THE EFFECT OF ENGLISH PRACTICE COMMUNITY ON PUBLIC SPEAKING CONFIDENCE OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT STUDENTS

The objective of the English community of practice program administered by
students is to provide students with an opportunity to enhance their English
proficiency and to acquire additional exposure and time for English learning,
given that they do not receive further time in conventional classes. The purpose of
this research is to investigate the effect on students' confidence when speaking. In
this study used quantitative descriptive methods and two forms of instruments,
namely a questionnaire and an interview. The research subjects were all members
of the English Club of the EDSA at the University of Bengkulu with a total of 31
students. The results from the questionnaire show that the English Club is
perceived as highly effective in building confidence and improving English-
speaking language skills and confidence, with the highest scores reflecting these
areas. The statements about the club’s influence on English language usage are
captured, with mean scores consistently ranging from 2,87 to 3,00. All of them
fell into the high and very high categories. The results of the interviews show the
majority of respondents agreed that the English Community has a significant
positive impact on increasing their confidence in speaking English. Additionally,
they show greater ease in understanding the speaker's intent and effectively
expressing their opinions in public settings. Involvement in the club also enhances
students' understanding of how to present opinions, ideas, and arguments in
English in a more structured and confident manner.
Keywords: Students’ Speaking Confidence, Community of Practice.