Project-based learning in teaching speaking to young learners: Is it effective?

Abstract

Students� disfluency in speaking is caused by limited practice, incorrect pronunciation, and inappropriate learning methods. That of the last point drove this research in finding out the effectiveness of using Project-based Learning (PBL) to improve students� speaking skills. The study participants were 59 students of the seventh graders of SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Kudus, divided into the experimental and the control classes using a quasi-experimental research design. The data were obtained from the pre-test and the post-test. The results showed that the students� speaking ability mean scores in both classes were higher in the post-test than in the pre-test. In addition, the independent sample t-test supported the result in the hypothesis testing. It means that project-based learning applied had a significant difference or effective to improve young-learner students� speaking skills. To conclude, using this method created more fun, active, and interactive speaking class atmosphere for young learners.