Speak Up, Little Storytellers! Building Confidence Through Language and Poetry

Abstract

This study aimed to explore how language activities, particularly poetry, can help young students build confidence in speaking. Using a qualitative approach, the research focused on 10 elementary school students from MIN 2 Pringsewu, aged 7 to 9 years old, who were identified as needing support in speaking confidently. The study involved a series of creative language activities over several weeks, including group storytelling, rhyming games, and poetry writing. The objective was to observe how these activities could influence the students' speaking confidence and self-expression. The study was conducted in several steps: building trust with the students, assessing their initial speaking confidence, introducing language and poetry activities, guiding them through poetry creation, and observing their willingness to share their work with peers. A final observation and informal interviews were conducted to assess changes in confidence levels. The findings revealed that the students showed significant improvement in their speaking confidence throughout the program. By the end of the study, many students who were initially shy and reluctant to speak were more willing to share their poems in front of the class, particularly during the "Poetry Day" event. The results suggest that creative language activities, such as poetry, can be an effective tool for helping children overcome speaking anxiety and build confidence in a supportive environment.