Enhancing English Proficiency among DKM1 Students: Improving Communicative Skills using WhatsApp Application

Abstract

The action research is aimed to improve communicative skills among students in carrying out group discussion. This research involved 40 students from DKM1S3 of Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin June 2017 session. The objective of the research is to increase students’ performance in carrying out group discussion with the help of Whatsapp Application. The methodologies used are quantitative and qualitative methods. The data collection was gathered through pre-test and post-test and questionnaire. Based on the data gathered in pre-test, it was found that 60% of the students only managed to score C and another 40% D for their interactive skills in group discussion. Therefore, several actions were implemented in order to help the students improved their communicative skills. The action plans conducted include implementation of various communicative activities in class such as role-play, debate, games and practising the skills through WhatsApp Application. Based on the actions conducted, the post-test result has shown positive improvement in their communicative skills where 2.5% and 6% of the students managed to score A and B respectively. It was supported by their positive feedback on the questionnaire given. The results of the action implemented showed that the communicative skills among the students could be improved if they are given suitable methods and platform to encourage them to practice their skills.