Improving the Tenth Grades Hospitality Speaking Skills at SMK Swasta Paguntaka Tarakan Using Stimuler AI: English Speaking Applicatin
IMPROVING THE TENTH GRADES HOSPITALITY SPEAKING SKILLS AT SMK SWASTA PAGUNTAKA TARAKAN USING STIMULER AI: ENGLISH SPEAKING APPLICATION ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas penggunaan Stimuler AI: English Speaking Application dalam meningkatkan kemampuan berbicara bahasa Inggris serta mengurangi kecemasan berbicara pada siswa kelas X Perhotelan di SMKS Paguntaka Tarakan. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Classroom Action Research (CAR) dengan model Kemmis dan McTaggart yang meliputi tahap perencanaan, tindakan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subjek penelitian terdiri dari 13 siswa kelas X Perhotelan. Penelitian dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus, dimana setiap siklus terdiri atas tiga kali pertemuan dan satu tes berbicara. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan meliputi tes speaking performance, kuesioner speaking anxiety yang diadaptasi dari Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), dan lembar observasi. Data dianalisis secara kuantitatif menggunakan skor rata-rata, persentase, dan klasifikasi tingkat kecemasan serta keterlibatan siswa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan Stimuler AI mampu meningkatkan kemampuan berbicara siswa secara signifikan. Nilai rata-rata siswa meningkat dari siklus I sebesar 60,3 hingga mencapai ketuntasan klasikal 100% dengan nilai rata – rata 82.78 pada akhir siklus II. Peningkatan terlihat pada aspek pronunciation, grammar, fluency, dan vocabulary. Selain itu, penggunaan aplikasi ini juga membantu mengurangi kecemasan berbicara dan meningkatkan rasa percaya diri siswa karena menyediakan lingkungan belajar yang aman, interaktif, dan bebas dari tekanan sosial. Siswa menjadi lebih aktif, mandiri, dan berani berkomunikasi menggunakan bahasa Inggris dalam konteks perhotelan. Dengan demikian, Stimuler AI terbukti efektif sebagai media pembelajaran berbasis AI untuk meningkatkan kompetensi berbicara dan kesiapan psikologis siswa vokasi di bidang perhotelan. IMPROVING THE TENTH GRADES HOSPITALITY SPEAKING SKILLS AT SMK SWASTA PAGUNTAKA TARAKAN USING STIMULER AI: ENGLISH SPEAKING APPLICATION ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Stimuler AI: English Speaking Application in improving English speaking skills and reducing speaking anxiety among tenth-grade hospitality students at SMKS Paguntaka Tarakan. This study employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) based on the Kemmis and McTaggart model consisting of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting stages. The subjects of this research were 13 tenth-grade hospitality students. The study was conducted in two cycles, with each cycle consisting of three meetings and one speaking test. The research instruments included a speaking performance test, a speaking anxiety questionnaire adapted from the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), and observation sheets. The data were analyzed quantitatively using mean scores, percentages, and classifications of anxiety and student engagement levels. The findings revealed that the use of Stimuler AI significantly improved students’ speaking skills. The students’ mean score increased from 60.3 in the cycle I to 100% classical mastery at the end of Cycle II. Improvements were observed in pronunciation, grammar, fluency, and vocabulary. In addition, the application helped reduce speaking anxiety and increase students’ confidence by providing a safe, interactive, and low-pressure learning environment. Students became more active, independent, and confident in communicating in English within hospitality-related contexts. Therefore, Stimuler AI proved to be an effective AI-based learning medium for enhancing both speaking competence and psychological readiness among vocational hospitality students.