STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN SPEAKING RECOUNT TEXT AT GRADE 8 OF SMP NEGERI 1 MEDAN

This research was conducted to analyze the types of students’ difficulties in
speaking recount text and the reasons why students face difficulties in speaking
recount text at grade 8 of SMP Negeri 1 Medan. This research used descriptive
qualitative method. The data of this research were all the information and
knowledge about the types and reasons about students’ difficulties in speaking
recount text. The sources of the data in this research were 15 students from grade
8 Djamin Ginting at SMP Negeri 1 Medan. The instruments of this research were
observation checklist, fieldnotes, video recording, interview sheet and voice
recorder. This research was focused on one English skill, speaking, specifically
within the genre of recount texts. The results showed that the types of students’
difficulties in speaking recount based on Ur's (2006) theory: (1) inhibition, (2)
nothing to say, (3) low or uneven participation, and (4) mother tongue use. The
reasons why students face difficulties in speaking recount was in accordance with
the theory that proposed by Bygate (2008). That are: (1) linguistic barriers (2)
Difficulties in processing speech, (3) Proficiency in Academic and Conversational
(4) Negative Emotion, (5) Availability of opportunities to practice speaking.