THE EFFECT OF USING U-DICTIONARY APPLICATION INIMPROVING STUDENTS’ PRONUNCIATION AT SUNGAI APIT STATE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (SMP N 2)

Abstract

English pronunciation is a major challenge for Indonesian students, especially after the removal of English subjects from state elementary schools. The primary factors contributing to this difficulty are the influence of the mother tongue and the lack of exposure to native pronunciation. This study aims to determine the effect of using the U-Dictionary application in improving the pronunciation skills of eighth-grade students (Class VIII-2) at SMP N 2 Sungai Apit. The research employed a quantitative method with an experimental design, involving 30 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through a pre-test, treatment, and post-test. The findings revealed that the average pre-test score was 42.1, which increased to 52.4 in the post-test. Statistical analysis showed a significance value (Sig. 2-tailed) of 0.000, which is lower than 0.050, indicating that the alternative hypothesis is accepted. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the use of the U-Dictionary application positively contributes to students' pronunciation improvement. Therefore, this application can serve as an alternative learning tool for English pronunciation instruction in the future.