A Thesis Improving Students’ Reading Skill Using Quantum Learning Method (An Action Research At The Eighth Grade Of Smp Negeri 16 Surakarta In The Academic Year Of 2011/2012)

Oleh :
Erlina Noor Khasanah - X2207008 - Fak. KIP

This research is aimed at finding out: (1) whether the implementation of quantum learning to the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 16 Surakarta can improve the students’ reading skill and (2) to identify what happens to the class situation when quantum learning is implemented in reading class. This research was conducted in two cycles at class VIII A of SMP Negeri 16 Surakarta from October10th to March8th 2012. There are two kinds of data: qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected by using observation, questionnaire, and interview. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were collected by using test. Qualitative data were analyzed by using five stages as follows: assembling the data, coding the data, comparing the data, building interpretation, and reporting the outcomes. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The research findings showed that the use of quantum learning could improve students’ reading skill and class situation during the class. The improvement of students’ reading skill includes: (1) students were able to find the main idea of the text,(2) students were able to identify the specific information of text, (3) students were able to guess the meaning of words in text, (4) students were able to find the implicit information of text, (5) students were able to identify the referent of pronoun in text. Those improvements could be seen from the improvement of the mean score of pre-test, post-test 1, and post-test 2, those are 54.77, 63.71, and 71.54. The improvement of class situation includes: (1) the students enjoyed during the learning process. They were interestedin following the lesson and (2) the students were active during the learning process. They had high level of participation in reading class. Quantum learning method can be applied in reading class. By implementing quantum learning in reading class, the students can improve their reading comprehension skill. The researcher hopes that what the researcher has done will inspire the English teachers to applyquantum learning in learning process.