THE “ENGLISH HOUR” TO ENHANCE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS

As part of my strategy to improve EBPP senior high school students’ English communications’ proficiency I developed the “English Hour” program. This program is a dedicated speaking session conducted two to three times per semester, during which students practice speaking English for a full hour.

During the “English Hour” sessions, students are not allowed to use only their native language, but they are permitted to mix English with Indonesian if they have difficulty forming sentences, as long as English remains the dominant language, accounting for approximately 80 percent of their communication.

Throughout the implementation of this program, students have shown noticeable improvement. Although they were initially hesitant and afraid to speak, their motivation and enthusiasm increased over time. Some students also took the initiative to help their peers by translating or explaining instructions when others did not fully understand. This indicates a growing level of confidence and improved comprehension of English.

This method allowed me to assess students’ speaking abilities, motivation, and interest in learning English more effectively. Additionally, students became more familiar with commonly used expressions and vocabulary. The program also created a more relaxed learning atmosphere, helping students feel that learning English is achievable through consistent practice. In the future, I plan to implement this program more frequently to help students become more accustomed to using English in daily communication.

By: Indriani, English teacher.