THE EFFECT OF SMALL GROUP WORKING TECHNIQUE ON READING COMPREHENSION ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS OF SMAN I NGADIROJO, PACITAN IN THE 2004/2005 ACADEMIC YEAR

Abstract

In learning English, reading dominates all activities because during the time of teaching learning process, reading must be involved. In fact, the students still find difficulties in comprehending reading texts, because many students lack of vocabulary, lack of grammar mastery, and the students did not relax when they read the reading text. Those phenomena was caused by the teaching techniques which tend to give monotonous activities that can make the students passive and feel bored. Therefore, applying small group working technique is one of the teaching technique in order that the situation of reading activities gives changes to the students to get maximum practice. Another aim of applying small group working technique was in order to make the students participate to solve their problems on reading. This experimental research aimed at revealing whether small group working technique contributes a significant effect on the students’ reading comprehension achievement. This research was conducted at SMAN I Ngadirojo, Pacitan, which was chosen by purposive method. The respondents were determined by cluster random sampling. The data were obtained from the test (main data), and from the observation, documentation, interview, and questionnaire (supporting data). The main data were analyzed by using t-test formula from the SPSS program, and continued by finding out the Degree of Relative Effectiveness. The t-statistical value of the computation of SPSS program was found 2.993. The statistical values was compared to the t-critical value in the level of 5% was 2.00 which means that the result was significant. Accordingly, the null hypothesis was rejected. The final conclusion has proven that small group working technique contributes a significant effect on reading comprehension achievement of the second year students of SMAN I Ngadirojo, Pacitan in the 2004/2005 academic year. Meanwhile, the Degree of Relative Effectiveness was revealed to be 5.03%. Based on the result, it is suggested that the English teacher will apply small group working technique as the alternative teaching technique besides the individual working technique. For the students, it is suggested that they should be more active in the process of discussion.