IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ABILITY THROUGH SILENT WAY METHOD AT SMU NEGERI 12 MAKASSAR

This research aimed (1) to explore whether or not the use of Silent Way Method can improve the students’ speaking ability, (2) to disclose how effective is Silent Way Method in improving students’ speaking ability.The research applied the experimental design and the samples comprised 30 tenth grade students of SMU Negeri 12 Makassar divided into two groups namely experimental class consisted 15 students class X IPA 3 and control class consisted 15 students class X IPS 3. The data were collected by using two types of instruments: the speaking test and the questionnaires. The data on the students’ speaking ability were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, and the data on the students’ questionnaire toward the use of Silent Way Method were analyzed using Likert Scale.The research results revealed that (1) the use of Silent Way Method in teaching speaking had improved the students’ speaking ability; and that (2) the students’ responses toward the use of Silent Way Method were positive. In fact, the students stated that they found the teaching of speaking more interesting when the Silent Way Method was used to teach them speaking. Thus, the Silent Way Method was effective in improving the students’ English speaking ability; the students also found the method much more interesting when used to teach speaking.