The Correlation between Students Grammar Mastery and Speaking Ability of the Eighth Grade Students at Smpn 5 Sojol Indonesia

This research was motivated by the problem experienced by some of the eighth grade students at SMPN 5 Sojol Donggala Central Sulawesi Indonesia. It was identified that the students found it difficult to speak English properly. The research used quantitative research with correlational design to examine the correlation between students’ grammar mastery and their speaking ability. The technique used for collecting data used was written and oral tests. The research used random sampling technique to determine research sample. The researcher used person product moment correlation to analyze research data. Based on the results of the correlation analysis between grammar mastery and speaking ability using the formula of r (0,589), it was found that the index was in the interval of 0.40 -0.70. This suggested that between X variable and Y variable there was medium correlation with the variable degree of freedom (df) N-nr = 30-2 = 28. By consulting to ‘r’table product moment, it was found in the table of significance of 1% it was obtained 0.4226 and of 5% was 0.361. By comparing the values of rxy = 0.589 and ‘r’table 0.4226 and 0.361, the assumption was made that rxy was bigger than ‘r’table or in short 0.361 ≤ 0.589 ≥ 0.4226. Therefore, this supported the alternative hypothesis to be accepted. It could be concluded that there was a medium correlation between grammar mastery and speaking ability of the eighth grade students’ at SMPN 5 Sojol. The medium correlation between grammar mastery and speaking ability of the eight grade students of SMP 5 Sojol indicates that while grammar is important, it should be taught in conjunction with other skills in a communicative, integrated manner. This approach will better equip students to become effective speakers of English, as they will develop the ability to use grammar flexibly and appropriately in real-life communication.