USING YES NO GAME TO IMPROVE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS SPEAKING ABILITY

Speaking is the essential skill in learning English for students. They use this skill
in conversation. For instance, when students want to ask their teacher or dialogue with
their friends, they have to use English well and they have to speak up more. They also
apply speaking in speech, poetry, and drama. In addition, students have a chance to go
to abroad for continuing their study. Besides, they are able go everywhere all over the
world with English if they can speak in English. Speaking is also useful to express their
feeling and other people can understand what they speak. It also can be used to give
information to someone else. According to Koch (in speaking with a purpose: 16) one
the major purpose of speaking is to inform.
In fact, student gets many difficulties in learning speaking. Besides, their ability
in speaking English is still low. They do not have a community to practice their English,
whereas they have to practice more to be able speaking English fluently. They also get
other problems in speaking in English, such as they are shy to say something in English
because they are afraid to make mistake. They also have lack of vocabulary so they
have limitation words to speak up. Other reason, there is no place or media for the
students to improve their speaking. Some students feel bored in learning speaking
because not all of students like to speak up or teachers explanation that is not too
interesting.
Perhaps, many ways have been done by the teacher to help students improving
their speaking ability. However, it does not show significant result in improving
speaking ability of students. One of the ways that can be solution to help the students
for solving their problem in speaking is using games. Games are good for teacher to
teach students in speaking. Through a game, teacher can make learning speaking
become more interesting for the students. Many kinds of games that teacher can use.
One of the best games is yes no game.
The nature of speaking

Speaking is one of English skill that students should know in learning English.
Speaking English is the main goal of many adult learners. Their personalities play a
large role in determining how quickly and how correctly they will accomplish this goal.
There are some segments that students should know in speaking. They are
pronunciation, vocabulary, and self-confidence. All of that have a relation each other.
They have to have knowledge about vocabulary, they will have a good pronounce. With
a good pronunciation they can speak English fluently; have idea with what they will
talk. And the last, if they have mastered all of that, they will have self-confidence to
speak in English.
1. Vocabulary
Vocabulary is knowledge of words and word meanings. Words come in two
forms: oral and print. Oral vocabulary includes those words that we recognize and use
in listening and speaking. Print vocabulary includes those words that we recognize and
use in reading and writing. Word knowledge also comes in two forms, receptive and
productive. Receptive vocabulary includes words that we recognize when we hear or
see them. Productive vocabulary includes words that we use when we speak or write.
Receptive vocabulary is typically larger than productive vocabulary, and may include
many words to which we assign some meaning, even if we dont know their full
definitions and connotations or ever use them ourselves as we speak and write (Kamil
& Hiebert, in Fran Lehr:2010)
Students use vocabulary to refer to the kind of words that they must know to
speak increasingly demanding native speaker talking. They have to begin by looking
closely at why developing this kind of vocabulary is important to speaking. The
important in knowing the word is we can use the word, understand well about the word,
and use the word in different modes. Knowing a word also implies knowing how that
word relates to other knowledge. The more we know about a specific concept, for
example, the more words we bring to our understanding of that concept. Because we
have individual interests and backgrounds, each of us brings different words to shape
that understanding. (Hiebert Elfrieda: 2010). Finally, knowing a word means being able
to appreciate its connotations and subtleties. When we know a word at this level, we can
use and recognize it in idioms, jokes, slang, and puns (Johnson, Johnson, & Schlicting,
2004).

2. Pronunciation
The goal of pronunciation to the students is not to make them sound like native
speakers of English. The goal is unrealistic with the exception of a few highly gifted and
motivated individuals. A more modest and realistic goal is to enable learners to surpass
the success level so that their pronunciation will not decrease from their ability to
communicate. Pronunciation refers to the production of sounds that we use to make
meaning. It includes attention to the particular sounds of a language (segments), aspects
of speech beyond the level of the individual sound, such as intonation, phrasing, stress,
timing, rhythm (supra segmental aspects), how the voice is projected (voice quality)
and, in its broadest definition, attention to gestures and expressions that are closely
related to the way we speak a language. Each of these aspects of pronunciation is briefly
outlined

below,

and

references

for

further

study

are

suggested.

(http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/pdamep). Pronunciation is the biggest thing that people

notice about our English. We should study it even if we think we can already
communicate in English.
3. Self confidence
Although we may not know it at the moment, there are some factors which make
we feel less confident. An important one is not being in control - or at least not feeling
that we are in control. If we think of situations where we feel less confident, we are
almost certain to recognize that the common factor is that they are beyond our control.
This is why we cannot increase our confidence by practicing for some situations.
The solution here is to learn a system of relaxation that allows us to keep our
mental and physical processes under control. We may not feel totally relaxed, but we
can certainly learn to reduce our stress response, the adrenalin release, and all the
symptoms that go with it, including mental confusion, with the aid of some relaxation
techniques. So, students have to be able master all of components above to get speaking
ability well. But they will not be able without practicing more. The key of mastering
speaking is juts more practice.
Definition of Yes No game
One way to practice students speaking ability is trough games. Game is one of
media in teaching in English. Each of aspects that have been explained above is

consisted in this game. It can become a good media for teacher to teach the students. It
can catch students attention because it will interest students in learning speaking.
As a teaching technique, games are not just time filling activities in the class, but
also have a great educational value. Uberman in Adila (2010) W.R.Lee holds that most
games make learners use the language instantly without thinking about the correct form
of the language itself. So at this phase, the games can lower students anxiety in using
the target language, they are also highly motivating and entertaining so that the shy
students will get more opportunities to express their opinion and feeling.
The game that suit for practicing students English in speaking is Yes No
game. It is the game that will make students like in learning English. In this game, they
are demanded to speak up much. Always speak up is the best way to practice English.
The rule for this game is teacher will give clue to the students. After that students will
try to guess what the teacher mean by asking more question dealing with the clue. The
teacher will respond the students by answering yes or no.
The benefit of using language games
Zdybiewska cited by Uberman (in Adila, 2010) believes that games can be a
good way in practicing the target language that being learned by the children, since they
are able to provide a model of language on what the learners will use in the real life. In
line with that, Mei and Yin (2000) also believe that through playing games, students can
learn English as the way the children learn and say their mother language without being
aware they are studying; thus without stress, the students can learn a lot in learning the
target language. In detail, Kim (1995:35) presents six advantages of using the games in
the classroom, which are:
1. Games are motivating and challenging.
2. Games are as a welcome break from the usual routine of the language
class.
3. Games help the students to make and sustain the effort of learning.
4. Games provide language practice in the various and integrated language
skills.
5. Games encourage students to interact and communicate to each other.
6. Games create a meaningful context for language that is being learned by
the students.

Looking from teacher side, Wright (1984) states that games can help the teacher
to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful. The learners, who
want to take part in the activities, must understand what others are saying or have
written, and in order to do so, the students then must speak or write in expressing their
own point of views or give information.
Why teacher should use this game to improve students speaking
Vocabulary is one of the components that very influence in speaking ability.
Why vocabulary is so important in speaking? By knowing the English vocabulary, the
students are easier to talk something in English. It is the first step to speak, speak
fluency actually. Indeed, students have lack of vocabulary. They get difficult to say
something in English because of that problem.
Usually, students are bored in learning speaking because the subject is not
interesting. Based on the curriculum that teacher taught, the teacher has to build
students understanding and so that they can speak English fluently. So, teacher has to
make the lesson interesting for students so that students will understand easily with the
subject.
By using Yes No game, they will know much about new vocabulary. At least,
they can memorize the vocabulary that they have known but never have they said in
speaking English. They will use the word to guess the word that has given by the
teacher. This game is useful as a media for the students to increase their vocabulary. By
this game students will express their idea to say something because in this game they
are more relaxed. The class situation is not the same as they study before, so they do not
have pressure in speaking.

Usually students are inhibited to say what they want to

say. However, through this game they will do other thing because they have a
competition to guess the word. If they can guess the word, they will be the winner. The
students can speak English Fluently, because they have a limit time to guess the word in
that game. Usually, in a short time students can speak English fluently. They are forced
to know the word. If they cannot, they will not get the score.
Other reason why teacher should this game is reward from teacher. The winner
will get a gift from the teacher. It will motivate the students to do the best. If the

students do not have a motivation, how they can speak English well. Before they can
speak well, they have to have a willing in their heart to be able to speak English. So,
teacher has to be clever in motivating students in learning.
Almost all of students love playing game, it is really contrast when they are
asked to study. Thus, teachers have to find a way to make their students love studying as
same as they love playing. As been talked before, that yes no game can be used as a
media to improve senior high schools students speaking ability. The reason is they love
playing game, they will enjoy it. As it is known that when an activity is done just
because been asked, it will be a bored activity, and finally, they will stop doing that
bored activity. When students love an activity, they will do it repeatedly. Teachers
should not be afraid when their students love playing, because a creative people are
questioning, adaptable, persistent and free with their love of playing game (Matisse and
Frainter in Kids Club Preschool, 2010).
Students will have more self-confidence to speak up because by doing game
they do not fell like studying as usual so they are not afraid to make a mistake. It will
not make their mark minus if they are wrong in talking something and there is no body
judges them in their mistaken. So, the speaking learning purpose will be got if they have
self-confidence to speak in English because will speak up much in speaking class.
Used in this way teacher can use explanations to correct any misconception. She
or he can use the students own contribution in the explanation that is given. This
strategy reward students for their effort, build up their confidence, and increase group
cohesiveness. In so doing it is likely to encourage students to think and contribute again
in subsequent session. (Brown: 1988)
The Implementation of game in speaking
The game that is suitable for practicing their English in speaking is yes no
game. Yes no game is a game that will make students like learning speaking. In this
game, students are demanded to speak up much. Always speak up is the best way in
practicing speaking English.

This game is not too difficult to do. First, the teacher divides the students in
some group, one group has four members. According to Brown (1988: 56), the purpose
to make the students in small group is to get students to talk, to think, personal growth,
and competence. It can be done to develop students communication skills, intellectual
and professional competence, and personal growth. In the group, the students choose
one of them as a leader. The leader will guide the members in the game. She or he just
may talk about three words, yes, no, and can be.
Second, teacher gives a word to the leader. Then, the other members should
guess the word exactly. The members will ask some questions to the leader. Hamiltons
in Atkins (1988: 69) said that the whole of teaching and learning is shot through with
the art of questioning. The members have to ask questions from general questions to
specific questions and the leader just answer that questions by yes, no, and can be. For
example, the leader gets a word cat. Then, other members ask questions such as is it
living thing? Then the leader answers yes. The members will think if it living thing, it
will be human, animal, and plants. They will ask it to the leader until they can guess the
word. But the teacher has to give limitation time in order they can guess it fast and
correctly. If one group cannot answer the word, the teacher can give a chance for other
group to guess it like what previous group did.
In this game, the students are demanded to ask general question first. It will help
them to find the characteristic of the word that they will guess. They will speak up more
than in general class because they have like competition, they have to guess the word,
so they have to ask their leader whatever that has possibility relationship with the word.
For example, the other members ask, Is it living thing? If the leader answers no, the
member can think directly that it is not a living thing. So they will ask many things that
is possibility the answer. They will think many words that they will ask to the leader. It
will make them memorize the vocabulary they have known and learned.
How to use yes no game
Teacher should follow these steps to hold this game:
1. Teacher divides students into some group. Each group consists of five or six
students.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Students point one of their friend become a leader

A leader of one group stand up in front of their friend
Teacher give a word to the leader
The members of the group guess the word with general questions to specific

one until they can guess the word

6. The questions that can be asked of the members just yes no question
7. The leader may answer the questions by yes, no, and can be
8. If the leader say something except the three words, the group will lost
9. If they can guess it, they will get mark
10. If the group cannot answer or guess the word, it can be answered by another
group and they will get a half of that mark
11. One group just have fifteen minutes to answer that word

Conclusion
Learning English is so useful for the students, especially if students can speak English
from it. It is hard for students to speak in English as a foreign language because they
have lack of opportunity to practice English in their life. In teaching English, teachers
need yes no game in order students can practice English and students can interest in
learning English. Through this game students will talk, ask question, listen, and give
responds. They will practice what they get from the game in their daily life. Their ability
will be increased and they can speak English well. The purpose of speaking learning
will be achieved- the students can speak English fluently and correctly. This game is
suitable for teacher use in teaching speaking. The teacher can make class interesting,
enjoyable, and motivating while teaching.

REFERENCES
Brown, George and Atkins, M. 1988. Effective Teaching in Higher
Education. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd
Ersoz, Aydan. 2000. From 'Six Games for the EFL/ESL Classroom'.
From http://www.teflgames.com/why.html

Kim, Lee. 1995. From 'Creative Games for the Language Class'. From
http://www.teflgames.com/why.html
Koch, Arthur. Speaking with a purpose.
Mei, Yin. 2000. Using Games in an EFL Class for Children. From
http://www.teflgames.com/why.html
Schmitt, Norbert. 1997. Vocabulary: description, acquisition and
pedagogy. Cambridge: Cambridge University press
Szynalski, Tomasz. 2010. Learning English Pronunciation. From
http://supertoolbar.ask.com/
http://www.take-your-power.com/self-confidence.html. What is selfconfidence?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. Vocabulary wikipedia
http://www.cdtl.nus.edu.sg/success/sl39.htm. Speaking Up In Class
http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/speaking/goalsspeak.htm. Teaching
Speaking Goals and Techniques for Teaching Speaking
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/esl/speaking.cfm.
Teaching Speaking