Chapter I
Introduction
This chapter discusses about background of study, statement of the
problem, purpose of the study, scope and limitation, significance of the study
and definitions of key terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
English is one of the most important language. We know
that indonesia is a developing country that need to study English. Not only the
technology, but also education is need in developing country. In study English
we know about the fourth skill, they are : speaking, reading, writing and
listening. Here speaking related to listening, and reading is related to
writing. But nowdays becomes the main focus in teaching English at the
secondary school.
One
of the English skill that needed to get English written information is reading
skill. According to Lewis (1991) reading can be viewed as an act of critical
thingking, and reading class will be effective with strategies that improve the
students ability to express what they think, read or write. He also adds that
reading is important for the students to extend their knowledge.
According
to Jeffries and Mikulecky (1996:4) in Aprillianto, reading is one of the
important ways to improve general language skills in English. They say that
reading helps the students learn to think in English, enlarge the students’
vocabulary, improve the students’ writing, practice the students English if the
students live in a non-English – speaking country, prepare the students if they
want to study in an English – speaking country, and get experiences.
In line with this view, Richards and Renandya, (2002:288)
in Apprilianto suggest that reading activity might also support the process of
mastering other skill and improve knowledge while reading; the students usually
make other activities, such as not taking and summarizing to understand what
they are reading.
According to Burns et.al (1987:16), Reading is developmental.
It is not only a single skill, but also interrelated process of many skills. It
means that reading is a complex process that is related with our interpretation
while reading the text.
Based
on the observation in SMP Negeri 1 Genteng, the researcher found
that the students’ reading comprehension is still low. It was showed by their
score in reading class. The mean of their reading score was 45 whereas the
minimum standard mastery is 65. Another problem found by the researcher was on
teacher’s method. The teacher only used teacher center while process teaching
and learning. Thus, it could make students get bored while comprehending the
text. Less three.
To
solve the problem, the researcher proposed a strategy namely Direct Method, One of the reasons why the researcher
uses direct method as
strategy is an interesting and easy method to be applied in the class. It is
because direct method can
help the students to indicate related idea in the text, add new
Information
related to the keyword and understands the text in different way.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The research problem of this study
is formulated as follow:
How
can direct method improve
reading comprehension of the students at SMP Negeri 1 Genteng?
1.3 The Objective of the Study
` Based on the statement problem above, the
objective of the study is to describe how direct method can improve students’
reading comprehension of eigth
grade at SMP Negeri 1 Genteng.
1.4 Scope and
Limitation of the Study
a.
Scope of the study
This research study focuses on the
application of direct method
technique to improve the students’ reading comprehension of English texts. The
technique is implemented to the VIII
Grade students’ at the SMP negeri 1 Genteng in the academic
year 2011-2012. This study focuses on VIII class as a subject of study. The researcher chooses this class
as her subject because most of the students
have the lowest achievement in reading comprehension.
In addition, this research is concerned on
students’ comprehension of English text materials. The texts types are taught
in secondary school (SMP/MTS) are descriptive,
narrative, procedure, recount, and report. Since the researcher carries out
this research study in VIII
Grade of the second semester, the researcher chooses one of English texts
(Narrative text) which are being learnt by the students of VIII Grade. Moreover, the researcher chooses
narrative texts because most of the students get difficulties in comprehending
them in the previous semester. The researcher conducts this research at SMP 1 Negeri Genteng. The subject
of this study is the fifth grade. The researcher focused only on
narrative text.
b.
Limitation of the study
Because of limited time,
the researcher did not make the text by herself.
The researcher took the text from other source such as books (Erlangga,
Intan
Pariwara, ESIS, Tiga Serangkai, etc.) and internet (
In aaddition,
this study is concerned primarily on developing direct method as a teaching and learning strategy objected to
improve the ability to read narrative texts at the eighth grade year students
of SMP Negeri 1 Genteng.
1.4 Significances of the Study
This research hopefully gives
practical contribution:
For English teachers: it can be used as one of
method in teaching reading so that students are more joyful and motivated to
participate during teaching and learning activity.
For
students: Direct Method is
hopefully able to increase students’ motivation and promotion that enables them
to improve their skill in comprehending a text. Espesially in narative text.
For future researcher: this study can be used as one of
references for them who want to conduct a research about Direct Method to improve the achievement of
the students.
1.5 Definition of Key Terms
Improve: to make better or to get
something better (Cambridge Dictionary). In this research, the researcher
focuses on the improving students’ reading comprehension.
Reading Comprehension : refers to the understanding of text as proved
by the ability correctly choose the right alternative provided for the question
asked from the text and this showed by students’ score.
Direct Method:
meaning is method when teacher teach
their students direct. Such as give
example using sentence to show the meaning of the words.
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