Improving the Seventh Grade Students’ Reading Comprehension Achievement by Using Numbered Head Together Technique

Abstract

This classroom action research was intended to improve the VII-D grade students’ reading comprehension achievement by using Numbered Head Together (NHT) technique. It was conducted to 25 students of VII-D class at MTs. Bustanul Ulum Panti Jember. Based on the interview with the English teacher, the technique used by the teacher is not enough to improve the students’ reading comprehension. Besides, the students’ previous score showed that only 11 out of 26 students who achieved the standard minimum score. Therefore, Numbered Head Together (NHT) technique was chosen to improve the students’ reading comprehension achievement and their active participation. Numbered Head Together (NHT) technique consists of five steps; Numbering, Reading, Questioning, Thinking together, Answering and Evaluating. There were four collection methods, they were interview, observation, reading comprehension achievement test and documentation. The interview was done in the preliminary study in the form of list questions designed by the reseracher. The observation in the form of observational checklist and it consisted of 4 indicators, they were; 1). Paying attention to the teacher’s explanation. 2). Doing the reading assignments. 3). Cooperating with group members. 4). Answering the teacher’s oral questions correctly. The reading comprehension achievement test was done in the final meeting and there were 20 questions. The documentation in the form of data and it consisted of the result of observation and reading comprehension achievement test. This research was done collaboratively with the English teacher in one cycle that consisted of three meetings by following the procedures of action research, planning, acting, observing and reflecting. The first and the second meeting were the implementation of the action, while the last meeting was administered for reading comprehension test. The criteria of success decided by the researcher was 75% of the students actively participated in the teaching and learning process of reading and 75% of the students achieved ≥ 75 as a standard minimum score in the reading test. The result of the observation showed that the students’ active participation improved from the first meeting that was 64% to 88% in the second meeting. It means that the technique used by the researcher successfully improved the students’ active participation. Besides, the result of the students’ reading comprehension test improved from pre-cycle (42%) to 80% in the test of cycle 1. It could be concluded that the implementation of this action succeeded in improving the students’ reading comprehension achievement because more than 75% of the students achieved the standard minimum score that was 75. Therefore the action only was done in one cycle because the result of the observation and reading comprehension test had achieved the research criteria of success, that was ≥ 75% of the students achieved ≥ 75 as a standard minimum score in the reading test. Based on the result above, it could be concluded that Numbered Head Together technique could improve the students’ active participation and reading comprehension achievement. NHT technique was able to gain the students’ attention during teaching and learning process. It happened because it was interesting technique for students who were passive, unenthusiastic, and bored in learning English.