Saidna Zulfiqar bin Tahir 
(English Department, University of Iqra Buru, Ambon, Indonesia)

 

Abstract: The objectives of research were: (1) to find out whether or not the use of Voice Chat improves the students’ speaking skill, and (2) to find out whether or not the students are interested in joining speaking class. This research employed Quasi Experimental Time Series Design. The sample consisted of 15 students of second semester of English Department of University of Iqra Buru in academic year 2012/2013. The data were collected through three kinds of instruments: speaking test to obtain data of students’ speaking skill, questionnaire to obtain data of students’ interest, and observation to obtain data of students’ activeness in joining speaking class. Data on students’ speaking skill were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, data on students’ interest were analyzed using Likert scale, and observation data were analyzed descriptively.
The results of the research were: (1) the use of Voice Chat in teaching speaking improved the students speaking skill; (2) the use of Voice Chat increased the students’ interest in joining speaking class. It can be concluded that the use of Voice Chat was effective medium to improve the students’ speaking skill in terms of accuracy, fluency, and comprehensibility, and VC can increase the students’ interest in joining speaking class.

 

Key words: speaking skill, Voice Chat, interest