Improving the Second Year Students’ Reading Comprehension Achievement by using Authentic Reading Materials at SM UNI Kalisat in the 2004/2005 Academic Year

Abstract

This classroom action research was intended to improve the second year students’ reading comprehension achievement at SMUN I Kalisat i n the 2004/2005 academic year by using Authentic Reading Materials. The respondent of this research was class II-4 that was determined purposively. That class was chosen because its reading comprehension achievement score was the lowest among 5 existing classes (the mean score was 44% that was categorized as poor). This research was done in two cycles, in which each cycle covered four activities, namely; Prejiaration o f the Action, Implementation of the Action, Class Observation, and Reflection o f the Action. Then, the each cycle was conducted in two meetings. The main data about the students’ reading compreheiision achievement were collected by using reading test through Authentic Reading Materials. The supporting data were collected by class observation, interview, doctinlents and questionnaire. The results o f the mean score o f reading test through Authentic Materials in cycle 1 was 66.6% or fair. This mean score had achieved the Standard mean score requirement that was 75%. Therefore, the actions were continued in cycle 2 by revising the teaching technique (students did the exercises individually changed into the students did in pairs) and the materials (article taken from newspaper changed into article taken from magazine plus single picture). The results of the mean score o f reading test through Authentic Reading Materials in cycle 2 was better (E=76.88%) that was categorized as good than in cycle 1 (E=66.6%) that was categorized as fair. It means that the students’ reading comprehension achievement through Authentic Reading Materials was improved in cycle 2. Based on the results, it could be concluded that the use of Authentic Reading Materials could improve the students’ reading comprehension achievement in two cycles. Then, it is suggested for English teachers to use Authentic Reading Materials as the altemative materials since they could motivate the students to enjoy reading and increase their reading achievement.