Presentation and Public Speaking Skills of Pancasila and Civic Education Students in the Microteaching Course: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Presentation and public speaking skills are essential competencies for students in teacher education programs because they contribute to the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process. The Microteaching course serves as an important platform for developing these skills through teaching practice in a controlled learning environment. This study aimed to describe the level of presentation and public speaking skills among students during the Microteaching course. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed involving fifth-semester students of the Pancasila and Civic Education Study Program at Universitas Sembilanbelas November Kolaka who were enrolled in the Microteaching course. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. Data analysis involved data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings revealed that students still faced several challenges in presentation and public speaking. These challenges were primarily related to self-confidence, anxiety management, voice intonation, articulation, body language, and eye contact with the audience. Some students also experienced difficulties in organizing content delivery and managing instructional time. Despite these challenges, students adopted various preparation strategies, including mastering the subject matter, developing presentation outlines, utilizing instructional media, engaging in repeated practice, and participating in teaching simulations and peer feedback activities. The findings further indicate that microteaching contributes positively to the development of communication skills, increased self-confidence, and improved teaching readiness. Therefore, communication-oriented microteaching instruction should be continuously strengthened to better prepare students for their future professional roles as Pancasila and Civic Education teachers.