This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of Minimal Pairs
Practice in enhancing students' English pronunciation. The research employed a
quantitative method with a pre-experimental research design. The sample consisted
of 30 students from class VIII A at SMPN 2 Watampone, selected using the cluster
random sampling method. To assess pronunciation enhancement, the researcher
used word pronunciation tests as the research instrument, supported by audio and
video recordings. The tests were conducted before and after the treatment (pre-test
and post-test), where students underwent Minimal Pairs Practice focusing on
consonant contrasts, vowel distinctions, diphthongs, and stress patterns. In this
research, the independent variable was Minimal Pairs Practice, while the dependent
variable was students' pronunciation accuracy. The results showed that Minimal
Pairs Practice had a significant effect on students' pronunciation. This was
evidenced by the paired sample t-test results, which indicated a Sig. (2-tailed) value
of 0.000, smaller than 0.05 (0.000 ≤ 0.05). These findings confirm that Minimal
Pairs Training is an effective approach for enhancing students' ability to distinguish
and produce English sounds accurately, reinforcing its importance in pronunciation
instruction.
A. Conclusion
Based on the research conducted at SMPN 2 Watampone, the research
concluded that Minimal Pairs Practice was significantly effective in enhancing
students' English pronunciation. This is evident from the Paired Sample T-Test
analysis, which produced a significance (sig.) value of 0.000 < 0.05. This result
indicates that the null hypothesis (H₀) is rejected, while the alternative
hypothesis (Ha) is accepted, confirming a significant effect of Minimal Pairs
Practice on students' pronunciation skills. The structured pronunciation
exercises focusing on consonant contrasts, vowel distinctions, diphthong
differences, and stress patterns provided an effective approach for students to
refine their pronunciation. This targeted practice contributed to the overall
enhancement observed in this research, demonstrating that Minimal Pairs
Practice is an effective method for enhancing students' English pronunciation.
B. Suggestion
After completing this research, the researcher proposes the following
suggestions:
1. For English Teachers:
a. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate minimal pairs practice into
pronunciation lessons to help students distinguish between similar
sounds more effectively.
b. Teachers should provide consistent practice and corrective feedback on
students' pronunciation, especially on sounds that are commonly
confused due to native language interference.
c. Workshops or training programs related to teaching pronunciation
through minimal pairs can enhance teachers' skills in delivering more
focused and impactful lessons.
2. For Students:
a. Students should actively engage in pronunciation activities involving
minimal pairs to improve their speaking clarity and confidence.
b. Regular listening and speaking practice using minimal pairs both inside
and outside the classroom is recommended to reinforce sound
recognition and production.
c. Students are encouraged to reflect on the feedback they receive during
pronunciation activities and take the initiative to correct and improve
their articulation.
3. For Future Researchers:
a. Future research could explore the long-term impact of minimal pairs
training on other language skills such as listening comprehension or
speaking fluency.
b. Studies involving larger and more diverse samples across various grade
levels could be conducted to enhance the generalizability of the findings.
c. Comparative studies can be carried out to examine the effectiveness of
minimal pairs practice against other pronunciation teaching methods or
digital pronunciation tools.

STAR20250359

359/2025

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