The Implementation of Teaching Speaking in Merdeka Curriculum at SMP Negeri 3 Percut Sei Tuan

This study aimed to (1) analyze how the teacher implements Recount Text in teaching
speaking for recount text through teaching activities in Merdeka Curriculum at SMP
Negeri 3 Percut Sei Tuan and (2) to identify the challenges that the teacher faces in
implementing the teaching speaking for recount text in Merdeka Curriculum at SMP
Negeri 3 Percut Sei Tuan. The type of research used was descriptive qualitative study. The
data were collected through the observation of the teaching and interview with the teacher.
The data were analyzed by using data collection, data condensation, data display, and
conclusion drawing. The findings showed that (1) the teacher implemented several
communicative teaching activities such as narrating incident or story-telling, pair work,
role play and group discussion, which helped students understand the material, engage
actively, and improve participation; and (2) the teacher encountered both internal
challenges (such as students’ lack of confidence, limited vocabulary, and hesitation to
speak English) and external challenges (such as limited classroom time, different levels of
student competence and the need for continuous institutional support).