MODIFYING READING MATERIALS ABOUT ENREKANG TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION AT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Abstract
Reading comprehension is a fundamental component of English learning at the junior high school level, yet many Indonesian students continue to struggle because available reading materials are often unfamiliar and disconnected from their daily lives. This research aimed to determine the effect of modifying reading materials about Enrekang on students’ reading comprehension and to explore students’ perceptions of the use of the modified materials. A quantitative approach using a one-group pre-test and post-test design was applied, involving 26 seventh-grade students of UPT SMP Negeri 2 Enrekang selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a reading comprehension test and a questionnaire, and were analyzed through descriptive statistics, normality and homogeneity tests, and a paired-samples t-test. The findings revealed a significant improvement in students’ reading comprehension after the implementation of the modified reading materials, with the mean score increasing from 55.69 in the pre-test to 89.81 in the post-test, and the paired-samples t-test showing a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). The questionnaire results further indicated that students perceived the modified materials as attractive, easy to understand, relevant to their local context, and helpful for improving their reading comprehension. In conclusion, modifying reading materials about Enrekang effectively improved students’ reading comprehension and created a more meaningful learning experience, as the integration of simplified language and local content enhanced both students’ reading achievement and their motivation, confidence, and engagement in reading English texts.
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