The Effectiveness of Using Problem Based Learning (PBL) on Students’ Speaking Performance of Second Grade Students at SMA Negeri 2 Langsa

Studying speaking particularly foreign language is considered important in human life. Besides of acquiring native language, most people also study foreign languages. Even though English has been familiar for Indonesian students, but not every student can speak the language well. For example at SMA Negeri 2 Langsa, when the writer did a teaching training at the school, the writer observed the students’ speaking ability. The writer found that there were some problems which are faced by the second grade students in English speaking class Based on the problem, the writer did a research to improve the students’ speaking performance by using Problem Based Learning (PBL). The research belongs to experimental research which applied male class as experimental class and female class as the controlled class. The research was done by conducting pretest, treatment and posttest from 28th September until 09th October 2015. Based on the result of the research, the writer found that Problem Based Learning (PBL) can improve students’ speaking performance at the second grade students of SMA Negeri 2 Langsa. The development can be seen from the speaking test result between experimental and controlled class. After conducting treatment, the students’ speaking score at experimental class was 52,82 and the controlled class was 48,78. Based on the result of hypothesis testing, the researcher got that t observed > t table .based on the result of analysis, the writer got t observed is 3, 627 and t table is 2,825. It means that is 3,627 > 2,825. Therefore, Ha was accepted and Ho was rejected. Therefore, the Problem Based Learning (PBL) improve students’ speaking performance at the second grade students of SMA Negeri 2 Langsa. According to the result of the research, the writer suggests the English teachers to apply Problem Based Learning (PBL) continuously. Therefore, the students can speak English creatively by sharing their problem directly.