Penggunaan Talkpal AI sebagai Mitra Berbicara dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berbicara Bahasa Inggris Siswa = Using Talkpal AI as a Speaking Partner: A Study on Students’ English-Speaking Skill Improvement

Ebenheizer Putra Masiku. Using Talkpal AI as a Speaking Partner: A Study on Students' English Speaking Skill Improvement (Supervised by Sitti Sahraeny). Background. Speaking skills are essential for English communication, yet many Indonesian EFL students struggle due to limited practice opportunities and low confidence. Conventional methods often fail to provide sufficient speaking practice, highlighting the need for innovative learning tools. Aims. This study examines the effectiveness of Talkpal AI as a speaking partner in improving students' English-speaking skills and identifies which speaking components improve the most. Method. This study employed a quantitative pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design. The participants were 11 students from the English Club at SMAN 1 Toraja Utara selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through speaking tests and a questionnaire. The treatment consisted of using Talkpal AI for 21 days. Results. The mean score increased from 10.45 in the pre-test to 12.64 in the post-test. The paired sample t-test (t = 4.92 > 2.228, p < 0.05) indicated a significant improvement with a very large effect size (d = 1.48). Vocabulary showed the highest improvement (32.25%), followed by grammar (23.08%), pronunciation (18.75%), and fluency (7.69%). Questionnaire results showed that 81.9% of students perceived vocabulary improvement and 72.8% reported increased confidence. Conclusion. Thus, using Talkpal AI as a speaking partner has proven effective in improving students' English-speaking skills, particularly in vocabulary development, while also enhancing their confidence and motivation.