IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ ENGLISH READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH AUTHENTIC MATERIALS IN SMK NEGERI 1 GODEAN GRADE XI IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2013/2014

Abstrak / Ringkasan

The aim of this research is to improve English reading comprehension through authentic materials in SMK Negeri 1 Godean Grade XI. Based on the initial observation in Class XI AK1 of SMK Negeri 1 Godean, the students had low motivation in reading English texts, got easily bored with the tasks and materials, and got too much structural pressure in their reading class. The authentic materials were developed and served to the students in order to solve the problems.
This research belonged to action research. There were some steps done in this research i.e. reconnaissance, planning, implementing and observing, and reflecting. In the reconnaissance step, the researcher and the collaborator determined the problems by conducting observations and interviews. The data were obtained from observing the teaching-learning process, interviewing the students of XI AK1 and the English teacher as the collaborator, and holding discussions with the English teacher as the collaborator. In conducting the study, the researcher involved the English teacher as the collaborator and the students of XI AK1. The participants of the study were 32 students of XI AK1 of SMK Negeri 1 Godean in the academic year of 2013/2014. The data were in the forms of field notes, reading test scores, and interview transcripts. The data validity was obtained by applying democratic validity, outcome validity, process validity, catalytic validity and dialogic validity.
The study found that the uses of authentic materials in this study improved the students’ reading comprehension effectively. They were able to get information from the texts well. The materials were able to amuse the students and enhance their awareness in analyzing texts. They also provide authentic language so the students were stimulated in digging the difficult words by the context. As a result, they performed better comprehension and tended not to make the same mistakes in their work. In conclusion, the use of authentic materials can improve the students’ reading comprehension ability in Class XI AK1. This study suggests that the English teacher may improve her teaching strategy by optimizing the use of materials in school. The teacher should be creative in selecting, developing, and giving materials in the class.

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