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ELTALL (English language teaching, applied linguistics 

and Literature) 

Vol. 4 No. 02, 2023  
Available online at https://jurnal.iainponorogo.ac.id/index.php/eltall 

 

 

 

  
THE EFFECT OF PICTURES AS MEDIA TO IMPROVE 

STUDENTS’ ENGLISH-SPEAKING ABILITY  
 
 

Alfira Putri  
Iful Rahmawati Mega 

Dwi Indra Aprilliandari  
Universitas Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung  

alfiraptr053@gmail.com 
 

 
Abstract  
Speaking is one of language skill that need more effort in the process of master 

it. In this case there were many students of tenth grade that unable to pronounce 
well and lack confident in order to speak English. The way they learned speaking 
with correct pronunciation was slow and the teacher did not serve any media to 

help them. Moreover this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of picture 
as media to improve students’ English-speaking ability at tenth-grade of SMA 

Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. This study used quantitative research with a 
quasi-experimental design method with non-equivalent control group design. 

The population in this study were students of tenth grade SMA Muhammadiyah 
Pangkalpinang, with a total 54 students. The sample in this study was 18 students 
for the experimental group and 18 students for the control group. The data 

collection techniques in this study were some tests. The data analysis technique 
used the normality test, homogeneity test, and hypothesis. The result of this 

study that indicated the hypothesis test result between the experiment and 
control class have tcount = 3.767 > ttable = 2.032, it showed that H0 was rejected 

and Ha was accepted. This research showed that there was an effectiveness of 
picture as media to improve students’ English-speaking ability at tenth-grade of 
SMA Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. 

Keywords: Speaking ability, picture as a media, recount text 
  
INTRODUCTION  

Language is a tool used to orally and in writing express thoughts, 
opinions, and desires for something (Komalasari &; Saripudin, 2018; Lestari &; 
Pamungkas, 2023). There are four skills that must be mastered by the students in 

learning language. They are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Since 
language is a tool of communication, they are only able to communicate orally 

when they speak. On the other word speaking is one of skills that must be 

mailto:alfiraptr053@gmail.com


mastered by the student when they want to be able to express ideas, intentions, 
goals, and points of view with their partners well.  

Speaking is one of the language skills that speakers use to ensure that 
others can understand their intentions and purposes vocally (Henne-Ochoa, 

2018; Nikitina, 2012). The ability to speak seems to be a skill to pronounce clearly 
formed words to transmit thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Speaking is a form 
of oral communication used to convey thoughts, feelings, and opinions to others. 

To express desires, thoughts, feelings, and experiences to others, speech talent is 
used to produce a flow of articulated sound systems (Chien, 2020: 4). 

An image can be created, generated, processed through photography in 
any size and colour. It also able to be associated with real-world lessons or event. 

An image is a two-dimensional work of art that also explains something. To help 
students understand the text, visuals are included. A picture can help students 
visualize what could happen in the setting and inspire a more original sentence 

structure. When using media images, students can also pay more attention to the 
subject (Thituyetanh, 2015: 49-53). 

Based on observations and interviews with English teachers, many 
students of Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang High School face many obstacles in 

learning to speak. First, learners have less desire to speak for fear of making 
mistakes and lack confidence in speaking. Second, when teachers ask them 
questions, learners unable to answer because they do not have ideas to talk about. 

Third, most learners often mispronounce the correct use of grammar and 
vocabulary; For example, answer, delete, and then often.  Fourth, learners use 

their mother tongue in daily activities, so their speaking skills are inadequate. 
When they learn English, they use a mixture of mother tongue and English. The 

strategy to use picture as a media is capable to address the problems faced by 
teachers and learners when teaching and learning English, especially speaking 
skills. 

In response to this fact, it is considered important to implement a new 
approach to teaching speaking that utilizes visual media. Images as a medium 

can represent reality as it is. In other words, by using images, learners can see the 
abstract as a real-life experience. Researchers are interested in conducting 
research by using images as a medium to improve speaking skills because 

students' speaking skills need to be up graded. Therefore researchers are 
interested in conducting a study entitled The Effectiveness of Images as a Media 

to Improve the English Speaking Skills of Students in grade X of SMA 
Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. 

 
METHODS  

Quantitative methods are research approaches that focus on collecting and 

analysing data in the form of numbers. The main objective is to measure 
variables, analyse relationships between variables, and determine causation 
between variables (Neuman, 2014; Sugiyono, 2016). In the research process, 

direct observation of the student learning process to find out the obstacles faced 
in speaking skills. The population in this study is grade X students of SMA 



 

 

35 

 

ELTALL (English language teaching, applied linguistics 

and Literature) 

Vol. 4 No. 02, 2023  
Available online at https://jurnal.iainponorogo.ac.id/index.php/eltall 

 

 

 

 
Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. Sample determination will be made based on 

the consideration of the researcher. 
Furthermore the independent variable applied is the use of images as a 

learning medium. Then the dependent variable is the students’ ability to speak 

English. After the data collected, an analysis will be carried out to determine the 
positive influence of the use of images as a medium on students' speaking ability 

in English. Aiifter the analysis stage is declared to have fulfilled good procedures, 
conclusions are then determined (Sugiyono, 2016). 

 

FINDINGS  
1. Normality Test Result of Pre-Test and Post-Test Data 

The study was conducted by conducting Pre-Test and Post-Test Data 
Normality Test. Based on the process carried out, the results of the study are 
shown in table 1. 

 
Table 1. Normality Test Results of Pre-Test and Post-Test Data 

Class Data 𝐃𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Conclusion 

Experiment  Pre-test 0.278 0.309 Data Distribution is 
Normal 

 Post-test 0.272 0.309 Data Distribution is 
Normal 

Control  Pre-test 0.152 0.309 Data Distribution is 
Normal 

 Post-test 0.278 0.309 Data Distribution is 

Normal 

 
Based on the table 1 above, the calculation results of the normality test for 

pre-test data of experiment class can be obtained that the Dcount value was 0.278 

and Dtable value was 0.309 then the calculation results of the normality test for 
post-test data experiment class can be obtained that Dcount value was 0.272 and 

the Dtable value was 0.309, it indicated that the data distribution was normal. The 
normality test for pre-test data of the control class can be obtained that the Dcount 
value was 0.152 and the Dtable value was 0.309 and for post-test data of the control 

class can be obtained that the Dtable value was 0.278 and the Dtable value was 
0.309, it can be concluded that the data distribution was normal. These results 

show the pre-test and post-test data distribution of the experiment and control 
class was normal.  

 
2. The Homogeneity Test  

The second stage is the homogeneity test. It is used to find out whether 

variances from two or more sample groups come from the same population or 



have the same variance. This homogeneity test is carried out at the pre-test and 
post-test stages. The homogeneity results are shown in tables 2 and 3. 

 
Table 2 . Homogeneity Test Result of Pre-Test Data 

Class  Variance 𝐅𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Conclusion 

Experiment 33.088  

1.089 

 

2.270 

Data is 

Homogen 

Control  36.029    

 
Based on Table 2 above, the results of the homogeneity test for pre-test 

data of the experiment and the control class were Fcount = 1.08<  Ftable = 2.270. It 

can be concluded that both variances were homogenous. The F_count value 
represents the calculated variance between the experiment and control class 
based on the pre-test data. Since the F_count value of 1.08 is less than the F_table 

value of 2.270, it indicates that there's no significant difference in the variances of 
the two classes, thus confirming their homogeneity. 

 
Table 3. Homogeneity Test Result of Post-Test Data 

Class  Variance  𝐅𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 Conclusion 

Experiment  46.487  

1.118 

 

2.270 

Data is 

Homogen  

Control 41.585    

 

Based on Table 3 above, the results of the homogeneity test for post-test data 
of the experiment and the control class were Fcount = 1.118<  Ftable = 2.270. It can 

be concluded that both variances were homogenous. From the data presented in 
Table 3, it is evident that the F_count value is 1.118, which is less than the F_table 

value of 2.270. This comparison indicates that the differences between the 
variances of the experiment and control class post-test data are not significant. 
Therefore, the conclusion can be drawn that the variances between the two 

classes are consistent or homogenous, meaning there's no significant variation 
between them. 

 
3. The Hypothesis Tests 

Hypothesis tests are a statistical method used to decide whether a statement 
or assumption about a population parameter may be true based on a sample of 
data. The result of the hypothesis test from the experiment class and control class 

will be described below:  
 

Table 4. Hypothesis Test Result  
The Comparison Post-

test data  
𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞  Conclusion  

Experiment and Control 3.767 2.032 Ha is accepted  

 



 

 

37 

 

ELTALL (English language teaching, applied linguistics 

and Literature) 

Vol. 4 No. 02, 2023  
Available online at https://jurnal.iainponorogo.ac.id/index.php/eltall 

 

 

 

 
Based on table 24 above, from the sample that consists of n1= 18 and n2=18 

and the obtained ttable= 2.032. The results of the hypothesis test between the 
experimental class and the control class have tcount=3.76 >  ttable = 2.032. A 
t_count value greater than t_table indicates a significant difference between the 

two classes. This showed that Ho was rejected and Ha was accepted. This 
substantial difference indicates that the use of images as a teaching tool had a 

statistically significant impact on improving students' English skills in the 
experimental class when compared to those in the control class. Therefore, 
images are effective as a medium to improve the English language skills of 

students in grade X of SMA Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. 
 

DISCUSSION  
The researcher's use of a picture in the treatment was thought to have 

contributed to its efficacy. In the post-test, students' English-speaking proficiency 

grew, and various factors contributed to its efficacy. As follows: First off, images 
aid students in communicating ideas and knowledge. Second, because they have 

a framework from the researcher, students are more comfortable describing the 
subjects. Finally, thanks to their thorough preparation and increased knowledge 
of the subjects, students can give a succinct description.  

Students were more engaged in the learning process and were better able 
to understand vocabulary and pronunciation thanks to the use of pictures as 

media. These findings are consistent with Maria's research (2020:56). The 
findings of this study demonstrated that viewing and analyzing pictures as 

media could enhance students' English-speaking abilities. The pupils also took 
an interest in and loved the learning process. Students' speaking Ability, 
including fluency, topic, pronunciation, and grammar, have been demonstrated 

to increase when images are used as media. As shown by higher post-test-pre-
test average scores in the experimental class compared to the control class, the 

creative teaching technique attempts to inspire students and make them happy. 
The findings are consistent with Marriam's research (2015:55), which 

demonstrated that employing visual media is a beneficial innovation for teaching 
speaking. It tries to inspire students to learn how to talk. However, this tactic 
cannot address every facet of speech. Therefore, it can be interpreted that there 

was an effectiveness of picture as media to improve students’ English-speaking 
ability at X grade of SMA Muhammadiyah Pangkalpiang.  

Based on the results of the research data analysis and discussion that has 
been described previously in this research, the average value of the experimental 

class was 50 and the control class obtained an average value of 45 for pre-test 
data. As for the post-test data, the average value of the experimental class was 
77.5 and the average value of the control class was 70. It means there was a 

significant difference between the post-test results of the experimental class using 



picture as media with the control class that only used the book. Subsequently, the 
hypothesis was tested using an independent sample T-test. The calculation 

results, the statistical value of tcount is 3.767 and ttable is 2.032, because tcount > 
ttable, it can be concluded that Ha was accepted and H0 was rejected. Therefore, 

there was an effectiveness of picture as media to improve students’ English-
speaking ability at X grade of SMA Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang. 

 

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 
The use of images by researchers in the treatment is thought to increase their 

efficacy. In the post-test, students' English speaking skills improve with the help 
of pictures that help them in conveying ideas and knowledge. Images as a 
medium make students more involved in the learning process and improve their 

understanding of vocabulary and pronunciation. This research shows that 
viewing and analysing images as a medium can improve students' English-

speaking skills. Based on the analysis of research data, there was a significant 
difference between the post-test results from the experimental class that used 
images as a medium and the control class that only used books. Therefore, images 

are effective as a medium to improve the English-speaking skills of students in 
grade X of SMA Muhammadiyah Pangkalpinang.  

Based on the research results and conclusions, it can be stated some 
suggestions. For Teacher, the results of study shows that the use of picture as 

media create a positive effect on students’ English-speaking ability. Therefore it 
is better for teachers use picture as media in the process of learning English, 
especially to help students English-speaking. For School, the school is expected 

to improve school facilities and infrastructure, especially to support the use of 
varied learning media therefore it can improve the quality of English learning 

process. For the next researcher who will conduct research on the use of picture 
as media in teaching English-Speaking ability are advised to exmine more 

specifically the effectiveness of picture as media on each level of English-
speaking. 

 

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Available online at https://jurnal.iainponorogo.ac.id/index.php/eltall 

 

 

 

 
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