CHAPTER II

THEORITICAL REVIEW, FRAMEWORK OF THINKING,

AND HYPOTHESIS

This chapter presents the theories which are related to the variables of the

research including speaking ability and VOA Website. The supporting theories

are needed to help conducting this research. Besides, this chapter will also

describes the previous research, framework of thinking, and hypothesis of the

research.

A. Theoritical Review

1. Speaking Ability

a. Ability

The word ‘ability’ is used for the first time on the 14 th century. It is

borrowed from Anglo-French ‘abilité’ and latin ‘habilitāt’ which means

‘easy to handle’. Taken from Meriam Webster dictionary, ability is the

quality or state of being able. In fact, everyone must have been capable of

something. (www.merriam-webster.com). So, It is clear that ability has

been the nature of human being.

Meanwhile, in the website of educational psychology

www.psychologydiscussion.net, Aishwarya wrote that abiliy is a

mediator to helps human to interpret their ideas and actions of others.

This statements explained that a person need an ability to take an action

9
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in every single thing in their life. So that, ability is also very close with

human’s daily activities.

Adding the statements above, Stephen P. Robbins & Timonthy A.

Judge on the book of Organizational Behavior (2013: 57) explained that

ability means a capacity of a person to do some tasks on a job. To sum up

the two pharagraps above, the writer taught that ability is inside every

human to helps in doing various activity and function as a mediator to

show their action. When a person can do something well, it means that

he/she is capable of something. So it proves that human’s ability is

varied.

It is written on the website of educational psychology that there are

two human ability based on Fleishman and Bartlett on 1969, they are

cognitive and psychomotor. While Stephen P. Robbins and Timonthy A.

Judge (2013: 60) said that it is intelectual and physical ability. Basically,

their statements is similiar. Cognitive or intelectual is gotten through a

thinking process, while physical or psychomotor is as a result of mental

acitvity.

The cognitive ability is happened in the centre of human nerves

system in a thinking process. Being discussed by Piaget about cognitive

ability that it is develops gradually, together with the development of

physics and nerves of human. He added that a child get their cognitive

ability because of the interactions with their environment.

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While Ahmad Susanto (2011) stated that cognitive is a thinking

process of an individu to relate, value and consider an event in their life.

Cognitive is as the result of human’s brain observation. Then, the

development of human’s ability depend on their interactions with

everything around them involving the thinking process. More than that,

the cognitive ability in human also depend on the health issues, heredity,

interest and talent. It may become the factors which make every human

has different ability in different level.

Then, there is physical ability which requires strength, power,

physical effort, and something similar. It needs the collaboration of the

part of human body systematically. Running and another exercise can be

the example of physical ability. But this ability is not only about physical

range of motion but also the mental activity to form the integrated motion

which is called as psychomotor ability.

So, human’s ability in acquiring a language is belong to the

cognitive ability. Then, the linguistic ability in human is divided into four

skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The ability to read and

listen is considered as a receptive skill, while speaking and writing are

productive skills. Speaking as a productive skills because speaking

competence is accessed through the instruments that measuring students'

ability to use language verbally in accordance with the meaning of

productive skills that involve us in the production of message both oral

and written.
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Those four skills are very important and useful. They play a role to

improve the linguistic ability of the students. Reading can increase our

knowledge. Many people agreed that reading brings wisdom. Reading is

the activity to get information that is involving the eyesight and the

process of recognizing symbols which set a language. Besides reading

skills, listening is also as the activity to get the information. But it is

more involving the sense of hearing. This listening skill is the act of

receiving and interpreting a message in the communication process. This

skill is different from hear. Listening skill needs focus and concentration

even the mental process.

Likewise, writing and speaking skill take an important part in

communication process. As a productive skills, writing and speaking

allow a person to express their idea and opinion or interpret a message

whether it’s written or orally. Brown on Saptania Ayu (2013) explained

that writing is the graphic representation of a spoken language. The

major difference between writing and speaking is the graphic and

auditory sign. Discussing about speaking skill, we should know that

actually written language is representated from a spoken language.

Whereas spoken language is a result of listening skill. The individual

speaking skill is directly seen because it is processed in real time as a

response of a communication between two person or more. After that, the

structure of language in speaking is more informal than writing. But both

speaking and writing has become a tool to build a good communication

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among the society eventhough they have some differents too. Last,

speaking as a productive skill in linguistic ability will take a big part in

human’s routine tasks.

So, the writer conclude that ability means a human’s capacity in

doing their daily activity as a result of the collaboration of human’s body

or brain include the way to acquire a language.

b. Speaking Ability

People speak to keep in touch with each other using language which

had been agreed in their own society. Thonburry on Galis (2014: 8)

added that speaking or oral communication is done by two people or

more. This activity need responses from the receiver as their reaction. So

that, both receiver and speaker should make the contribution on this

activity.

Another perception comes from Cameron on Gallis (2014: 8) who

stated that speaking activity is a kind of the active use of a language to

express meanings and idea. A speaker needs to find the most appropriate

words to send the meaning of a message precisely. After that, speaking is

more than about transferring the information between two people or

more. It will be better if the receiver can understand and response well

about the topic that is talked. It means that speaking implicate the deep

knowledge of the speaker and the receiver.

Speaking is the part of language acquisition. Henry Guntur Tarigan

(2013: 3) explained that speaking ability is a language skill that develops

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a child's life which is preceded by listening skills. As time passed by, we

always grow and increase our speaking ability through our family,

friends, environment and school. We have noticed and learned it since we

were born and then developed at school including the higher level, junior

high school, to prepare the ‘real life’. His statement also clears up that

speaking ability needs process.

Some opinions above show that speaking ability is a system to

communicate with other people to share the information and also give the

reaction for what is being discussed. After that, this activity involves

symbols which is arbitrer that we called a language which must be

understood by both the speaker and the reciever. The way of acuisition of

symbol namely as speaking ability is an important part in human’s life

naturally and has been our daily activity whether we are aware of it or

not.

Next, speaking has often been viewed as the most important among

the four skills. The reason is learners must gather their thoughts and

encode those ideas in the vocabulary and syntactic structures of the target

language. It shows that speak is different from read. There are five basic

rules of effective communication written in the Public Speaking by Zuhri

(2010: 10) to support the important of speaking ability. They are the

gesture, the emphaty, the medium, the successful of delivering message,

and keep the attitude.

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Based on those statements, the writer can conclude that the effective

communication will make you easily sosialize with your neighbor and

friends. And the main skill that is very important in communication is

speaking ability. To create a good communication, the speaker should

understand the topic well to share the information. At least, the speaker

know the basic rules of communication and acknowledge the receiver.

The theory about speaking is continued with the three speaking

situation which are interactive, semi-interactive and non-interactive

situation like written on Henry (2013: 28). Interactive speaking situations

are the conversations that allow a change between talking and listening

like face-to-face and telephone conversation. It also allows us to ask for

clarification, repetition or we can ask the other person to slow down the

talk time of the other person. Then, semi-active speaking situations can

be seen such as in giving a direct public address. In this situation, the

audience cannot interrupt the conversation, but the speaker can see the

listener's reaction to their facial expressions and body language. Some

speaking situations can be said to be truly non-interactive like in the

radio or television.

After that, the writer can conclude that teaching and learning process

is conclude in the interactive speaking. It is clear that the teacher even

needs the reaction from the students to be actively involve in the

classroom activity. Furthermore, the newest 2013 curriculum which

obligate the students to be more active while the teacher’s role is is

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expected as a mediator in the class. Meanwhile, in the teaching process,

both student and teacher must give a great contribution to achieve the

goal of learning. Brown on Galis (2014) suggested seven pinciples for

designing speaking technique as follows:

1) use techniques that cover the spectrum of learner needs, from

language-based focus on accuracy to message-based focus on

interaction, meaning, and fluency.

2) provide intrinsically motivating techniques.

3) encourage the use of authentic language in meaningful contexts.

4) provide appropriate feedback and correction.

5) capitalize on the natural link between speaking and listening.

6) give students opportunities to initiate oral communication.

7) encourage the development of speaking strategies.

The seven principles above are basic rules that should be applied in

the learning process. They should be noticed by all teacher when it comes

to teach speaking.

There are some activities that can be implemented in the teaching of

speaking ability. Harmer (2007: 348-352) on Galis (2014) explained

several classroom speaking activities, they are acting from a script,

communication games, discussion, prepared talks, questionnaires,

simulation and role-play. All of them must attract our students and

develop their willingness in learning speaking. Then, those activities will

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help the teachers in order to make the class more alive and improve the

students’ speaking ability.

Finally, speaking ability is the part of productive skill and seems

very important. Begin with the teacher’s attention in developing students’

linguistic skill epsecially speaking ability in the professional world.

Because it seems to be more complex which needs the fast response in

transferring the ideas or opinion in vocabulary and syntactic structures

directly to the speaker partner. Moreover, the English speaking ability

which is quite valuable to be more competitive in the international

community.

c. English language

A person acquire and learn new words for the first time from their

family. It is a language that has became a tool which playing big role in

human’s life. As an arbitrary vocal system, language makes it possible

for everyone to communicate in order to learn or share the information.

In a society, people are connected each other by a language. Fachrurrozi

and Erta Mahyuddin (2016: 6) explain in their book about some

definitions of language, they are :

1) “Bahasa adalah sekumpulan bunyi-bunyi yang memiliki

maksud tertentu dan diorganisir oleh aturan tata bahasa.”

2) “Bahasa adalah ungkapan percakapan sehari-hari dari

kebanyakan orang yang diucapkan dengan kecepatan

normal.”
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3) “Bahasa adalah suatu sistem untuk mengungkapkan

maksud.”

4) “Bahasa adalah seperangkat aturan tata bahasa dan

bahasa terdiri bagian - bagian.”

From their opinion, it is said that a language means a system to tell

the intention which is used in every activity as the expression of the daily

conversations. It has a structure and divided into some parts.

Adding the explanation above, language is a set of rules which

always develop and has a central role in the development of intellectual,

social and emotional especially towards the students. It is unique and

arbitrer. In addition, Siahaan said on his book , “Language is a unique

human inheritance that plays the vital role in human’s life, such as in

thinking, communicating ideas, and negotiating with the others”.

(Siahaan Sanggam, 2017: 7). The statements above have explained that

people are used to communicate and socialize with each other by a

language, whether it is in verbal or nonverbal communication. Besides, it

holds an important role to socialize, communicate, learn, share, negotiate

and many more.

Besides that, a language is unifying people around the world. As a

global language which is used worldwide, English no longer be

functioned as a prestige. It has become a universal language which is

used by every people around the world to communicate with each other.

(Prasmono, 2010:1). The result is mastering English has become a

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necessity for everyone to prepare their future in this professional world.

Since almost every country has used English to socialize and interact.

The importance of English language skills in the era of globalization

can be seen from various perspectives. From global communication

perspective, they have a strategic role as indicated by the fact that its

proficiency is an access to the innovation in the field of science and

technology and a media for cross-cultural recognition and appreciation.

The demand of transferring information, knowledge and technology from

the original source (foreign languages) makes English language skills and

translation activities become something important and necessary.

Afterwards, the spread of English language to use in every country is

a consequence of the imperialism on their region. English is not only the

official language of the United Kingdom itself. However, English is an

international language that is used among the countries in establishing

cooperation in all aspects, such as education, economy, politics, and

culture. Some countries, such as the Philippines, Canada, South Africa,

Nigeria, Ireland and Singapore, use English as the part of their daily

conversation besides their own language.

The role of English is also as intermediate language in education.

English is taught as a foreign language in Indonesia. It has been

introduced since the elementary or kindergarten level through the media

and methods which is suitable with the learners. In fact, some schools

and modern Islamic boarding schools use English as the intermediate

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language. As mentioned by The Department of Education and Cultural in

English curriculum, "English is considered as a first foreign language and

becomes a compulsory subject from elementary to university. In the

context of education, the function of English language is as a tool to

communicate in order to access the information, to make interpersonal

relationship, to exchange information and also to enjoy the art of

language in English culture.” (Depdiknas, 2004 on Lutfiansyah, 2017)

This language is not a weird or new thing for our students, because they

usually get the English subject in the basic level.

So that, junior high school students are required to mastering English

skills properly and correctly as an addition value to prepare their future.

This may be the reason that encourage people to improve their personal

abilities especially mastering English language. Companies are currently

more considering those who have a good English language skills and the

result is the need for English become the important factor and one of the

benchmarks in the future goals. English in junior high school is the

development of basic skill that the students have on primary school. So

that, as the main asset of human resource, mastering English skill is very

important to help the students grow in this sophisticated era.

2. VOA Website

a. Website as a Learning Media

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The growth of modern technology have influenced the development

of education in Indonesia. For the example is using media in the teaching

and learning process. Media is taken from Latin word that means

‘center’, ‘intermediary’, or ‘guide’. Media is also means as a guide or

intermediary of a message from the receiver to the audience. (Arsyad,

2011: 3). Based on the statement, media means technology or tool

including any component that many people have already known in this

high-tech and modern age.

As writen on Media Pendidikan by Arif Sadiman S, (dkk) on 2012,

there are several benefits of media in the teaching and learning process.

Media will help the teachers in delivering the lesson in order not too

verbalistic. It gives an opportunity to communicate without the limit of

time and space like the function of the internet and let the students to be

more active in the learning activity.

Taken from Azhar Arsyad (2011: 29), there are four groups of

learning media based on the growth of technology. (1) Printing, a

learning media produced by printing tool such as: books, magazines,

modules and others. (2) Audio visual technology, they can bring up the

images or writing as well as the sounds (sense of sight and hearing) like

still picture with the audio support. (3) Computer, which is made and

presented with computers. This media is saved in a digital form which is

practical and not easily damaged. (4) Combined media, it is including

several forms of media which are controlled by computers.

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Choosing media for learning is crucial, but there is a media which is

suitable in this era. It is internet which is an abbreviation of

‘Interconnected Networking’, one of the result from the growth of

modern technology. Taken from dosenit.com, according to Sibero (2011)

the internet is a computer network that connects computers globally. It is

also explained that the internet can also be called a natural network,

which is a very broad network. Thus, internet is also seen as a huge place

which became a center of the development of information since it must

be connected to many computers globally. The internet is also called as a

practical technology which allows us to access everything straight away.

Grey on Sudiran (2017) has stated some functions of using internet

in teaching learning process. (1) Search and find, means that it is a real

and wide library that we can use anywhere. (2) Publish the information,

students can share their experience or information they have to the

others. It can be the way to develop their writing skill too. (3) Question

and answer, this session can be held on the chatting or phone call by a

social media platform. Internet has the ability to provide discussion and

collaboration among the students even to hold a face-to-face

communication.

In addition, there is a research by Barnes, Marateo, & Ferris (Renda:

2011) shows that this generation which is known as internet generation

has high motivation and orientation in learning, but the way they reach

the information is different. So, it is one of the teacher’s task to find the
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right way to intergrate an internet as a media with his/her teaching

method. Some popular internet services which can be accessed are

WWW (World Wide Web), email, Usenet, Newsgroup, File Sharing,

Session Access, MUSH, etc. Among all of them, e-mail and the World

Wide Web are often used by people around the world. Besides, more

services are built on them, such as mailing lists and Weblogs. As

mentioned before that internet allows people to access the latest service

(Real-time service) such as web radio, and webcasts, which can be

accessed throughout the world. People could communicate directly (two

or more users) through an instant messaging program. It is obvious

website as a big part which often use on the internet are able to help the

communication process.

Written in Meriam Webster’s Dictionary that website means:

“A group of World Wide Web pages usually containing

hyperlinks to each other and made available online by an

individual, company, educational institution, government, or

organization Website may be the easiest way and less

stressful ways of integrating technology into the classroom.

You get everything on the internet or any websites. In short, all

the student resources you could ever possibly need are

available online.” (www.merriam-webster.com).

Based on the statements, website has become the popular place

where many people are able to give and share the information each other.
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It is available for all users online around the world. Arief (2011: 8) also

stated that “Web adalah salah satu aplikasi yang berisikan dokumen-

dokumen multimedia (teks, gambar, animasi, video) didalamnya yang

menggunakan protokol HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) ...”. So,

web or website is filled with both audio and visual media including the

text or pictures inside which could be accessed by the internet and

browser.

Website also has strength and weakness. Provided as a free and open

service, people must be careful in accepting all of the informations inside

the web. Here are the benefits of a website particularly in education: 1)

manage regularly the communication to the people out there, 2) teachers

can write material on the website, 3) taking an online class through

websites (E- learning), 4) as the source of information for students which

help them to do their tasks from their teacher, 5) as a medium for

promoting educational institutions, 6) facilitate storage and improvement

of material.

In the education process, website provides data access to facilitate

the teaching and learning process. Using web for learning process is

usually called as E- learning. But E- leaarning is more complex, instead

of using website onto a whole learning process in the classroom, teacher

can start with using web as a learning media to motivate their student.

b. VOA (Voice of America)

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There are many websites which might help the teacher to provide

teaching learning process. Containing many useful features, some

websites such as BBC Learning English, Blog Community, Google

Translate and so on are quite popular. Another English learning website

from America that is famous enough in English learners is VOA or

Voice of America.

VOA is a news broadcasting service which is first aired in 1942. It

has been provided by the US State Department to help people learn

English-American, with hundreds of English language materials

available in various formats: printed, video, audio and online. Provided

as a free website, it is not only about mastering grammar, but also how to

improve our speaking and listening skills.

Taken from the website voalearningenglish.com, they have ‘English

in a Minute’ program that explain about idiom and expression which

presented on videos to sharpen both of their speaking and listening skill.

Specially designed with English program which has three levels of

instruction and sources of information, it is quite interesting to be used as

a tool or source for teachers to teach English in the classroom.

The first level programs consisting short stories, photos and videos

which use around 1,500 vocabulary words based on the VOA Vocabulary

Book (VOA Word Book). It was designed for beginners and thought

capable for tenth grade students. Offering broad topics stories such as :

As It Is – a program telling the newest issues of the day in a short time,

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In the News – some of today’s breaking news, Learning English TV –

several TV news in three minutes with English text, and many more like

The Day in Photos, Words and Their Stories, also English in a Minute.

Level two for intermediate students which aims to focus on the

news, culture, history, science and business. The last, level three is

specially made for those who are in the high level. Contaning stories

taken from American Literature. Finally, the writer was interested to take

this research based on the function and benefits we get in this website.

And choose level one (beginner) which is appropriate for junior high

school students.

Moreover, there are more than 50 lessons inside the first level which

is shared every week. The course continues for 52 weeks that showed the

live of young Americans’ videos. Taken from the website

voalearningenglish.com, the lesson is consist of instruction in speaking,

vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments

and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers.English

teachers at school just have to suit the video with the topic that being

discussed in the class. The video is given with interesting materials

which is stimulated for the beginner students.

This website may attract the students’ attention in learning English

and speak English properly. Even they can learn the culture of America.

In the beginner level, lesson 24 about simple past tense, it is explained

about the culture of America, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. So, the
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students could learn the grammar like simple past tense while improve

their speaking and listening skill through the video and learn one of the

cultures in America. With the advantages of VOA websites provides like

mention above, the writer will find the suitable lesson with the topic that

will be thaught in the classroom at the eight grade students.

B. Previous Research

One of the research about speaking was done by Marien from University of

Indraprasta PGRI on 2017. She used the audio visual media to improve the

speaking of vocational school students. It is relevant to this research since VOA is

basically use video to present the lesson. Marien P Tehusalawany on “ Pengaruh

Media Audio Visual Terhadap Keterampilan Berbicara Bahasa Inggris Siswa –

Siswi Kelas XI SMK PGRI 39 Jakarta” said on her research that based on test of

normality, the result r observe 0,874 > r table 0,404 (a = 5% and n = 24 ) it means H 0 is

refused so there is positive correlation between student’s auditory learning style

and student’s speaking skill. T table with a = 0,05 and dk = 22 is 2,13 a 0 t observe ≥ t

table (7,494 ≥ 2,13) it means the hypothesis is received. So, it shows that there is a

correlation between the student’s auditory learning style with student's speaking

skill.

Another research shows the analysis of using internet as English Learning

Media written on the journal of The Second Progressive and Fun Education

Seminar by Sudiran on 2017. The journal is about using the internet as English
 28

learning media and said that internet can motivate students to be more active. It

must be a fun learning for students and increase the students learning progress.

Both of the research above show that media can be positive way to increase

students English skill including speaking. Both of them had done the test also

analysis the fact which is related and adequate this research.

Another writer who took this kind of resarch is Latifah Laraswati on 2016

from University of Indraprasta PGRI, Jakarta. The title is “Pengaruh Penggunaan

Media Internet terhadap Kemampuan Berbicara Bahasa Inggris Siswa Kelas VII

SMP Trampil”. The result is tobserve 5,41 > ttable 1,699 (a = 5% and n = 24 ) it means

H0 is refused so there is a significance difference between pretest and post test.

These positive result on using internet especially youtube as learning media

towards English speaking ability of students indicate how the internet and audio

visual media can influence the teaching learning process which is similar with

VOA Website. VOA also gives the video contents same as youtube and even

guide the learners to speak properly. Furthermore, based on her research, many

students consider this way interesting to implement in the learning process.

C. Framework of Thinking

Following the statements of Henry (2013: 8) about speaking ability which

grow up from our childhood life, speaking ability is gotten from the habitual

activity. So the more practice we do, the more fluent we speak. This must be

accept logically and is also valid for mastering English language.

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English is no longer an additional subject on the school especially the

vocational or high school students. The high school students need some intersting

and fresh method or media to help them interested in English. Because to motivate

them is the most important thing. In fact, English language skills are a necessity

that is useful to the future of students. But we still found some obstacles in

teaching English language since it isn’t our mother tongue.

Jayanthi and Kumar (2016: 35) mentioned:

“We need the modern technologies for a better blended method of

delivery to create apt teaching techniques to enhance the process of

learning English language.”

This world is growth in any field. So that, teacher needs a modern media or

method which is suitable with the new era to help their student in understanding

English language as international language. A media is the best example to help

teaching and learning process. Gerlach and Ely (1971) divided a learning media

into 5 categories, namely humans and real objects, visual projections, audio, print,

and display. They arrange a model of learning which can support each other and

its method show that using media is very important in a learning process. As it is

related to this research that use media for the learning, this theory support the

research that using media is compatible and attarctive.

It is crutial when it comes to choose the right media to the learning. Many

things should consider and the important one is the students acquirement level

toward the study. If the teacher can choose the interesting media to help their

teaching process, we will get the positive responds and vice versa. In this age,
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school in Jakarta especially, has provided the computers with internet network.

But it is important to pay attention to the internet usage towards our students.

Without the right control, it may give the negative impacts to our students.

Using video materials like which is provided in VOA Website can be an

alternative instructional tool for teaching speaking since they are a rich source of

conversation and dialogue by English speakers and guide the students to develop

their speaking skill. Moreover, it can greatly facilitate comprehension of

pronunciation. As a result, the use of video material is widely employed as an

instrument to practice speaking and listening skill in English language learning.

For these reasons, the purpose was to gain an understanding of the effects of using

VOA Website towards students speaking ability.

Learning media by a technology like this VOA Website will give the new

touch in the teaching learning process. It is easy to use and operate. Moreover, the

learning process using internet or website is considered quite interesting. In order

to gain the self-confidence of the students in SMKN 10, Cawang especially the

tenth grade to speak English, using media that they have used almost everyday is

a great choice. They even can access the website and repeat it again everywhere.

So the students are expected to understand the materials and apply it in their daily

life.

D. Hypothesis
 31

So the temporary hypothesis based on the framework of thinking and the

theoritical review is using VOA website will give the effect on students’ speaking

ability at the eighth grade of SMPN 06 Bekasi (Ha).