From Text to Speech: Enhancing EFL Students' Descriptive Speaking Skills through Picture-Guessing Games

Maghfhira Dinda Malindra Darmadji; Fika Megawati; Siti  Sulikatin

doi:10.31849/utamax.v5i3.14605

Maghfhira Dinda Malindra Darmadji Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Fika Megawati Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Siti Sulikatin National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/utamax.v5i3.14605

Keywords: EFL Students, Language Acquisition, Language Education, Picture-Guessing Games, Speaking Skill

Abstract

English is a compulsory subject taught at all educational levels in Indonesia. However, many EFL students struggle to achieve fluency in spoken English despite years of study. This disinterest stems from limited enthusiasm and participation. Incorporating innovative media into learning is expected to improve students' speaking skills. Therefore, this research investigates the effect of using pictures in speaking skills development through guessing games. The study employed a quantitative method with a pre-experimental design. A sample of 25 eighth-grade students was selected from a population of 118 at a private school in Sidoarjo. SPSS Version 26 was used to analyze pre- and post-test data. The findings indicate that using pictures in guessing games effectively increased EFL students' speaking abilities, as evidenced by significant score disparities between the pre-test average (11.12) and post-test (16.32). Additionally, the t-count value of 14.066, compared to the t-table value of 2.064 at a 0.05 significance level, suggests a substantial improvement. These results demonstrate that guessing games using pictures significantly enhance student engagement and interest in learning speaking skills. The findings imply that employing pictures in guessing games can potentially enhance student engagement in speaking class activities. Teachers are encouraged to use innovative media to inspire students and enhance their speaking skills.

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Author Biographies

Maghfhira Dinda Malindra Darmadji , Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Sidoarjo, Indonesia

Maghfhira Dinda Malindra Darmadji is an English teacher with many years of experience. She graduated from Muhammadiyah University, Sidoarjo, Indonesia, and has experience as an English tutor at Lineenglishcourse and MTSN 2 Sidoarjo. She currently teaches English at SMP IT Ar-Rahman and SMK Sumber Ilmu Tulangan in Sidoarjo, and participates in both the Subject Teacher Deliberation and the Teacher Working Group.

Fika Megawati, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Sidoarjo, Indonesia

Dr. Fika Megawati, M.Pd. obtained her doctoral degree in ELT from Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. Her professional experiences include being a permanent English lecturer in Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, English Language Education Study Program. She has been involved in research projects focusing on Continuous Professional Development (TPD) for ELT teachers and pre-service teachers. Additionally, she is active member of journal organization as well as English teacher association such as Teflin and Asia TEFL.

Siti Sulikatin, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Siti Sulikatin, S.Pd., M.Sc., an alumna of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, holds a Bachelor's degree in English Education. She is presently in the process of completing her Master's degree at National Central University, Taiwan.

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