The Effect of Speechway and U-Dictionary Application on Reducing Speaking Anxiety

Abstract

Speaking is one of the most challenging skills in learning foreign language. Several affective factors such as shame and fear of making mistakes and being laughed by others lead students to have anxiety in uttering foreign language. The role of digital media, especially smartphone that becomes a “close friend“ of mostly students nowadays is utilized as a media to reduce students’ speaking anxiety. The habit of students who like to record themselves for a content to be uploaded in social media is interesting to be adopted as a learning strategy. This study aimed to investigate the use of speechway and U-Dictionary application in reducing students’ speaking anxiety. This study used a pre-experimental design with one group pre-test and post-test. The population of this study was 146 first grade students of Hafshawaty University Probolinggo. Purposive sampling, which attaches a set of criteria to the sample, was employed by the researcher to select the sample. In this case, the chosen sample was 47 students of nursing major who received English subject during this study conducted. The instrument of data collection was pre and post test questionnaire. In adjusting the instrument of test, the researcher uses validity and reliability test to determine the reliable and trustworthy measurement. To achieve the purpose of this study, the data were analyzed by paired sample t-test with SPSS 24. From the analysis of research findings, it was found that Hafshawaty University students’ speaking anxiety level were mostly in the level of moderate anxiety. Some were in high anxiety and a few of them were in low anxiety. The use of Speechway and U-Dictionary application significantly contributed to alleviate the students’ speaking anxiety that produced 0% of high anxiety level and low anxiety category encountered a 48.94% increase. Keywords: Speechway, U-Dictionary, Speaking Anxiety