Creating cooperative-communicative learning environment in speaking class through think-pair-share and roleplay: An action research at STIBA IEC Jakarta

An attempt to increase students’ skills in Speaking English at STIBA IEC Jakarta is the aim of this study. It addressed to the main technique in Speaking class that had not been successful because the students performed role-play with a lack of cooperation in the preliminary observation. Besides lacking cooperation, they didn’t get autonomy to manage their own practices in groups to improve speaking using role-play, and the teacher didn’t give the students enough time to get more or less balanced group work. It sparked the researcher to create a better learning environment by combining techniques of think-pair-share from cooperative approach role-play. Although role-play is derived from a cooperative approach, the students’ interaction in groups became monotonous and did not have enough coordination without the think-pair-share technique. The findings indicated that the combined techniques encouraged them to be more cooperative, communicative, and autonomous while speaking through role-playing. It was the reason why they needed to prepare their role-play properly through think-pair-share so that they were able to intensify their speaking practices. The cooperative and communicative approach within activities implemented in think-pair-share and role-play made them independently contribute to their groups to practice speaking more efficiently. After three cycles, they were able to improve their English speaking skills significantly in the action research.