THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN SPEAKING MATERIALS AND DEBATE SPEAKING COMPETENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT AT FOURTH SEMESTER MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF BENGKULU

Students’ interest in speaking learning materials is one way that helps effectiveness in
the teaching and learning process. This research attempted to investigate the
correlation between students’ interest in speaking materials and debate speaking
competence. Then, to investigate the correlation between students’ interest in speaking
materials and achievement. The samples of this research were twenty one students
from English education at Muhammadiyah University of Bengkulu. This research used
four instruments, these are: questionnaire, interview, speaking test and documentation
of achievement. This research used mix method, namely quantitative approach by using
the correlational study as its method and qualitative method. The data were analysed by
using application SPSS 25. The students’ interest in speaking materials used theory from
Gage and Barliner. Speaking materials taught to students’ used a book from Johnson,
namely winning debates. In the debate speaking competence there are several things
that are assessed from students, namely pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, fluency,
and comprehension. The findings showed the correlation between students’ interest in
speaking materials and debate speaking competence at English student Muhammadiyah
University of Bengkulu were a correlation value of 0.587 and a sig value of 0.005, which
means that the value is said to be significant and positively correlated. Furthermore, the
correlation between students’ interest in speaking materials and speaking learning
achievement were a correlation value of 0.460 and a sig value of 0.036, which means
that the value is said to be significant and positively correlated. In conclusion, interest in
speaking materials gives a positive influence between debate speaking competence and
achievement.
Keywords: interest, speaking materials, speaking competence, achievement