e-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society)
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025)

IMPROVING VOCATIONAL SCHOOL STUDENTS' WRITING ABILITY THROUGH THE DICTATION METHOD

Rahayu Prasetyaningsih (Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu)
Juliasetiwi Juliasetiwi (Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu)
Andi Naniwarsih (Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Oct 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the pedagogical effectiveness of the dictation method in enhancing the recount text writing skills of second-year vocational high school students at SMK Muhammadiyah 1 Palu. A quantitative pre-experimental research design utilizing a one-group pre-test and post-test model (O1 ® X ® O2) was implemented with an intact class of 17 second-year vocational students (n = 17) selected through total sampling. Student writing performance was evaluated using an analytical composition rubric across five core dimensions: content (30%), organization (20%), vocabulary (20%), language use (25%), and mechanics (5%). The empirical data revealed a slight numerical improvement in overall mean scores, moving from a baseline pre-test mean of 84.74 (SD = 7.12) to a post-test mean of 85.33 (SD = 6.85), representing an absolute score gain of +0.59 points. Inferential statistical testing via a paired-sample t-test yielded a calculated t-value of 0.27, which was substantially lower than the critical t-table value of 2.120 at degrees of freedom df = 16 and a significance level of α = .05 (0.27 < 2.120). Consequently, the null hypothesis (H₀) was accepted, establishing that the observed score increase was not statistically significant. The lack of statistical significance is primarily attributed to a pronounced statistical ceiling effect driven by high baseline pre-test scores, as well as a small sample size (n = 17) and a negligible Cohen’s effect size (d = 0.07). Dimension-level descriptive results showed that the largest gains occurred in language use (+0.30) and mechanics (+0.10), whereas content and organization each changed by only 0.06 points. The study concludes that while dictation functions as an effective auxiliary tool for reinforcing foundational mechanics, vocational ELT instruction must integrate dictation within broader process-oriented and communicative task-based frameworks to foster true writing autonomy.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

elts

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

e-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society) is an electronic open-access journal that aims to publish the latest research results in the area of English education from academicians, professionals, and other practitioners at all levels of English education. The journal coverage includes the ...