IMPROVING THE GRADE VII-B STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION ACHIEVEMENT OF PROCEDURE TEXT BY USING PICTURE IN SERIES AT SMPN 14 JEMBER

Abstract

This classroom Action Research was intended to improve the seventh grade students’ reading comprehension achievement by using picture in series at SMPN 14 Jember in the 2011/2012 academic year. Based on the preliminary study in the form of interview with the English teacher of SMPN 14 Jember, it was found that the students of class VII-B had difficulties in comprehending reading texts because they lacked of vocabularies and also were not interested in reading materials. Besides, the students also lacked of participation in the classroom during the reading teaching and learning process. This was proven by their reading scores which showed from 77% students only got the score under 60. The standard score of the English subject is 75. The researcher tried to overcome the problem by applying different type material that is reading the procedure text by using picture in series. The data collection methods used reading comprehension test and the observation in the form of checklist to get the primary data. The data were analyzed statistically. The action was implemented in two cycles in order to achieve the objectives of this classroom action research. The first cycle was done in three meetings included the test. The results of the classroom observation showed that 50% in meeting 1 and 56% in meeting 2, of the students were active during the teaching learning process. It showed that there was improvement of the students’ active participation from meeting 1 to meeting 2, but it had not achieved the objective of the research that was 70% or more of the students who were active in reading teaching learning process. In addition, the result of the reading comprehension test in the first cycle had not achieved the criteria of success of the research that was 70% of the students got 75 or higher in the reading comprehension test. The percentage of the students who got score ≥ 75 was only 14 students or 56% of 34 students. Based on the results of the first cycle above, the second cycle was necessary to be conducted. Some revision had been made to solve the problems found in the first cycle. The classroom observation and reading comprehension test in the second cycle showed an improvement. In the classroom observation, the students’ active participation showed that 74% in meeting 1 and 76% in meeting 2 of the students actively participated in the teaching learning process. So, the result of the observation in meeting 1 and meeting 2 had achieved the objective of the research. In the reading comprehension test, the percentage of the students who got score ≥ 75 in the reading comprehension test was 25 students, or 74% of 34 students. Based on those results, it can be concluded that the actions in the second cycle were successful because the results of classroom observation and reading comprehension test achieved the objectives of the research. Finally, it can be summarized that the use of picture in series could improve the VII-B students’ reading comprehension achievement and their active participation in the reading teaching learning process at SMPN 14 Jember.