Using Buzz Groups Technique to Improve Students’ Reading Comprehension (A Classroom Action Research at the First Grade of SMA Negeri 1 Karanganyar in the Academic Year of 2011/2012)

Oleh :
Rista Kharisma Putri Aji - K2208097 - Fak. KIP

ABSTRACT The first grade students of SMA N 1 Karanganyar in the academic year of 2011/2012 had problems dealing with reading comprehension. To overcome the problems, the researcher designed a classroom action research to teach reading comprehension by using buzz groups technique. The objectives of the research are: (1) to describe whether or not and to what extent the use of buzz groups technique can improve students’ reading comprehension at the first grade of SMA N 1 Karanganyar in the academic year of 2011/2012; and (2) to describe what happens to the class situation when buzz groups technique is implemented in the reading class. The method used in this research was a collaborative action research with an English teacher. The research was conducted in two cycles at the X-2 grade of SMA N 1 Karanganyar from March to May in the academic year of 2011/2012. There are two kinds of data: qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected using observation, questionnaire, interview, and document analysis. Then, the quantitative data were collected using tests (pre-test and post-test). Qualitative data were analyzed using five stages suggested by Burns (1999: 157-159) as follows: assembling the data, coding the data, comparing the data, building interpretation, and reporting the outcomes. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The research findings show that the use of buzz groups technique can improve students’ reading comprehension and class situation of English class. The improvement of students’ reading comprehension includes: (1) Students are able to identify words meaning of the text; (2) Students are able to identify main idea of the text; (3) Students are able to identify references of the text; (4) Students are able to identify explicit information of the text; (5) Students are able to identify implicit information of the text. Besides, the improvement of students’ reading comprehension can be seen from the improvement of mean score of pre-test is 68.47, post test of cycle 1 is 76.23, and post test of cycle 2 is 85.76. The research findings also includes: (1) The students are more active and enthusiastic in teaching learning process; (2) The students pay full attention and get involved in the activities during the teaching and learning process; (3) The students are brave to ask their difficulties to their friends in a group and to the researcher; (4) The students begin to be more enthusiastic to work well; and (5) The students are confident to present the result of their summary to another group. Based on the result of the research, it can be concluded that Buzz Groups Technique can improve students’ reading comprehension. Therefore, it is recommended that teachers and students use Buzz Groups Technique as a good alternative technique in teaching and learning reading.