TEACHING SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH GENRE-BASED APPROACH

Abstract

This research aims at evaluating teaching speaking skills through genre-based approach and proposing a recommendation for further research and development programs to create a better teaching and learning model based on the research findings. This evaluation research for an ongoing program uses some data sources, such as (1) 2006 Curriculum of English Profession Program which has orientation to genre-based approach, (2) syllabus, (3) lesson plan, (4) course book, (5) observation to teaching and learning process of speaking classes, (6) in-depth interviewing with lecturers and students, and (7) verification to curriculum makers and course book authors. The result of this research shows that the teaching speaking skills through genrebased approach at Language Center of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta has not been optimal yet. It is caused by some factors, i.e. (1) the lecturers often find difficulties to understand some concepts of genres along with the methods to teach them to their students, (2) the topics discussed in class are less attractive, (3) the students’ exercises in class are less varied, and (4) the students have not been motivated optimally to practice speaking skills so that only few students who are active in class. Based on the result of this research, the researcher recommends the policy makers of Language Center to conduct a workshop on quality improvement of teaching speaking skills through genre-based approach for the lecturers. The researcher also recommends the lecturers of this institution to conduct classroom-action researches in order to solve the problems for the sake of quality improvement of their teaching speaking skills through this approach.