Using Poetry to Improve the Speaking Skills of Eleventh-Grade Students
Abstract
Speaking is a crucial skill in learning English because it enables students to achieve communication goals. However, many students still experience difficulties in speaking due to limited vocabulary, pronunciation problems, and lack of confidence. This study aimed to investigate the implementation of poetry in speaking and to determine its effectiveness in enhancing the speaking skills of eleventh-grade students at MAN 1 Surakarta during the 2025/2026 academic year. This study employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) in two cycles, each consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The participants were 36 students of class XI F-11. The data were collected through observation, interviews, speaking tests, and documentation. Students' speaking performance was assessed using a speaking assessment rubric adapted from Brown (2007). The results revealed that poetry improved students’ pronunciation, vocabulary, fluency, grammar, and comprehension, as the mean score increased from 49.4 in the pre-test to 76.6 in post-test 2. Therefore, poetry can be considered an effective medium for improving students’ speaking skills.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i5.3224
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