Students’ Direct Strategies in Speaking English of the Third Graders at Vocational High School of Ma’arif V Kebumen

Speaking strategies are important for effective communication. This study investigated the
speaking strategies used by students in English class. The researchers used surveys and interviews to
collect data from 60 students at Vocational High School of Ma’arif V Kebumen. It was done from
March-April 2023. The study results show that students have used a variety of direct speaking
strategies in purpose to improve their speaking skills. The research identified three types of direct
strategies to be used which include memory, cognition, and compensation strategies. Among of those
three types strategies, three learning activities were considered to be the most frequently used,
namely placing, role-playing, and mother tongue. The study suggests that a combination of the types
of direct strategies can be effective in improving speaking skills. Teachers should consider using a
variety of strategies to help their students improve their speaking skills.
Keyword: Direct strategies, speaking skills, effective, communication