Abstract:
In this study, the aims of the research are to know the students‟ competence of the second grade students of SMA N 1 Buluspesantren in pronouncing English closing diphthongs and to know the students‟ problems of the second grade students of SMA N 1 Buluspesantren in pronouncing English closing diphthongs.
The researcher conducts a qualitative research with descriptive qualitative research design. the researcher uses documentation technique to collect the data. In collecting the data, the researcher asks the students to read the pronunciation test and gives an interview about English closing diphthongs. Firstly, the researcher prepares the research instrument. Secondly, she gives the pronunciation test of English closing diphthongs (eI, əu, aI, au,ɔI) to the students. Thirdly, she records the student voice by using tape recorder. Fourthly, she classifies the students‟ competence in pronouncing English closing diphthongs. Fifthly, she makes an interview with some students to know the problems faced by the students in pronouncing English closing diphthong. Sixth, she collects the answer from the students to be analyzed. Seventh, the researcher collects all the data. Eighth, she makes summary of the result from the data. While in analyzing the data, the researcher uses three steps of analyzing data. Those are data reduction, data display, and conclusion.
The result of the research shows that the students‟ competence in pronouncing English closing diphthongs at the second grade students‟ of SMA N 1 Buluspesantren in the academic year of 2012/ 2013 is fairly sufficient. The result of the test from 27 students of the students‟ competence is as follows: no student gets score classified into excellent category, 2 students (7,40%) are classified into good category, 9 students (33,33%) are classified into sufficient category, 14 students (51,85%) are classified into fairly sufficient category, and 2 students (7,40%) are classified into poor category. The dominance errors in pronouncing English closing diphthongs face by the students is diphthong /əu/. Based on the interview faced by the students in pronouncing English closing diphthongs, the factors that influence the students‟ competence in pronouncing English closing diphthongs are namely being difficult in learning English, low frequency of use of English in daily activities, and the influence of mother tongue. The students get problems between pronouncing English and bahasa indonesia. The teacher never gave a pronunciation lesson in the class. Last of all, most of the students are not interested in learning English closing diphthong.
