IMPROVING THE READING COMPREHENSION ABILITY THROUGH THE USE OF HERRINGBONE TECHNIQUE OF XI GRADE STUDENTS OF SMA NEGERI 11 YOGYAKARTA

Abstract

This study was aimed to improve the reading comprehension ability of the eleventh grade students of SMA Negeri 11 Yogyakarta by using the Herringbone technique. This study was action research which consisted of two cycles.  The subjects of the study were 31 students of XI IPA 1 of SMA Negeri 11 Yogyakarta. The data used in this study were qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected  by observing the teaching and learning process and interviewing the students and the English teacher as the collaborator. The data were in the form of field notes, interview transcripts and pictures from the documentation. Meanwhile, the quantitative data were obtained through the students’ reading comprehension pre-test and post-test. The data were the students’ reading comprehension scores.The findings of this study showed that the use of Herringbone technique was able to improve the students’ reading comprehension ability. By using Herringbone technique, the students also showed other reading sub-skills including identifying references, answering questions beginning with what, where, when, who, why and how, finding the stated and unstated details in the text, distinguishing the true and false statements as well as finding the topic and main ideas. Applying Herringbone technique could also improve the students’ participation in reading activities.  The participation increased by implementing the technique in group and pair discussion. The results were also supported by the quantitative data. The mean scores of the students’ reading comprehension test showed improvement from 71.16 in the pre-test to 80.24 in the post-test. Therefore, the use of Herringbone techniques could improve the students’ reading comprehension ability.

Keywords: action research, reading comprehension, Herringbone technique