The Effect of Applying Game-based Learning to Improve Students’ Speaking Ability

Abstract

This study deal with the effect of Game-based learning to students’ speaking achievement. The researcher took this method by expecting that students would be more active in communication and doing conversation with their teacher and friends in learning English. And also the researcher would like to introduce the new strategy where the students could enjoy in learning English by Game-based Leaning. This study was conducting by using experimental and control classand it took 57 (fifty five)total students of SMP Muhammadiyah 08 Medan as the sample.They were divided into two groups, they were 29 students weretaken as experimental group and by applying Game-based Learning, 28 students were taken as control group by applying conventional method . The instrument of this study wasretelling the conversation dialogue by paying attention the accuracy, pronunciation, fluency, and vocabulary. The test was given to the students as the group, the pre-test, Game-based Learning activity and conventional method and post-test as well. To know the differences between students’ ability in experimental and control group, it was analyzed by using t-test formula.The result of the t-test showed that the t-observed was higher than t-table (16.58>1.67). Game-based Learninggave a significant effect on the students’ speaking achievement.Therefore, a conclusion could be drawn thatGame-based learning gave a positive effect on the students’ speaking achievement. The students’ achievement taught by using Game-based learning was greater than taught by using conventional technique. Game was one of many activities that was joyful for students in mastering English in classroom.