THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING L1 (BAHASA INDONESIA) AS THE INSTRUCTION MEDIA IN IMPROVING READING COMPREHENSION. (AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE FIRST GRADER OF PACKAGE C OF SKB KERSANA, BREBES REGENCY IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2009/2010)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Reading, as one of the language skills, has given an important contribution to learners. It is considered that having students read English text is an important part of the teacher’s job. In learning English, all students come to the classroom with at least one language, their mother tongue (often called their L1). Unfortunately, the use of L1 in teaching English has been much debated. It seems, accordingly, that the only sensible reaction an individual teacher can take to this controversial subject is to accept the use of L1 but in limited. The purpose of this study are to find out the effectiveness of using L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) during the reading class at the first grader of package C of SKB Kersana Brebes Regency and to prove whether the use of L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) is more effective than the use of L2 (English) during the reading class. To reach the aim the writer conducted experimental study. The subject of the study are the first grade students of package C of SKB Kersana Brebes regency in academic year 2009/2010. The total number is 60 students. The number of sample of this study is 30 students, who are choosen randomly and divided into two groups namely the experimental group and the control group. The former is taught reading comprehension using L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) and the latter using L2 (English). The writer used reading comprehension test and questionnaire as the instruments of the research. The result of test and questionnaire are used as the data of research. The data of research is analyzed by using t-test formula, in order to test the differences between the mean value of experimental group and the mean value of control group. The mean value of experimental group is 61,466 and the mean value of control group is 39,266, in which the result of t-ratio is 4,940 on 5% significant degree and 28 degree of freedom can be found in t-table is 1,701. It means that t-ratio is higher than t-table (4,940 > 1,701). Therefore, it indicates significant difference between students who are taught using L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) and students who are taught using L2 (English). Students from experimental group got higher score in reading comprehension than students from control group did. It means that the use of L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) in teaching reading is more effective than teaching reading with L2 (English) at the first grader of package C SKB Kersana Brebes regency. Key word: the effectiveness, the use of L1, teaching reading comprehension, experimental group, control group