Students’ Speaking Proficiency Using Picture Series: A Descriptive Quantitative Study

Abstract

This study aims to describe the speaking proficiency level of students using the picture series. This study uses a quantitative descriptive research design. The population in this study are Ummi Maryam’s students of Sunan Drajat Islamic Boarding School, with a sample of 10 university-level students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through a speaking test based on a series of pictures titled "The Monkey and The Crocodile." Student performance was assessed using Brown's speaking assessment rubric having scale score 1-5, including five aspects: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The results of the study show that the students' average score is 72.8%, placing their speaking proficiency in the average category. Specifically, 3 students (30%) fall into the good category, 5 students (50%) into the average category, and 2 students (20%) into the poor category. The findings revealed that picture series is effective in stimulating fluency and comprehension (highest score 40), helping students maintain logical flow without significant pauses. However, grammar remains the weakest aspect (lowest score 31), marked by inconsistent use of tenses. The low standard deviation value (7.00) indicates that speaking ability among students tends to be homogeneous, which suggests that picture series provides a stable and consistent influence in helping students organize their thoughts. This study concludes that although picture series is a powerful tool for improving confidence and speaking fluency, further emphasis on grammatical accuracy and vocabulary variation is needed to achieve a higher level of proficiency.