Developing Standards for
Students’ Speaking Skill at High Schools
Rusdi
Speaking
skill is, perhaps, the most important language skill a student should acquire
when learning English. This is indicated by the fact that success or failure in
learning English is often measured through an ability to speak English. The
importance of speaking skill is reflected through the most common question
asked by someone: Do you speak English?, not Do you read
English texts?, or Do you have a good
listening comprehension? This paper discusses the importance of developing
standards of success for speaking skill students should acquire at every level
of education. For example, students at the first semester of Junior High School
(SLTP) should be able to make simple commands, introduce him/herself, introduce
his/her family members, tell his/her daily activities, and engaged in simple
conversation. When they go to the second semester there will be a list of
language functions they should be able to use. Students at their final semester
of Senior High School (SMU), for example, should be able to make presentations,
give opinions, and debate on different issues in English. A list of students’
speaking competence for each semester should be made so that we have a national
standard for measuring students’ success or failure. There should be
consequences in doing this, for example, sufficient time should be allocated
for teaching speaking. Beside that, students’ speaking progress should be
regularly evaluated. It is believed that students speaking proficiency at High
Schools can be improved through developing a set of standardized communication
skill students should master.
------- ---- ----------
Rusdi.
(2003, October). Developing standards for students’ speaking skill at high
schools. Paper presented at the 51st TEFLIN International
Conference,
Website: www.geocities.com/eltindonesia
Email: eltindonesia@yahoo.com