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a. Spelling and mentioning the words that have been learnt in correct pronunciation.
b. Asking and answering simple questions. c. Carry out a short and simple conversation fluently.
Speaking is one of the four major skills that the students should acquire. As stated in the curriculum, the standard of competence of speaking is the use of
language variations accurately and fluently in daily life. From the basic competencies, the students should at least be able to communicate using English
in daily life.
C. Comic Strips
This sub-chapter describes important matters concerning information of comic strips. It is presented in four sub-headings. Those are definitions of comic
strips, comic strips in teaching speaking, implementation of comic strips in teaching speaking and the last is the effort of using comic strips in teaching
speaking.
1. Definition of comic strips
Comic strips can be used as educational media in teaching and learning process. The definitions of comic strips are variously defined by some experts.
First, Mc Cloud 1993 says that comic or comic strips are a composed pictures or other image which are arranged in purposeful sequence which is aimed to convey
information and visual response from the images. He also adds that comic can be
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educational media which have strength to motivate students in learning. In addition, Sudjana 2002: 64 defines a comic as a kind of cartoon form expressing
character and playing a story in sequences of closely related drawing and it is designed to give fun to the readers. It contains sequential brief and interesting
stories with complete the action. Comics also appear in newspaper and books. Supporting this, Hornby 1987: 168 states that comic is books or magazines
which contains story in the form of drawing. Inside the comic, there are strips and images that present conversations using certain expressions.
From the theories above, it can be concluded that comic strips or comics are an art which have sequence of stories about the characteristics and events in
the form of picture. It can be humorous, mystery, adventure, love, and etc. The variation of comic strips is explored to be used as media in teaching speaking as
the model and guidance for the students to speak fluently and grammatically correct.
2. Roles of comic strips in teaching speaking
Comic or comic strips are an art work which has sequence of stories about characteristics and events in the form of picture which can be humorous, mystery,
adventure, love. It can not only entertain the reader with funny or mystery story, but also be used as an authentic material or media in teaching speaking.
In addition, Oller in Csabay 2006: 24 states that comic strips can be used as media in teaching and it can contain authentic materials. It has been known
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that using authentic materials is very important in language teaching and learning. One of the reasons is it can help the students to deal with spoken or written
language. The facial expressions of comic figure inspire students to interpret the thought based on the expression. As well, the message story in comic provides
the students with something to narrate or describe. Besides, it can also stimulate and motivate students during the speaking activities and it can give students a
refreshing new focus to practice their spoken language. Supporting this, Hutchinson 1949: 236-245 says that comic or comic strips included material
which can be used as sources in classroom activities. Based on the explanation above, the teachers with their creativity in
creating and exploring media or materials should really consider to the use of comic strips in teaching, especially teaching speaking. It is due to the significance
of the use of comic strips as stated above which says that the features of comic strips, such as comic figure, facial expressions and talks can be used as media in
teaching speaking to stimulate and assist the students to produce their spoken language.
3. The implementation of comic strips in teaching speaking
Comic or comic strips are one of media which can arouse students’ motivation in language class. That is why; the use of comic strips is needed to be
implemented in teaching speaking. According to Csabay 2006: 24 comic or
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comic strips is not only amuse and interest students but also it can be used as media in education.
In addition, he also suggests that there are some activities which can be implemented by using comic strips in language class, especially in speaking.
Combining with retelling story, the comic strips are arranged into disordered panel of comic strips. The students are asked to retell the comic strips after
completing the comic strips into proper sequence to tell the story in the form of speaking exercises. In a variation of this exercise, the teacher can remove the
speech or thought bubbles of the comic strips, copies of both the comic strips and the next of the bubbles to the students. The students’ task is to figure out the
proper order of the speech of thoughts. For the advanced learner, the tasks can be made more difficult by giving a
different panel to each student in group and asking students to describe to the rest of the group what is on their panels. The students should not show their picture to
each other until they have figured out the correct order for the panels. The other way of implementing comic strips is speaking is role-play. In
this activity, the teacher provides a comic strip from which the last panel is cut out. After that, the students are asked to continue the story and decide with an
ending by themselves. Actually, this activity similar to the first activity but the end of activity the students act out their stories in class, based on the character in
that comic.
