Improving EFL Students' English Speaking Skills at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara through the Cake Application

Abstract

The integration of technology has a profound impact on education, particularly in language learning. For English language learners, especially in enhancing speaking skills, various mobile applications are available to support their studies and improve their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. One such tool is the Cake English application, which provides a user-friendly and free platform for learning English speaking skills. This study aims to implement the Cake application as a resource for teaching English speaking to 6th-semester students in the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara. The study addresses the issue of students struggling with pronunciation and confidence in speaking English. Employing a classroom action research method, the researchers used several stages such as planning, acting, observing, reflecting, and then re-planning further implementation along with observing and reflecting. The research seeks to determine how the Cake application supports English speaking practice in an online learning setting. Findings reveal that students find the Cake application engaging due to its ease of use and the diverse features it offers to enhance speaking skills.