An Analysis of the Second Grade Students’ Difficulties in Comprehending Recount Text at SMAN 2 Koto Baru Dharmasraya

Abstrak

Reading is one of the language skills should be mastered well by students because reading is one of skills that we can get information from it. Unfortunately, many second grade students of SMAN 2 Koto Baru, Dharmasraya are not able to comprehend recount text. It was indicated by their unability to grasp message in identifying the general information in orientation and detailed information in event from the text about past event. Then it was difficult for them to distinguish social function and text structure of the text.  

This research was attempted to describe the second grade students’ difficulties in  comprehending recount text at SMAN 2 Koto Baru Dharmasraya. The design of this research was descriptive research. The number of population members was 126 students. The researcher used stratified cluster random sampling technique in taking the sample. Two classes were selected as the sample of this research; 1 class from the science class and 1 class from social classs. The size of sample was 46 students. In collecting the data the researcher used reading test. Based on the result of try out, the researcher found that reability index of the test was 0.87.

After analyzing the data, it was found that in general the second grade students of SMAN 2 Koto Baru Dharmasraya had difficulties in comprehending recount text. Specifically, they had difficulties in comprehending orientation, event, and re-orientation. It was indicated by the fact that ; 73.92 % students had difficulties in comprehending  the orientation of recount text,  58.70 % students had difficulties in comprehending the event of recount tex, and 60.87 % students had difficulties in comprehending the re-orientation of recount text.   

Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that the second grade students of SMAN 2 Koto Baru Dharmasraya had difficulties in comprehending recount text. The English teachers are suggested to explain more about the generic structure of recount text and to give more exercises related to  recount text in order to improve students’ vocabulary and comprehension. The students are suggested to read more about  recount texts in order to  improve their own ability  to comprehend them.

Key words : Students’ Difficulties, Recount text, Reading Comprehension