SPEAKING SKILLS: USING GAMES AS A LEARNING MEDIA FOR SPEAKING

SKILLS

Choirodin

NIM : 932205819

English Education Department, IAIN KEDIRI

Abstract: Speaking skill is a skill that is very influential on learning. Speaking skills are very important
for English learners. In speaking skills can also master several other skills such as writing and grammar
skills. In learning speaking skills, you can use games as a medium of learning, with games making
students feel enjoy in the learning process. In the game, students will be required to concentrate on the
game, and are also required to be active in speaking. Games can make students express their emotions,
thoughts, and opinions freely, without anyone getting in the way. Games are games that have rules, goals
and challenges. where students will use their thoughts and speaking skills simultaneously. Students must
be active in games and in the learning process, so that students can be motivated to improve speaking
skills.

Keywords: Speaking Skills, Games as a Learning Media

1. Introduction
The speaking skills are especially important to study because people will know
speakers from the technical language. Ur (1996:120) state that "Of all the four skills,
speaking seems intuitively the most important so that people who know a language are
referred to as "speakers" of that language. Nunan (1998:39) states that “mastering the art of
speaking is the single most important aspect of learning a second or foreign language, and
success is measured in terms of the ability to carry out a conversation in the language.”
Speaking skill it self is productive skill in the oral mode. It is more complicated than
the other skills. In this skill, the students did not only pronounce the wrods but they had to
interact with the others well. Communication through speaking is commonly performed in
face to interaction. It occurs as part of verbal exchanges. In speaking, the use of body
language is great help for the listeners to understand the intended message. Therefore, the
non-linguistic features are very helpful to smooth the flow of the interaction between the
speaker and the listener.
 A few years ago, the game was considered negative for the students, because it kept
the students from studying. But in recent years, researchers have examined the importance
of games to increasing knowledge for students. Games can have a positive effect on users,
such as being able to train thinking, agility, and speaking English. Games can make
teaching learning more efficient, given the monotonous and boring class will have a bad
effect on students. Games are one of the proper ways to make a class more lively. Using
student games can feel snug but also not forget the initial purpose of learning. Games can
help educators to maximize their potential to learn from students (Sugar, 2002, pg. 4).
This paper will focus on the use of games in speaking skill learning. Using games as
ingredients for learning will become easier to train students' concentration. Not only does
the games also help students become more comfortable and happy in learning. Games can
be performed by anyone, therefore very effectively use them for learning methods.
Educators can also see more clearly the potential of students in learning.