THE APPLICATION OF MALL (MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING) THROUGH U-DICTIONARY IN TEACHING SPEAKING (A Mixed Method Study at Eleventh Grade in One of Vocational High Schools in Ciamis)

Abstract

This research is aimed at investigating the effectiveness on applying MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) through U-Dictionary in teaching speaking and finding out the students’ perceptions on applying this method.The research design used in this study was a mixed method study. The population of this study took the students of eleventh grade in one of vocational high schools in Ciamis and the researchers selected a particular class. It was XI Bisnis Konstruksi dan Properti for a total sample of 34 students. The data collection of this study from pre-test, post-test and questionnaire. The results showed that based on the pre-test and post-test, U-Dictionary is effective in teaching speaking. It can be seen from the data of Wilcoxon test that there are differences between the value of students' speaking skill in pre-test and post-test. The students’ scores had been increased. In conclusion, there was a significant difference in students' speaking skill before and after being taught by means applying MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) through U-Dictionary. Based on the questionnaire, it can be concluded that the students showed positive perceptions toward MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) through U-Dictionary in teaching speaking. They assumed that MALL (Mobile Assisted Language Learning) through U-Dictionary could ease their understanding toward the material such as correct verb selection, correct spelling, correct pronunciation and improvement of their speaking skill, their grammar mastery and vocabulary, and also students’ understanding of learning experiences using new teaching tools.