Enhancing Students' Speaking Skill: The Synergy of Flashcards and Communicative Approach at SMK Negeri 5 Bandar Lampung

This research aims to examine the effectiveness of using modified flashcards combined with a communicative approach to improve students’ English-speaking performance and increase their interest in learning. The study addresses three main research questions: (1) Do students significantly improve their speaking performance after learning with flashcards and a communicative approach? (2) Which aspects of speaking show the greatest improvement? and (3) Do modified flashcards increase students’ interest more than traditional flashcards? Employing a quantitative experimental design, the study involved 60 tenth-grade students at SMK Negeri 5 Bandar Lampung divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received treatment using modified flashcards integrated with a communicative approach, while the control group used traditional flashcards. Data collection included pretests, posttests, and motivation questionnaires. The results indicated significant improvements in the experimental group’s speaking skills—including grammar, pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—and a notable increase in their motivation and interest in learning English speaking compared to the control group. The study concludes that modified flashcards combined with a communicative approach effectively enhance both students’ speaking performance and their engagement in learning English.