Testing Public Speaking Proficiency: Designing an Assessment Instrument for University Students

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable assessment instrument to measure university students' public speaking proficiency. A sample of 30 students from a private university in East Java, Indonesia, was selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The assessment instrument consisted of five main components, and the reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed through various statistical methods. Results showed that the instrument effectively measured public speaking proficiency, with students performing well on fluency and eye contact and gestures. However, students struggled the most with the organization and structure component. The findings suggest that the assessment instrument can provide useful feedback for improvement in specific areas and offers a valuable tool for evaluating university students' public speaking proficiency. This information can be critical for enhancing teaching practices. Further research is recommended to validate its use in different settings and populations.