Increasing the Performance of Students' Speaking through Role Playing Strategy at SMP Negeri 2 Gunungsitoli in 2023/2024

Speaking performance is the process of speaking English in front of people. Speaking performance typically refers to the ability of an individual to effectively communicate verbally, whether in a casual conversation, public speaking, or other forms of oral communication. This study investigates the impact of a role-playing strategy on enhancing the speaking performance of students at SMP Negeri 2 Gunungsitoli. Effective speaking performance is crucial in English learning, enabling students to communicate ideas clearly and confidently. However, observations revealed challenges in students' speaking skills, including low practice frequency, limited self-confidence, and pronunciation difficulties. To address these issues, a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design was employed over two cycles, involving 30 eighth-grade students. Data were gathered through observations, oral tests, and field notes. Findings indicate that the implementation of the role-playing strategy significantly improved students' speaking performance. In Cycle I, many students struggled with meeting the minimum competency criteria. However, adjustments in Cycle II, such as focused pronunciation practice and confidence-building activities, resulted in notable progress. By the end of the study, the majority of students demonstrated improved communication skills, indicating that the role-playing strategy effectively enhances speaking performance in a classroom setting.