Background of the Study

problem. Problems that were found that support the importance of this research are on the following explanations. The first one is that there are some problems of G rade XI students of Office Administration Department of SMK PGRI 1 Sentolo in mastering speaking ability. The researcher found that the students in this class lacked speaking ability. The cause of their difficulties in improving their speaking ability comes from various reasons. It either comes from the lack of exposure, students’ reluctance to learn speaking, their anxiety about speaking, the fear of making foolish mistakes, their lack of confidence in showing their ability in oral language, etc. The second problem is that the method to teach speaking is monotonous and not varied. The method that was used to teach speaking in this class wa s only using students’ worksheets or LKS and there is not any other variation. Usually, students will easily get bored when the monotonous method of teaching and learning is repeated every single day. It makes them reluctant to deepen their speaking skill. The next problem is that the students are nervous when they are asked to practice speaking by the teacher. The nervousness comes from various reasons. They are usually not confident enough with their speaking skill. They also feel anxious when they have to face their teacher directly. Usually, they are afraid of making mistakes and upsetting the teacher. The forth problem is that the students are more interested when they learn while playing. The second case stated that the lack of variation of speaking activity caused the teaching and learning process to be monotonous and not interesting. However, the students can enjoy the teaching and learning process even more when some game is involved. The last problem is that the students are more comfortable if they are practicing English with friends. The third case indicated that practicing English with a teacher makes them anxious and nervous. Students feel more comfortable and less nervous if they practice it with classmates, moreover through playing games.

C. Problem Limitation

As the statement has been raised before, speaking is the standard indication of a successful language acquisition. However, there are some obstacles that keep students from mastering speaking ability. From the various obstacles, the use of monotonous and not so varied method in teaching speaking that makes students not interested in teaching and learning process becomes the researcher’s main concern. To answer that problem, this research will prove that playing detective games can help students improve their English speaking ability. The research will focus on the practice of the students’ speaking skill.

D. Problem Formulation

In line with the limitation of the problem above, the problem formulation of this research is “Can playing detective games help students improve their ability in speaking?”

E. Research Objective

Based on the problem limitation, the objective of this research is to improve the speaking ability of Grade XI students of Office Administration Department of SMK PGRI I Sentolo through playing detective games.

F. Research Significance

This study is expected to give contribution to English teaching and learning process. The significance of this research benefits three different elements, the teacher, the students, and the researcher herself. From the teacher ’s point of view, this research helps and encourages them to make a more interesting and relaxing atmosphere in the teaching and learning process of speaking. With the change of atmosphere, the students are expected to show better results in the form of improvement in their speaking ability. For the students, this research helps them to learn how to improve their ability and mastery in speaking. The relaxing atmosphere and fun