Improving The Students’ Ability In Comprehending English Texts Through The Kwl Technique (A Classroom Action Research At The Tenth Graders Of Sma Negeri 4 Kendari In The Academic Year Of 2010/2011)

Oleh :
Ferdinand Nicholas Boonde - S89080900 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

The objectives of this research are to know whether KWL technique can improve students’ ability in comprehending expository text and to know the strengths and weaknesses when the technique is applied to improve the students’ ability in comprehending expository text. The subject of the research was the tenth graders of SMA Negeri 4 Kendari in the academic year of 2010/2010.The procedures of the research consist of planning, action, observation, and reflection. In collecting the data, the researcher used questionnaire, interview, field notes, check list, and test. To analyze the quantitative data, the researcher applied a descriptive statistics. It was used to compare the scores and means of the pre-test and post-test. The pre-test was conducted in the pre-research while the post-test was conducted at the end of cycle 1 and 2. The result of the test was used to know how well the students understand the text. To analyze the qualitative data, the researcher analyzed the improvement of the teaching learning process by describing the results of questionnaire, interview, field notes, and check list using Constant Comparative Method.The results of the research applying KWL technique in the process of teaching and learning reading can solve the students’ problem in comprehending text. First, the result of the tests shows that KWL can improve the students’ ability in comprehending text. The improvement can be found by comparing the average score of the pre-test and post-test in cycle 1 and 2. The average score of the pre-test is 49.34, post-test 1 is 65.58, and post-test 2 is 80.01. Second, the results of questionnaire, interview, field notes, and check list show that (1) the strength when KWL technique is applied in teaching reading are: (a) it enables the students to set their own purposes in reading the text; (b) filling the columns is effective to help the students understand the reading text; (c) it can motivate the students to take a part in the teaching and learning process; (d) it elicits the students’ prior knowledge; (e) it enables the teacher to create an interesting lesson plan; (f) it is more effective when students sit in groups. (2) the weaknesses when KWL technique is applied in teaching reading are: (a) Students with no prior knowledge will get difficulty to fill the K column; (b) KWL is not suitable for readers who have low thinking level or poor memory; (c) The process takes time; (d) KWL is not appropriate for reading fiction materials. The research comes to the conclusion that there is a significant improvement of the students’ in comprehending the text using KWL technique. Therefore, KWL technique can improve students’ ability in comprehending English texts,especially expository ones. Based on the result of the research, it is recommended that teachers and students should use KWL as a good alternative technique in reaching good reading comprehension.