INTERACTION: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026): INTERACTION: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa

Conversation Practice as a Strategy Enhancing Speaking Performance Among First-Semester Students of the Primary School Teacher Education Program at Universitas Halmahera

Prianka Lusy Koraag (Universitas Halmahera)
Like Suoth (Universitas Halmahera)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study investigated changes in overall speaking-performance scores among first-semester students of the Primary School Teacher Education (PGSD) Program at Universitas Halmahera after participation in structured conversation practice during the 2025/2026 academic year. A quantitative one-group pre-test/post-test design was used with 36 students. Speaking performance was operationalized through four dimensions, each scored on a five-point analytic rubric and converted to a 100-point total score. The mean score increased from 55.36 (SD = 2.37; range = 51.5 – 59.0) at pre-test to 75.19 (SD = 2.61; range = 71.0 – 79.0) at post-test, representing a mean increase of 19.83 points, or 35.83% relative to the pre-test mean. The Shapiro – Wilk test showed that paired difference scores were not normally distributed, W = 0.929, p = 0.023; consequently, the two-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. The test indicated a statistically significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores, W = 0, z = -5.23, p < .001, with a large within-cohort effect size (r = 0.87). The findings indicated that students’ speaking-performance scores were higher after the instructional period. Because the study did not include a comparison group, the observed change cannot be attributed to conversation practice alone. The findings therefore constitute preliminary within-cohort evidence and should be examined in controlled or quasi-experimental studies with independent raters and stronger instrument-validation procedures.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

interactionjournal

Publisher

Subject

Education Environmental Science Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Other

Description

The focus of INTERACTION: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa is to provide a platform for researchers, educators, and practitioners to share innovative research and practical insights within the realm of language teaching and literature. The journal particularly emphasizes studies that explore effective ...