THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND SPEAKING SKILL OF THE EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENT SMP NEGERI 1 UBUD IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are the four primary areas of English language abilities. Speaking is one of the important skills that we use to communicate and to understand each other in our daily activities. Ther study investigates the relationship between self-esteem and speaking skill among eighth- grade students at SMP Negeri 1 Ubud in the academic year 2024/2025. Using an ex-post facto correlational design, the study aimed to identify the extent to which students' self-esteem influenced their speaking abilities. The population consisted of 351 students, with 115 students selected as the sample using cluster sampling. Data collection instruments included a questionnaire to measure self-esteem and a speaking test to assess speaking skills. Data analysis, conducted using SPSS 25, revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.299, p < 0.05) between self-esteem and speaking skill. The findings suggest that students with higher self-esteem tend to exhibit better speaking skills, as self-confidence enhances their ability to communicate effectively. The results highlight the importance of fostering self-esteem to improve speaking skills in educational settings. Ther study provides valuable insights for educators and researchers in understanding the interplay between psychological factors and language learning outcomes.