Improving the students’ capability in comprehending reading passage through group work (A Classroom Action Research in MTs AL – MANAAR KEDIRI in 2008/2009 Academic Year)

Oleh :
Dewi Robiah - S890707005 - Sekolah Pascasarjana

ABSTRACT The objective of the research is to review whether or not Group Work can improve the students’ comprehension in reading. Besides, the research is also designed to study what happens when group work is applied to improve the students’ comprehension in reading. The research was carried out at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Al – Manaar Kediri, East Java, from July 2008 to February 2009 (employing an action research). The subjects of the research are twenty four students of class IX MTs Al – Manaar Kediri. The data were obtained from several techniques including: test, observation, interview, questionnaire, and documents. To analyze the quantitative data, the researcher applied a descriptive statistic, comprising the following dimensions: highest, lowest, and means scores. To analyze the qualitative data, the researcher applied constant comparative method as suggested by Glasser (in Lanjar Utami, 2008: 73). The finding reveals that the program of improving the students’ capability in comprehending reading passage through group work is successful viewed from some dimensions. First, the students’ vocabulary improved when doing reading in group. Second, when the students applied group work in reading comprehension, they became motivated to follow reading lesson. Third, the students’ comprehension also improved in which they could find main idea, information explicitly and implicitly with their group so that they could understand what they read. Fourth, group work also improved the students’ cooperation and the teaching learning situation in English subject. The research finding of this study implied that group work is important in improving the students’ capability in comprehending reading text. Then, it is recommended that (1) the English teachers should have high commitment to be creative and innovative in preparing and presenting materials which are contextual in accordance with the theme of the subject; (2) the English teacher should remember that group work is one of technique to achieve the comprehension in reading, so the teacher should prepare some books, magazines, and newspaper in English to be read in group; and(3) the teacher should facilitate the media for the students to practice reading. One of them is through group work which can be done weekly so that they can not only increase their comprehension but also their knowledge.