PROPOSING A NEW METHOD FOR SPEAKING SKILL: SOMET METHOD

The aim of the research is to develop a new method about speaking skill and state the effect and practicality of this method on students. SOMET method is developed and carried out based on body of literature by researchers. Somet method consists of six steps; giving information about method, determining teams, electing learders, giving the topics and discussing with the team, the team members’ speaking in turn and evaluation of the team. The mixed method was used in the research. Pretest-Posttest control group experimental type was used to find out the effect of SOMET method on students. Besides that, students and teachers’ opinion was asked about the practice of SOMET method. The working group is comprised of experimental and control groups. They are 82 fourth grade elementary school students. While SOMET method was being applied on experimental group, teachers’ book practices are given to control group. This study was carried out by six participants and within six weeks. Before the research was given to students, reading comprehension test was used to measure pre and post comprehension skills of the student. Also, half-structured interviewing form for the teacher’s opinion about SOMET method and focus group interviewing form for the students’ opinion about SOMET method is used. The research reveals that SOMET method became effective on students' comprehension skills. According to teachers’ and students’ opinion, it reduces the public speaking anxiety and speaking in front of the class, boosts the self confidence, improves fluent speaking skill, decreases ambiguity and in coherency during speaking, stops students go off the subject and helps them to speak in content integrity. Therefore, as one of the speaking skill method SOMET is suggested to teachers and Turkish curriculum preparer.