This research aimed to investigate the differences in students’ speaking skills before and after being taught descriptive text through the example non-example learning method at SMPN 16 Semarang. This study was carried out using the experimental method with one group pretest-posttest design. The sample was VIII H by using the purposive sampling technique. The data are analyzed through the SPSS program. This research showed that the example non-example learning method significantly affects the eighth graders’ speaking skills. It can be seen from the mean scores of the pre-test and post-test of both groups, which are 57.41 and 65.76. Based on the hypothesis test result using the paired sample t-test, it was found that sig (2-tailed) (.000) was greater than Sig. α (0.05). The findings indicate that H1 was accepted and H0 was not accepted. The conclusion of this research was example non-example learning method had a significant effect on the eighth graders’ speaking skills. Thus, the results of this research may have implications as the pioneer projects on investigating differences in students' speaking skills using the example non-example method and contribute to the development of learning speaking skills.