THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS’ INTEREST AND THEIR ABILITY IN BASIC TENSES MASTERY OF THE SECOND YEAR STUDENTS AT ENGLISH DEPARTMENT IN BUNG HATTA UNIVERSITY

Abstrak

The purpose of this research was to correlate between Students’ Interest and Their Ability in Basic Tenses Mastery of The Second Year Students at English Department in Bung Hatta University. The hypothesis of this research was there is significant correlation between students’ interest and their ability in basic tenses mastery of the second year students at English Department in Bung Hatta University. The design of this research was correlational research. The population members of this research were 52 of second year students at English Department in Bung Hatta University. In selecting the sample, the researcher used random sampling technique. The numbers of sample members were 30 students. The instruments used to get the data were the questionnaire of interest and grammar test on basic tenses. The researcher tried out the test to the students out of sample. The writer found the reliability of the grammar test by Alpha-Conbach method. It was found that the coefficient correlation was very high (.957). It means that the test was very reliable. Then, the researcher also found the questionnaire of interest test by using Alpha-Cronbach. It was found that the coefficient correlation was very high (.886). It means that the test was very reliable. The test was valid in terms of content validity. The result of the data analysis showed that the value r- calculated in this research was .796 with the level significant 95% (α.05) and the degree of freedom (df) n-2(28), the value of r- table was .361. It means that r- calculated (.796) was higher than r- table (28). Therefore, the relationship between two variables, students’ interest and their ability in basic tenses mastery was significant. Then, the alternative hypothesis that said there is a significant correlation between students’ interest and their ability in basic tenses mastery of the second year students at English Department in Bung Hatta University was accepted. It was categorized as having strong correlation, significant and positive correlation. It can be concluded that the students are good in basic tenses mastery, if they have good interest. Dealing with the conclusion of this research, the researcher has suggestion for the teacher. They should be able to facilitate the development of students’ interest in teaching grammar.