Utilizing semantic mapping strategy to improve the reading comprehension of the eight graders of SMPN 1 Bunyu / Wahyudi
Thesis. Graduate Program in English Language Teaching, State University of Malang. Advisors: (1) Dr. Yazid Basthomi, M.A. (2) Dr. Johannes Ananto Prayogo, M.Pd., M.Ed.
Key Words: semantic mapping, reading comprehension.
The fact that emerged from the teaching of English at SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu, especially the teaching of reading comprehension, is the low ability of the students in comprehending reading texts. The observation result showed that: (1) the students found difficulties in understanding English texts, (2) the students’ motivation in learning English was low, (3) the teachers’ was monotonous teaching, and (4) the reading activities were dominated by a small minority of the best students. To cope with the problems, the researcher applies the Semantic Mapping Strategy. With such a learning strategy, it is expected that the students’ reading comprehension could be improved.
This study is designed to investigate how semantic mapping strategy improves the students’ reading comprehension. It aims at finding out how the semantic mapping strategy can be used to improve the students’ reading comprehension at SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu.
The study employed a collaborative classroom action research design in which the researcher and the collaborative teacher worked together in designing the lesson plan, implementing the action, analyzing the data and doing the reflection. The subjects of this research were 22 eighth graders of SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu, Bulungan regency, East Kalimantan in the academic year of 2010/2011. This study was conducted in a cycle, following the procedure of action research namely: (1) planning, (2) implementing, (3) observing, and (4) reflecting. This study was conducted in two cycles, each cycle of the study comprises two meetings and followed by evaluation on the result by did a test. The data of this study were obtained through (1) observation guidelines, and checklist, (2) interview, and (3) the students’ test results. They were taken during the implementation of the action.
The findings show that the implementation of semantic mapping strategy in the teaching-learning of reading comprehension can improve the students’ reading comprehension. The students’ mean score increased from 76.67 in the first test to 77.50 in the second test.
The study also shows that the appropriate procedures of implementing the semantic mapping strategy in the teaching-learning of reading comprehension of the study were (1) explaining the students to the objectives of learning (2) gearing the students to the topic by asking questions and by using media, (3) brainstorming, (4) making a semantic map in the pre-reading activity, (5) classifying information, (6) grouping the students, (7) finding Indonesian equivalence of unfamiliar words, (8) discussing the text, (9) identifying the main and supporting ideas, (10) making a semantic map in the post-reading activity, (11) guiding the students to share and complete the map, (12) checking the students’ works, and (13) administering a formative test about the text.
It also shows that the students were really interest and courage to do the reading activities during the action, and that they give a positive perception. Thus the students’ involvement in teaching-learning process through the appropriate procedure of semantic mapping strategy improved.
Based on the findings, some suggestions are made. First, it is recommended the teachers apply this strategy as one of the alternatives used in the teaching of reading comprehension. It is suggested that teachers make a well-prepared lesson plan which focuses on the selection of the instructional material and media as well as the time allotment. In the pre-reading activity, the teachers encourage the students to make a semantic map of their own version if they are already familiar with this strategy. In the whilst-reading activity, it is proposed to assign the students to make a semantic map in pairs or individually. In the post-reading activity, they should display or publish the students’ work as the benchmark on the class wall or in the school paper. Moreover, in the evaluation/assessment stage, it advisable for teacher to make the evaluation on the process and the evaluation on the result, and to design subjective test to measure the students’ achievement. Second, for the future researcher, it is suggested that they use the result of this present study as their reference.
Thesis. Graduate Program in English Language Teaching, State University of Malang. Advisors: (1) Dr. Yazid Basthomi, M.A. (2) Dr. Johannes Ananto Prayogo, M.Pd., M.Ed. Key Words: semantic mapping, reading comprehension. The fact that emerged from the teaching of English at SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu, especially the teaching of reading comprehension, is the low ability of the students in comprehending reading texts. The observation result showed that: (1) the students found difficulties in understanding English texts, (2) the students’ motivation in learning English was low, (3) the teachers’ was monotonous teaching, and (4) the reading activities were dominated by a small minority of the best students. To cope with the problems, the researcher applies the Semantic Mapping Strategy. With such a learning strategy, it is expected that the students’ reading comprehension could be improved. This study is designed to investigate how semantic mapping strategy improves the students’ reading comprehension. It aims at finding out how the semantic mapping strategy can be used to improve the students’ reading comprehension at SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu. The study employed a collaborative classroom action research design in which the researcher and the collaborative teacher worked together in designing the lesson plan, implementing the action, analyzing the data and doing the reflection. The subjects of this research were 22 eighth graders of SMP Negeri 1 Bunyu, Bulungan regency, East Kalimantan in the academic year of 2010/2011. This study was conducted in a cycle, following the procedure of action research namely: (1) planning, (2) implementing, (3) observing, and (4) reflecting. This study was conducted in two cycles, each cycle of the study comprises two meetings and followed by evaluation on the result by did a test. The data of this study were obtained through (1) observation guidelines, and checklist, (2) interview, and (3) the students’ test results. They were taken during the implementation of the action. The findings show that the implementation of semantic mapping strategy in the teaching-learning of reading comprehension can improve the students’ reading comprehension. The students’ mean score increased from 76.67 in the first test to 77.50 in the second test. The study also shows that the appropriate procedures of implementing the semantic mapping strategy in the teaching-learning of reading comprehension of the study were (1) explaining the students to the objectives of learning (2) gearing the students to the topic by asking questions and by using media, (3) brainstorming, (4) making a semantic map in the pre-reading activity, (5) classifying information, (6) grouping the students, (7) finding Indonesian equivalence of unfamiliar words, (8) discussing the text, (9) identifying the main and supporting ideas, (10) making a semantic map in the post-reading activity, (11) guiding the students to share and complete the map, (12) checking the students’ works, and (13) administering a formative test about the text. It also shows that the students were really interest and courage to do the reading activities during the action, and that they give a positive perception. Thus the students’ involvement in teaching-learning process through the appropriate procedure of semantic mapping strategy improved. Based on the findings, some suggestions are made. First, it is recommended the teachers apply this strategy as one of the alternatives used in the teaching of reading comprehension. It is suggested that teachers make a well-prepared lesson plan which focuses on the selection of the instructional material and media as well as the time allotment. In the pre-reading activity, the teachers encourage the students to make a semantic map of their own version if they are already familiar with this strategy. In the whilst-reading activity, it is proposed to assign the students to make a semantic map in pairs or individually. In the post-reading activity, they should display or publish the students’ work as the benchmark on the class wall or in the school paper. Moreover, in the evaluation/assessment stage, it advisable for teacher to make the evaluation on the process and the evaluation on the result, and to design subjective test to measure the students’ achievement. Second, for the future researcher, it is suggested that they use the result of this present study as their reference.