The correlation between learning style and students’ speaking ability at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabungan

This research discussed about the correlation between learning style and students’ speaking ability at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabungan. The problems of this research most of the students do not understand about learning style, in learning language many students are not understanding of their own way in learning when they study and also most of the students felt difficult in speaking English, they never speak English, they are lazy to practice English, lack of motivation, and lack of speaking practice. The aim of this research was to verify the correlation between learning style and students’ speaking ability at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabungan. This research employed quantitative research and the method was correlation method. The population of this research was at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabungan. Then, the sample of the research was 18 person from class VIII-1, 10 person class VIII-2, 10 person class VIII-3, 6 person class VIII-4, 6 person class VIII-5, and 5 person class VIII-6. Total of sample determine by Slovin formula with error level take 10% so, total of sample is 55 person. To collect the data, researcher used questionnaire for learning style and test to know students’ speaking ability and then researcher collected the test by record. To analyze the data, the researcher used tcount. Based on the result of the research, researcher showed the description of the data, and it found that the result calculating which was gotten the value of the correlation product moment rxy between variable of X-1, X-2, X-3 and Y. So, visual learning style (X-1) was -0,635, auditory learning style (X-2) was 0,199, and kinesthetic learning style (X-3) was -0,156. It means there is correlation between learning style and students’ speaking ability at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabungan. The correlation is very low (0-20%). Next testing the significant with formula tcount in significant level 5% by looking ttable is 1,674. So, visual learning style (X-1) was (-3,902˂1,674) or (tcount˂ttable), auditory learning style (X-2) was (1,479˂1,674) or (tcount˂ttable), and kinesthetic learning style (X-3) was (1,122˂1,674) or (tcount˂ttable). It means there is no any significant correlation between learning style and students’ speaking ability at grade VIII SMP Negeri 6 Panyabunga