Students' Perception of Speaking Materials In The “English For Nusantara” Textbook For Seventh Grade Of Smp Negeri 7 Medan

This research aims to investigates (1) the types of students’ perceptions toward the
speaking materials in the English for Nusantara textbook and (2) the factors
influencing those perceptions among seventh grade students at SMP Negeri 7
Medan. This research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method. The
data were collected through questionnaires and structured interviews involving 30
students. Questionnaire data were analyzed using a Likert scale, while interview
data were analyzed descriptively. The results of this research showed that the
majority of students had positive perceptions with the percentage 61.78%, while
negative perceptions accounted for 38.8%. Positive perceptions were reflected in
students’ acceptance, enjoyment, utilization, and perceived support of the
speaking materials, indicating that the materials were understandable, interesting,
and useful for improving students’ speaking skills. Meanwhile, negative
perceptions appeared at a relatively low level and were mainly related to students’
lack of familiarity with vocabulary and feelings of anxiety when speaking
English. Furthermore, the interview findings revealed that students’ perceptions
were influenced by three main factors: the perceiver, the target, and the situation,
as proposed by Robbins (2002). The perceiver factor was the most dominant, as
students’ motivation, confidence, interest, and personal beliefs strongly shaped
their perceptions. Students with high motivation and confidence tended to respond
positively, whereas students with low English proficiency and speaking anxiety
were more likely to develop negative perceptions.