An Analysis of Ice-Breaking Questions Technique on Students’ Participation in Speaking Activities

Penulis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31000/globish.v15i1.14466

Kata Kunci:

ice-breaking questions, students’ participation, speaking activities, students’ perception, EFL classroom

Abstrak

This study analyzed the use of ice-breaking questions as a technique to improve students' participation in English speaking activities. Many students in EFL classrooms remained passive during speaking sessions due to anxiety, low confidence, and lack of motivation. The research aimed to describe how the teacher implemented the technique and to explore students’ perceptions of its influence on their participation in speaking activities. A qualitative case study approach was used, involving 5 students from grade X Dance 4 at SMK Negeri 1 Kasihan. Data were collected through classroom observations, field notes, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings showed that the teacher regularly used various types of ice-breaking questions, including WH-questions and funny questions, before starting the lesson. Students stated that the technique made them feel more relaxed, confident, and motivated to speak. The use of ice-breaking questions successfully created a positive classroom atmosphere that supported student interaction and active speaking participation.

Biografi Penulis

  • Mei Rohamah, Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta
    Mei Rohamah is an undergraduate student in the English Language Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta. Her academic interests include English speaking participation, classroom interaction, and the implementation of social constructivism in language learning. Her recent explores the use of ice-breaking question techniques to foster students' verbal participation in English speaking classes, grounded in the principles of social constructivism.
  • Nafisah Endahati, Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta
    Nafisah Endahati, M.Hum is a lecturer at Universitas PGRI Yogyakarta with an academic background in humanities and English education. She has experience in supervising undergraduate research and has contributed to various scholarly activities in the field of language learning. Her interests include classroom practice, student engagement, and pedagogical innovation within English education.

Referensi

Abbasi, I. A., & Anthony, E. (2024). Group Work as a Contributing Factor for Language Use and Oral Fluency in EFL Classroom. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(4), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i4.6669

Akkasorn, S. (2021). Improving the Secondary Students’ Confidence in English Speaking Skill Through Integrated CLT Techniques.

Alfian, H., & Azis, A. (2023). THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ICE-BREAKER ACTIVITY TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILL. 3(1).

Bahadorfar, M., & Omidvar, R. (2014). TECHNOLOGY IN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL. In Acme International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. http://www.aijmr.net

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology.

Celebi, S. (2009). ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING DEPARTMENT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON ANXIETY IN ENGLISH CLASSROOMS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENGLISH Songül ÇELEBİ.

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Pearson.

Darong, H. C., Kadarisman, A. E., Basthomi, Y., Suryati, N., Hidayati, M., & Mena Niman, E. (2020). What Aspects of Questions Do Teachers Give Attention To? In International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change. www.ijicc.net (Vol. 10, Issue 11). www.ijicc.net

Daulay, S. H., Lubis, Y., Damanik, E. S. D., Wandini, R. R., & Putri, F. A. (2021). Does Pictionary Game Effective for Students’ Speaking Skill? Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics, 6(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.21462/jeltl.v6i1.486

Delwita. (2018). Delwita Penilaian Proses : Suatu Strategi untuk Meningkatkan Partisipasi Siswa Penilaian Proses: Suatu Strategi untuk Meningkatkan Partisipasi Siswa Berbicara Bahasa Inggris Jurnal Sosial dan Ilmu Ekonomi. Jurnal Sosial Dan Ilmu Ekonomi, lll, 21–32. https://ojs.fkipummy.ac.id/index.php/jusieJUSIE

Dincer, A. (2020). Proficient Speakers of English as a Foreign Language: A Focus-Group Study. In IAFOR Journal of Education: Language Learning in Education (Vol. 8).

Elinda Andita, P. (2019). THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SPEAKING ENGLISH ANXIETY AT THE EIGHT GRADE STUDENTS’ SPEAKINGSKILL. An English-Indonesian Journal for English, Education and Culture, 8(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.31000/globish.v7i2

Farhanah Pratiwi, Z., & Ayu, M. (2020). The Use of Describing Picture Strategy to Improve Secondary Students’ Speaking Skill. In Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning (JELTL) (Vol. 1, Issue 2). http://jim.teknokrat.ac.id/index.php/english-language-teaching/index

Garcia Ponce, E. E. (2016). AN ANALYSIS OF INTERACTIONS IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS IN MEXICO: Implications of classroom behaviour and beliefs for speaking practice.

Gita, Y., Lengari, P., & Pavita, M. D. A. (2023). The Students’ Perception toward Warming-Up Activities in Increasing the Motivation in Learning Maritime English II. 7(2).

Halimah, N. (2023). Analisis pembelajaran berdiferensiasi sebagai bentuk implementasi kebijakan kurikulum merdeka. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 8(1), 5019–5019. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v8i1.7552

Haryanti, A. P., & Yuliana, R. (2024). Psychological Factors Influencing Students’ Anxiety in Speaking English. An English-Indonesian Journal for English, Education and Culture, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.31000/globish.v7i2

Huynh, N. (2022). Teachers’ Perceptions on Questioning Strategies at Pre-Speaking Stage in EFL Classroom Interaction – A Case of a University of Mekong Delta. International Journal of Language Instruction, 1(1), 53–64. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijli.22116

Jamaliah, F. & E. N. (2024). THE EFFICACY OF ICE-BREAKING ACTIVITIES IN ENHANCING STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.

Kane, E. F., & Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill. www.routledge.com

Khalaf, K. (2023). An exploration into teachers’ attitudes and use of warm-up activities in the English classroom: The case study of third-year primary school teachers Board of Examiners.

Khan Monib, W., & ur Rahman Hadi, H. (2025). Determinant Factors Influencing English Speaking Skill among Undergraduates: Challenges and Remedial Strategies. Acuity: Journal of English Language Pedagogy, Literature, and Culture, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.35974/acuity.v10i1.3351

Kirby, J. (2022). Using ice-breakers to encourage classroom confidence. In Ideas for Active Learning. University of Sussex Library. https://doi.org/10.20919/opxr1032/64

Listyaningrum Arifin, W. (2017). Psychological Problems and Challenge In EFL Speaking Classroom. Register Journal, 10(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.18326/rgt.v10i1.29-47

Ma, X. (2008). The Skills of Teacher’s Questioning in English Classes (Vol. 1, Issue 4). www.ccsenet.org/journal.html

Mahayuni, D., & Yulinda, M. N. (2023). An Analysis of Students’ Anxiety in Learning English Speaking Skills at the Tenth Grade Students of SMAN 3 Singaraja. Jurnal Penelitian Mahasiswa Indonesia, 3.

Namasivayam, P., Singh, C. K. S., Mostafa, N. A., Janoory, L., & Abdullah, M. S. (2017). Improving ESL Students’ Descriptive Writing through Wh-Question Technique. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(7). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v7-i7/3091

Nisa Khusnia, A. (2016). INTERESTING ICE BREAKING ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE STUDENTS’ BOREDOM IN CLASS.

Perbina, S., Sitepu, B., Stkip, A. I., & Binjai, B. (2021). THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING IN WH-QUESTIONS AND THEIR SPEAKING ABILITY IN EXPRESSION OF ASKING AND GIVING OPINIONS OF THE EIGHTH YEAR STUDENTS OF SMP SWASTA HARAPAN BANGSA KUALA. In Jurnal Serunai Ilmu Pendidikan (Vol. 7, Issue 1).

Reffalleo, A. (2024). INVESTIGATING THE USE OF ICEBREAKER ACTIVITY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS’ SELF-CONFIDENCE IN SPEAKING (An Exploratory Sequential Research on Students of SMP IT Rabbi Radhiyya) AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS.

Rezki, A., Halim, A., & Sentosa, T. (2022). Motivating Students in Learning English Using Icebreaking.

Ruth Hana, P. (2023). INCREASING STUDENTS’SPEAKING ACHIEVEMENT USING ICE-BREAKING AT SMPN 04 BANDAR LAMPUNG.

Sumilia, E., & Puspita, H. (2019). STUDENTS’ RESPONSES TOWARD TEACHERS’ QUESTIONS IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 8 BENGKULU. https://jurnal.unigal.ac.id/index.php/jall/index

Sundari, H. (2017). Classroom Interaction in Teaching English as Foreign Language at Lower Secondary Schools in Indonesia. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 8(6), 147. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.6p.147

Taqwa, K. (2022). AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ANXIETY ON THEIR SPEAKING PARTICIPATION IN EFL CLASSROOM.

Velykozhon, V. (2020). BENEFITS OF ICE-BREAKER ACTIVITIES DURING ENGLISH CLASSES FOR CREATING POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society The Development of Higher Psychological Processes.

Wiyanah, S., & Endahati, N. (2025). Canva Talking Presentation in Enhancing Speaking Proficiency: Students’ Perceptions. 14(2), 183–199. https://doi.org/10.31000/globish.v14i2.13087

Diterbitkan

2026-01-12