Correlation between reading habit, vocabulary mastery, and translation ability (A Correlational Study on the Sixth Semester Students of English Department of Teacher Training and Education Faculty Sebelas Maret University in the Academic Year of 2012/2013

Oleh :
Widya Setyaningsih - K2209092 - Fak. KIP

The objectives of this research are to find out whether there is a correlation between (1) students‘ reading habit and translation ability; (2) students‘ vocabulary mastery and translation ability; and (3) students‘ reading habit and vocabulary mastery toward translation ability. The study uses descriptive research method, with category of correlational study. The study was carried out from May to June 2013 at English Department of Teacher Training and Education Faculty of Sebelas Maret University. The population is all of sixth semester students of English Department of Teacher Training and Education Faculty of Sebelas Maret University which consist of three classes. The total number of the students is 89 students. The sample is 34 students taken by cluster random sampling technique. The instruments in collecting the data are questionnaire and test. The questionnaire is used to collect the data of students‘ reading habit; while the objective test is used to collect the data of students‘ vocabulary mastery and translation ability. The techniques used to analyze the data are Simple Correlation and Multiple Regression Correlation. The result of the data analysis shows that in the level of significance ? = 0.05 (1) there is a positive correlation between students‘ reading habit and translation ability ( = 0.448 > rt = 0.339); (2) there is a positive correlation between students‘ vocabulary mastery and translation ability ( = 0.467 > rt = 0.339); and (3) there is positive correlation between students‘ reading habit, vocabulary mastery, and translation ability ( = 0.24 and Fo = 6.26 > Ft = 3.32). The result of this research shows that reading habit and vocabulary mastery are important factors that give contribution to students‘ translation ability. The students‘ reading habit has 20.07% contribution to the students‘ translation ability and the students‘ vocabulary mastery has 21.81% contribution to the students‘ translation ability. While simultaneously, the students‘ reading habit and vocabulary mastery have 28.76% contribution to the students‘ translation ability. It means that the increase of students‘ reading habit and vocabulary mastery, either separately or simultaneously will be followed by the increase of students‘ translation ability. Keywords: Correlation, Reading Habit, Vocabulary Mastery, Translation Ability