncing English diphthongs. In line with such conclusion, it is suggested to the lecturers who teach pronounciation to create sufficient drills in teaching unfamiliar diphthongs. Besides, the students are also suggested to practice more in pronouncing unfamiliar diphthongs to improve their ability in pronouncing them.

Key Words : Pronouncing, English Diphthongs