IMPROVING SPEAKING SKILL OF THE SEVENTH- GRADE STUDENTS OF SMP DWIJENDRA DENPASAR IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025 BY USING THINK PAIR SHARE COMBINED WITH PICTURES

Speaking ability is challenging to master because it covers all English elements. It can describe how far the learners master the language itself when they interact with others. By learning and mastering speaking, the students could easily communicate with friends, embrace themselves using language skills, and express their feelings, ideas, opinions, and thoughts. However, several problems were experienced by students in learning English, including fluency, comprehension, and grammar. This research was mainly intended to find out whether speaking skills of the seventh-grade students of SMP Dwijendra Denpasar in the academic year 2024/2025 could be improved through Think Pair Share Combined with Pictures. The present study used classroom action research design in two cycles. The required data was collected by administering research instruments: tests and a structured questionnaire. After the cyclical research processes, it was found that Think Pair Share Combined with Pictures was appropriate to improve their speaking skills, especially in constructing and performing a short descriptive monologue. It could be seen from the results of the pre-test, post-test 1, and 2. which showed significant improvement in their speaking skills. Furthermore, it was supported by the structured questionnaire, which showed positive responses to the implementation of Think Pair Share Combined with Pictures. It can be concluded that speaking skill of the seventh-grade students of SMP Dwijendra Denpasar in the academic year 2024/2025 could be improved through Think Pair Share Combined with Pictures.