THE USE OF PICTURE SERIES TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ COMPREHENSION THROUGH RECIPROCAL TEACHING TECHNIQUE

Abstract

This study aims to find out whether the use of picture series through reciprocal teaching can improve students’ reading comprehension or not. In order to cope with the problems faced by students in learning reading comprehension, the method used in this research was descriptive quantitative method.  The samples of this research were one class of the eight grade students of MTsN Tungkob, Aceh Besar with the sample consisting of 26 students from Class IX₄. The instrument used in collecting data was a test that included pre-test and post-test. The researcher administrated the reading comprehension test in the form of the understanding the pictures and answered questions to elicit the data related to students’ reading comprehension. Then the writer analyzed the collected data by using the average scoring formula offered by Muller. The analyzed data showed that the Mean score of post-test is higher than that of pre-test in Experimental Group (83,26 > 63,46) and Control Group (77 > 59,61). Meanwhile, Standard Deviation of Experimental Group is 9,8 > 9,3 and Control Group is 9,6 > 7,8. There is a significant difference between the two groups. Thus alternative hypothesis (H_a) is accepted and the null hypothesis (H_o) is rejected. Based on the result of the data analysis of teaching reading by using picture series trhough reciprocal teaching technique can improve students’ reading comprehension.

Key Words:   Picture Series, Students’ Reading, Reciprocal Technique.