YOHANA SERVA HONEY INDEPENDENCE MANEK Pengarang SANTRI EMILIN PINGSABOI DJAHIMO Dosen Pembimbing 1 SELFIANA P MBADI Dosen Pembimbing 2 Santri Emilin Pingsaboi Djahimo Penguji 1 Marcelinus Yeri Fernandez Akoli Ketua Penguji SELFIANA P MBADI Penguji 2

The aims of this study are (1) How does the use of describing pictures activity improve students’ speaking ability of the second-grade students of SMA Negeri 3 Atambua; and (2)What are the advantages of describing pictures activity in teaching speaking to the second-grade students’ of SMA Negeri 3 Atambua?. The study used the method of describing picture on improving students' speaking ability in second-grade students of SMA Negeri 3 Atambua and found students' problems in learning to speak using describing picture.The study was conducted at SMA Negeri 3 Atambua involving 20 students in second grade from science class. Using a mixed method, the study collected the data through Pre-test, Post-test, and a questionnaire. The result in this research was indicated that there was improvement of the students’ speaking ability. It was indicated by the students’ mean score of pre test (4.26). Scoring the students accuracy, fluency and comprehension and in classification seven students got very poor score (35%), eleven students got poor score (55%), and two students got fair score (10%). And in the post test (7.1), in classification one student got excellent score (5%), three students got very good score (15%), and sixteen students got good score (80%). This means that the use of describing picture strategy improves students’ English speaking ability. In addition, based on the students’ responses in questionnaire, they considered that describing picture is an effective and suitable strategy in teaching English speaking ability. This finding conform the previous research finding that describing picture can help students to improve students’ English speaking ability. Keywords: Improve, Speaking Ability, Describing Picture