IMPROVING STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH GROUP READING ACTIVITIES FOR EIGHT GRADE AT SMPN 8 KETUNGAU HILIR

Novia Trifena. 2025. Improving Students’ Reading Comprehension Through Group Reading Activities For Eight Grade At SMPN 8 Ketungau Hilir. Thesis. English Language Education Study Program. STKIP Persada Khatulistiwa. Advisor I: Ferdinanda Itu Meo, M. Pd. Advisor II: Yokie Prasetya Dharma, M. Pd. B.I

Keywords: group reading activities, reading comprehension, teaching

The background of the study is based on the fact that many students had low interest in reading and faced challenges in understanding English texts, which affected their reading achievement. To address these issues, group reading activities were used as an interactive learning strategy that encourages student collaboration and active participation during reading sessions. This study aims to improve students’ reading comprehension through the implementation of group reading activities in the eighth grade at SMPN 8 Ketungau Hilir. The research employed Classroom Action Research (CAR) which was conducted in two cycles, following the procedures of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Data were collected through observations, interviews, reading tests, and documentation, and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The results revealed that students’ reading comprehension improved after the implementation of group reading activities. Throughout the cycles, there was a gradual increase in students' involvement, confidence, and cooperation in reading tasks. They were better able to understand texts and answer comprehension questions accurately. The improvement across the two cycles showed that students responded positively to the strategy, both in terms of learning outcomes and classroom engagement. In conclusion, group reading activities proved to be an effective method to enhance students’ reading comprehension and foster a more active and participatory learning environment. The collaborative nature of the strategy helped students support each other, share ideas, and become more motivated in reading activities. Therefore, it is recommended that English teachers integrate group reading activities into their teaching to improve students’ reading skills and engagement. This method can also be further explored or adapted by future researchers.