The Teacher’s Strategy in Teaching Speaking at Online Classes During Pandemic at Eleven Grades at Senior High School 2 Kota Sorong

This descriptive qualitative research, conducted at SMAN 2 Kota Sorong,investigates the strategies employed by an English teacher to teach speaking skillsduring the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample comprised the English teacher, andthe primary instrument of data collection was observation. The study identifiedthree key strategies utilized by the teacher. Firstly, in response to the limitationson face-to-face interaction, the teacher extensively employed mobile phones,utilizing WhatsApp groups for communication, assignment distribution, andvirtual teaching via Zoom and Google Meet applications. Secondly, the teacherimplemented a Conversation Strategy, focusing on teaching expressions throughillustrated pictures, prompting students to create and practice dialogues online,either live or through recorded submissions via WhatsApp. Lastly, the DiscussionStrategy was employed to teach through texts, where the teacher shared textsbeforehand via WhatsApp, followed by online class discussions on text content orrelated questions. These strategies facilitated interactive and practical learningexperiences, overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic's restrictions onin-person teaching.