Rc20 the correlation between students’ achievement in vocabulary and reading ability

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS� ACHIEVEMENT IN

VOCABULARY AND READING ABILITY

(Case Study at the Second Year Students of MAN II Bekasi, Academic Year 2006-2007)

A �Skripsi�

Presented to the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teachers� Training in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Strata 1 (S1)

By:

I K A H 102014023797

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TARBIYAH AND TEACHERS TRAINING

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH

JAKARTA

2006

id2258468 pdfMachine by Broadgun Software - a great PDF writer! - a great PDF creator! - http://www.pdfmachine.com http://www.broadgun.com

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS� ACHIEVEMENT IN

VOCABULARY AND READING ABILITY

(Case Study at the Second Year Students of MAN II Bekasi, Academic Year 2006-2007)

A �Skripsi�

Presented to the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teachers� Training in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Strata 1 (S1)

By:

I K A H 10201302023797

Approped by:

Advisor

Drs. A. Munir Sonhadji, M.Ed. NIP. 150 050 682

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TARBIYAH AND TEACHERS TRAINING

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH

JAKARTA

2006

LEGALIZATION OF EXAMINATION COMMITTEE

A �Skripsi� titled �THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS�

ACHIEVEMENT IN VOCABULARY AND READING ABILITY� (A case

Study at the Second Year Students of MAN II Bekasi, Academic Year 2006-

2007) was examined at examination session of The Faculty of Tarbiyah of Syarif

Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta on Wednesday, 22 November, 2006.

This � skripsi� has fulfilled the requirement for the degree of Strata-1 (S-1) at English

Department.

Jakarta, 1 February, 2007

Examination Committee

The Head of Committee The Secretary of Committee

Prof. Dr.Dede Rosyada, M.A Prof. Dr. H. Azis Fahrurrozi, M.A NIP: 150 231 356 NIP: 150 202 343

Committee

Examiner I Examiner II

Drs. Syauki, M.Pd Drs. M. Farkhan M.Pd NIP: 150 246 289 NIP: 150 229 480

i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. All praises be to Allah, the

lord of the worlds, who has given the health and strength to the writer in completing

this �skripsi�. May Allah�s peace and blessing be upon His final Prophet and

Messenger, Muhammad, his family and his companions.

This �skripsi� is presented to the English Deparment of Tarbiyah Faculty

State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta as a partial fulfillment of the

requirement for the Degree of first strata.

It is the great honor for the writer to make acknowledgement of indebtedness

to convey her sincere gratitude to Drs. A. Munir Sonhadji, M. Ed., who has patiently

given valuable advice and guidance to finalize this �skripsi�.

Alhamdulillah, the writer has finished this skripsi. Absolutely it is not only an

effort by her self alone, there are many �hands� help her. In this occasion, she

presents great honor to:

1. Prof. Dr. H. Dede Rosyada, the Dean of Tarbiyah and Education Faculty.

2. Drs. Nasrun Mahmud, the head of English Department.

3. Drs. A. Munir Sonhadji, M.Ed her advisor, who has given his time, support,

guidance, kindness, contributions, and patience in correcting and helping her

in finishing this skripsi.

4. Dra. Nida Husna The secretary of English Department.

5. All lecturers who have taught her in this English Department, for giving new

knowledge, advices in facing life, and for giving gorgeous study experiences.


ii

6. Drs. Adnan as the principal of MAN II Bekasi and also for the others who

help her

7. All teachers and the students at MAN II Bekasi for giving permission and

helping the writer to do this research.

8. The most special persons in her life, her beloved � mum� and �dad�, who

have given their support during her study and her writing skripsi. Thank you

for your kindness and you are so patience. Her big sister, Teh Kani, Teh kana.

Her big brother Bang Mada, Bang Niken. And my little sister Mahdalena.

9. Her beloved best friends, ka Ahmad, Imah, Yani, Nap, Yuni, Nana, Jen, Enye,

Neng who have always been in the writer side in the facing all the laugher and

tears during her study.

10. To any other persons who can not be mentioned one by one to their any

contribution to the writer during finishing her �skripsi�.

Finally, yet importantly, the writer resizes that his �skripsi� still has some

weakness and mistakes. Thus, she would be grateful to accept any suggestion and

correction from anyone for the better writing.

Jakarta, 17 October 2006

The writer

I K A H

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................................................... i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................... iii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study ......................................................... 1

B. Limitation and Formulation of the Problem ........................... 4

C. Objective of the Study ............................................................ 5

D. Methodology of Research ...................................................... 5

E. Organization of the Study ...................................................... 6

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Vocabulary .............................................................................. 7

1. Definition of Vocabulary .................................................. 7

2. Kinds of Vocabulary ......................................................... 10

3. Teaching Vocabulary ........................................................ 13

B. Reading ................................................................................... 14

1. Definition of Reading ........................................................ 14

2. Aims of Reading ............................................................... 16

3. Types of Reading .............................................................. 18

4. Reading Comprehension ................................................... 19

5. Factors Affecting Comprehensions ................................... 21


iv

6. Correlation Between Vocabulary and Reading ................. 23

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS

A. Research Methodology ............................................................ 24

1. The Purpose of Study ........................................................ 24

2. Operational Definitions of Variables ................................. 24

3. Place and Time of the Study ............................................. 26

4. Method of Study ................................................................ 26

5. The Technique of Sample Taking ..................................... 27

6. The Technique of Data Collecting .................................... 27

7. The Research Instrument ................................................... 28

8. Technique of Data Analysis .............................................. 28

B. Research Findings ................................................................... 29

1. The Description of Data .................................................... 29

2. The Analysis of Data ......................................................... 29

3. Test of Hypothesis ............................................................ 34

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

A. Conclusion ............................................................................... 36

B. Suggestion ............................................................................... 37

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 38

APPENDIXES

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of Study

English is an international language. Almost all countries have adapted

English used as a compulsory subject at schools. The national education has

decided that English as a foreign language taught in Indonesian schools. It learned

started from primary schools up to university. People realize that teaching English

at this level becomes very important and need much concern. As an English

teacher, he or she demands to explore effective techniques, method, and

approaches.

The students have to master the four basic language skills. They are

listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Beside such basic skill, the student has

to master some vocabularies as well as possible.

Vocabulary is one important aspect in learning a foreign language. With a

limited vocabulary anyone will also has a limited understanding in terms of

speaking, reading, listening, and writing. It is true that it might be impossible to

learn a language without mastering vocabulary. Vocabulary is one of the

problems confronted by English language learners. Because of the limited

vocabulary, the learners cannot communicate to others clearly. Sometimes it is

difficult to group the idea transmitted to them. The acquisition of a large number

of vocabularies can help the students read, speak, listen, and write. A good


2

vocabulary and ability to use words correctly and effectively can help the students

make school work easier and more rewarding, and also many tests that they take

in school include vocabulary questions. The more vocabularies they know the

better their chance to do well on an English test.

According to H. G. Tarigan, �Kualitas keterampilan berbahasa seseorang

jelas tergantung pada kuantitas dan kualitas yang dimilikinya maka semakin besar

kosakata yang kita miliki maka semakin besar pula kemungkinan kita terampil

berbahasa�.1 (The quality of language skill depends on the quantity and quality of

vocabulary. The more vocabulary we have, the bigger possibility to have a skill to

use the language).

Mastering vocabulary is the ability to get or to receive a lot of words. By

having and mastering vocabulary we will know the meaning of vocabulary in the

context. Measuring vocabulary helps to avoid making mistakes in understanding.

On the other hand, foreign students learning English reading text, one lack

of vocabulary, whereas in fact vocabulary is the most important thing in reading

skill.

Nowadays, the ability to comprehend English is necessary for peoplean

also to understanding English, people have to able to communicate English and

also able to read many kinds of English text. The ability to read is crucial in

contemporary society. People find many texts written in English, from holiday

1 Henry Guntur Tarigan, Pengajaran Kosakata (Bandung: Angkasa, 1986) p.2

3

brochures to academic books, newspaper, advertisements, etc. therefore, the

ability to read English text in any form will give a great deal of advantages in our

lives.

Harry Madox said that �reading is the most important single in study�.2

And the curriculum stated that out of the four skills, listening, speaking, reading,

and writing, the main emphasis is on reading skill because it is believed that

acquisition of reading in a second or foreign language is priority.3

Reading is good thing in life because it is a factor of great importance in

the individual development and the most important activity in school. It is needed

in every level of field of study. Particularly in cases when students have to read

English materials for their own special subject.

Being able to read in English is very important as it is known that success

in reading is the most necessary because it is a basic tool of education. All the

subjects in Elementary School such as mathematics, science, language, and others

depend on the ability to read. In high school and college reading ability becomes

even more important. Through reading we acquire new ideas, obtain needed

information, seek support for our ideas and broaden our interest. We can also get

the message that the writer had expressed. The ability to read helps to distinguish

human being from other animal.

2 Harry Madox, How to Study (Greenwich: Fawcet Premier. 1963) p.76

3 Depdikbud, Kurikulum 1994, GBPP SMU (Jakarta: Depdikbud, 1994) p.1

4

And one of the purposes of teaching English of a foreign language to

Indonesian people is that they can read, grasp the idea and understand the book

written in English. To achieve those purposes, students need a lot of words of

English to master. As Norbert said � vocabulary is one of the most important

skills in a language�.4 So to achieve the success in language teaching learning

process especially English, vocabulary is one of important factors in all language

teaching.

Based on the description of vocabulary and reading above, it shows that

they have close relation. To get empirical data about it the writer will organize the

test result to prove the influence of student�s achievement in vocabulary and

reading. By getting the grades, the writer tries to find an answer that student�s

achievement in vocabulary influencing reading.

B. Limitation and Formulation of the Problem

To make the problem clear, it is necessary for the writer to limit the

problem. The limitation of the problem as the follows: The correlation between

students� achievement in vocabulary and reading ability.

Based on the statement above, he writer formulates the problem: is

�Whether students� vocabulary has a correlation with reading in Second year

students of MAN II Bekasi?

4 Norbert Schmitt, Vocabulary in Language Teaching (USA: Cambridge University Press,

1997) p. 40

5

C. Objective of the Study

The objectives of the study as below:

a. The writer wants to know how far vocabulary supports the students in

reading.

b. The writer wants to know whether students who have a good result in

vocabulary test also have a good result in reading.

D. Methodology of Research

This work is based on field research. In the field research, the writer

carries out the observation at MAN II Bekasi, and gives some test of vocabulary

and reading, and then the test calculated. At the same time the writer also does an

interview to they are English teacher of that of the second year. Library research

applied through reading some books and theories relevant to the topics.

After scoring of such test, the writer will calculate Coefficient Correlation.

Then the writer will have some concerning with the students� score vocabulary

and reading. The writer tries to determine that are there any correlation between

students� achievement in vocabulary and reading? These scores will use the

formula of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient.5

5 Prof. Drs. Anas Sudijono, Pengantar Statistik Pendidikan (Jakarta: PT Raja Grafindo

Persada, 2004) p.188

6

E. Organization of the Study

This �skripsi� consist of four chapters. Chapter one is introduction,

consisting of background of the study, limitation and formulation of the problem,

the objective of the study, methodology of research and organization of he study.

Chapter two is theoretical framework. That is explains vocabulary,

definition of vocabulary, kinds of vocabulary, teaching vocabulary. And also

explains reading, definition of reading, aims of reading, types of reading, reading

comprehension, factors affecting comprehensions, correlation between

vocabulary and reading.

Chapter three is research methodology finding. It involves the purpose of

study, place and time of study, method of study, the technique of sample taking,

the technique of data collecting, the research Instrument, technique of data

analysis. In research finding involves the description of data, the analysis of data,

and test of hypothesis.

Chapter four is conclusion and suggestion.

7

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Vocabulary

1. Definition of Vocabulary

In this chapter the writer wants to explain definition of vocabulary in

order to understand a language the learners have to understand the definition

of vocabulary first. It is difficult to make one definition of vocabulary. So, the

writer tries to take it from some references.

Vocabulary is the �Everest of language�.1 For this reason, a person

who wants to be able to communicate in a certain language has to master the

vocabulary of that language for the first time.

Vocabulary as one of the language aspects have to be learned when

people are learning a language. Good mastery of vocabulary is important for

anyone who learns the language used in listening, speaking, writing, and

reading besides grammar. A learner of the foreign language will speak

fluently and accurately, write easily, or understand what he or she reads or

hears if he or she has enough vocabulary and has a capability of using it

accurately. S. H. Burton said: �without a large vocabulary, it is impossible to

1 David Crystal, the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Australia: Cambridge

University press , 1995, p.116


8

use English language precisely and vividly�.2According to Collier �When a

student has mastered the fundamental grammatical patterns of language, his

next task is to master its vocabulary, or at least that of its vocabulary that he

need.�3

It is obvious that vocabulary is very important in learning a language,

especially English, because the English vocabulary is extremely large and

varies as well. Therefore, it is highly essential for English teachers to help

their students in mastering vocabulary.

Norbert Schmitt gave the definition of vocabulary as follows. Vocabulary is a basis of a language: it is very important to be mastered first. We cannot speak well and understand written materials if we do not master it. Norbert Schmitt stated that no matter how successfully the sound of the foreign language is mastered, without words to express the wider range of meanings, communication in a foreign language just cannot happen in any meaningful way.4

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines �vocabulary

means all the words that someone know, learn of uses, or the words that are

typically used when talking about particular subject or a list of words with the

explanations of their meanings in a book for learning foreign language�.5

2 S. H. Burton, Mastering English Language, London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1982, p.98 3 Collier � Macmillan International: A Division of the Macmillan Company, The Key to

English Vocabulary: English Services London: Collier Macmillan Limited, 1971, p.1

4 Norbert Schmitt, op. cit, p.5

5 Longman, Dictionary of Contemporary English, Second Edition (Harlow: Longman Group, 1987) p. 1177

9

Webster has three definition of vocabulary as follows:

1. A list or collection of words and phrases usually alphabetically arranged

and explained or define.

2. A list or collection of terms or codes available for use.

3. A sum or stock of word employed by a language group, individual or

work or in a field knowledge.6

In some literature, we found the meaning of vocabulary. There are

some definitions of vocabulary. A.S. Hornby in �Oxford Advanced Learner�s

Dictionary of Current English� states that vocabulary is:

1. Total number of words which (with rules for combining them) make up a

language.

2. (Range of) words known to, or used by, a person, in a trade, profession,

etc.7

Another dictionary, Webster�s New World College Dictionary,

defined vocabulary as a list of words ands, often, phrases, abbreviations,

inflectional form, etc, usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined or

otherwise identified, as in a dictionary or glossary.8

6 Merriam Webster, Collegiate Dictionary (America: Merriam Web Inc.2003) p.1400

7 A. S. Hornsby, Oxford Advanced Learner�s Dictionary of Current English, Revised and updated, (Oxford University Press, 1987), p. 959

8 Merriam Webster, Webster�s New World College Dictionary, 4th ed, (Cleveland: Wiley Publishing Inc, 2002), p. 1600

10

Vocabulary is considered as the most important part in learning a

language. It is impossible for the students to read, write and speak a foreign

language without having enough knowledge of the vocabulary. Learning the

new vocabulary does not only mean memorizing the form of the word but also

understand its meaning.

2. Kinds of Vocabulary

Vocabulary varies in the four skills of language, listening, writing,

reading and speaking. Generally, a student will absorb listening and speaking

vocabulary before coming to the reading and writing vocabulary. But in real

situation, the process may change, especially in foreign language teaching.

Reading vocabulary may become the first stage before processing the

speaking and listening vocabulary.

According to the basis of frequency, vocabulary can be divided into

two kinds; there are high frequency vocabulary and low frequency

vocabulary.9

a. High frequency vocabulary consists of words that are used very often in

normal language, use in all four skills and across the full range of situation

of use. High frequency vocabulary consists of 2000 word families, which

are about 87% of the running words in formal written text and more than

95% of the words in informal spoken texts.

9 Paul Nation, New Ways of Teaching Vocabulary (USA: Teacher of English to Speaker of

Another Language/TESOL Inc, 1994), p.3

11

b. The low frequency vocabulary on the other hand, covers only small

proportion of the running words of a continuous text, it means that low

frequency vocabulary is rarely, used in common activity of English

language. This group includes well over 100.000 word families.

I.S.P Nation calls those vocabularies as motivated vocabulary and

unmotivated vocabulary. Motivated (active) vocabulary consists of all the

words we need to use and feel no reluctance in using in our everyday life.

While, the unmotivated (passive) vocabulary can be divided into two groups:

1. Words which are only partly understood and are not well known enough to

use actively, and

2. Words which are not needed in daily communication.10

From the explanation above, we can conclude that active vocabulary is

all the words used in daily activities, partly while, passive vocabulary is all

the words recognized and understood, and not necessarily used.

Jo Ann Aebersold and Mary Lee Field classify into active and passive.

a. Active vocabulary refers to put item which the learner can use appropriately

in speaking or writing, and it is also called as productive vocabulary,

although in fact it is more difficult to put into practice, its means that to use

the productive vocabulary, the students must to know how to pronounce it

10 I.S.P Nation, Teaching and Learning Vocabulary, ( New York: Newbury House Publishers,

1990), p.94

12

well, they must be familiar with collocation and understand the connotation

meaning of the word. This type is often used in speaking and writing skill.

b. Passive vocabulary refers to language items that can be recognized and

understood in the context of reading or listening and also called as receptive

vocabulary.

Besides receptive and productive vocabulary, Jo Ann Aebersold and

Marry Lee Field also classified vocabulary into topic-specific or content-

specific vocabulary. Topic-specific or content-specific vocabulary is the

words that appear frequently in a particular text because they are related to

the topic of the text.11 For example, in a text on the topic of ice cream, the

words flavor, texture, cone, toppings and carton might appear frequently. So,

those words can we call as topic-specific or content-specific vocabulary.

Meanwhile Djalinushah and Azimar Enong divided vocabulary into

two, namely general vocabulary and special vocabulary. General vocabulary

is of the words that are used in general. There is no limit of field and user.

Special vocabulary is that the words that are used in the certain field and job,

profession of special science and technology.12

11 Jo Ann Amberoid and Mary Lee Field, From Reader to Reading Teacher, (Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press, 1997), p. 139

12 Djalinushah and Azimar Enong, Tata Bahasa Inggris Modern dalam Tanya Jawab (Jakarta: CU. Miswar, 1980) p.81

13

From the explanation above, we know that every experts in every book

is different in classifying the kind of vocabulary, because every person has

different way in showing and telling their opinions and ideas. Some of them

who emphasize vocabulary to the items which the learners can use

appropriately in speaking or writing and to the language items which the

learners can use appropriately in speaking or writing and to the language

items that can be recognized and understood in the context of reading and

listening and some of them classify vocabulary that they have made are

different, but the point is the same, because their classification are based on

the different sides and aspects.

3. Teaching Vocabulary

Because of the importance of vocabulary, it needs a serious attention

in learning vocabulary from both learners and teachers. It becomes a great

challenging act for the teacher to teach vocabulary, what kind of methods they

use, what kind of vocabulary that they give, or how many vocabularies that

they should teach. There are some key principles of teaching vocabulary:13

1. Build a large sight of vocabulary.

2. Integrated new words with previous words.

3. Provide a number of encounters with a word.

4. Promotes deep level of processing.

13 Norbert Schmitt, op. cit, p.146

14

5. Facilitate imaging.

6. Make new word �real� by connecting them to the student�s word in some

way.

7. Use variety techniques.

8. Encourage independent learning strategies.

As it has already mentioned at the beginning that there is no right or

best way to teach English skill, it all depends on the type of students, the

school system and curriculum, the word that are targeted and many other

factors. The choice of vocabulary to teach is also limited to the learner�s need,

experiences and interest.

B. Reading

1. Definition of Reading

Reading knowledge is broadened and well-informed by reading.

Reading is really crucial our knowledge is usually broadened and informed

by reading activities, and the activity of reading can be found in the internet,

book, etc.

Students should practice their reading more and more, so that their

reading ability and their reading experience will be improved. They may find

difficulty and frustrating, but if they keep practicing, they will have a good

sense of English and will help them to grasp the total meaning of the words.

Another thing should be remembered in reading that students should not open

15

a dictionary too often because it will slow down their reading rate and can

make them bored. If they find new words, they should try to guess the

meanings by trying to find out any clue words according to the context in the

passages

There are a lot of definitions of reading. Linguists give definitions

about reading, their opinions about reading vary.

Some of them say reading is the process to get, to understand, to catch

the content of the reading. And also reading is a process to understand a

written text which means extracting the required information from it as

efficiently as possible.

According to Walter R. Hill �Reading is what the reader does to get

the meaning he needs from textual sources.�14 Meanwhile Guy L. Bond and

Eva Bond Wagner explained the meaning of reading as �the process of

acquiring and author�s meaning and of interpreting, evaluating, and effecting

upon those meanings.�15

F. Dubin explained the meaning of reading as �reading is primarily a

cognitive process, which means that the brain does most of the work.�16

14 Walter R. Hill, Secondary School Reading: Process, Program, procedure, (Boston: Allyn

and Bacon), 1979, p.4 15 Guy L Bond and Eva Bond Wagner, Teaching The Child to Read, (New York: The

Macmillan Company, 1969), p.4

16 F. Dubin, D.E. Eskey and W. Grabbe, Teaching Second Language Reading for Academic Purposes (California: Edison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1986), p. 6

16

Those statements above show the various definitions of reading, they

mean generally. Reading means a complex process of thinking in assigning

meaning from printed materials which involve most of the reader�s

intellectual act such as pronunciation and comprehension in order to receive

ideas or information extended by the text. It can be seen that reading is not

only looking at word in the form of graphic symbols but also getting meaning

from word to word or line to line to understand what we read. It means that

reading is a process to understand the text content and to get information.

2. Aims of Reading

A person may read for many purposes, and purpose helps to

understand more what is read by people. If he is reading for pleasure or

reading for pure recreation and enjoyment, he may read either quickly or

slowly based on the way he likes or feels. But if reads for studying or setting

information such news, science or same line, which are part of his study or

assignment he does it very slowly and carefully.

According to Paul S. Anderson, there are seven aims of reading,

reading for details and fact, reading for main ideas, reading for sequence or

organization, reading for inference, reading for classifying, reading for

evaluating and reading for comparing of contest.17

17 A Widyamartaya, Seni Membaca Untuk Studi (Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 1992) p.90

17

a. Reading for details and fact is reading to know what is done by the subject

of the story

b. Reading for main ideas is reading to get the problem statement

c. Reading for sequence of organization is reading to know each part of the

story

d. Reading for inference is reading to know what is the writer meant by its

story

e. Reading for classifying is reading to find unusual things

f. Reading for evaluating is reading to know the value of the story

g. Reading for comparing or contest is reading to compare the way of life of

the story with the way of life of the reader.

Another author said that the aim of reading is:

a. Reading for pleasure

b. Reading for information (in order to find out something or in order to do

something with the information you get).18

Meanwhile Lester and Allice Crow classified two general purposes.

These purposes includes; Leisure-time reading and more serious reading.19

18 Francoise Grellet, Developing Reading Skills, (Cambridge: Cambridge university Press,

1981) p. 4

19 Lester and Allice Crow, How to Study: to Learn Better, Pass Examination, Get better Grades (USA: Collier Macmillan Publishers, 1976) p.53

18

1. Leisure-time reading. It is reading for enjoyment which may vary in to

follow your favorite sport, comic, article, and movie program.

2. More serious reading. It is reading to study for a goal such as to obtain

factual information and solve problems.

3. Types of Reading

Depending on the purposes of reading it also can be classified into two

types of activities, intensive and extensive reading.20

a. Intensive reading:

Intensive reading means reading shorter texts to extract specific

information. This activity is likely more to emphasize the accuracy

activity involving reading for detail. The process of scanning takes a more

prominent role here than skimming. Reader is trying to absorb all the

information given, example: Reading dosage instruction for medicine.

b. Extensive reading:

Reader deals with a longer text as a whole, which requires the

ability to understand the component part and their contribution the overall

meaning, usually for one�s own pleasure. This is a fluency activity, mainly

involving global understanding. Example: Reading a newspaper, article,

short story or novel.

20 Christine Natal, Teaching Reading Skill in A Foreign Language (London: The Nemenn

Educational Ltd, 1982) p.23

19

In other words Francoise Grellet defines that �skimming is quickly

running one�s eyes over a text to get the gist of it. While, �scanning is

quickly going through a text to find a particular piece of information.�21

So if a person wants to get an address, phone number, a date in a

book over paragraph in order to locate a special piece of information, that

activities is called �scanning� but if he reads all the passage in order to

know about what it deals about his reading, that is called �skimming�.

In skimming a reader must ask himself what the text is talked

about. He must move his eyes quickly over the text, looking especially at

the main title, the beginning and the end, and the first sentence of

paragraph. In scanning the reader must ask himself weather or not the text

contains what he is looking for and if any, he must find where is located,

he moves also his eyes more or less quickly over the text for specific

items.

4. Reading Comprehension

The essence of reading act is comprehension: it becomes a primary

challenge in teaching or learning of reading skill. In order to learn or

understand the massage of the author, the students are hoped to have the

ability to comprehend the written textbook. Comprehension means

understanding the meaning or the point of a topic, F. Dubin, D.E Eskey and

21 Francoise Grellet, op cit., p. 4

20

W. Grabe show a more specific explanation, comprehension means relating

what we do not know or new information, which is not random collection of

facts but a �theory of a world� in each of our heads.22

Reading with comprehension means to understand what has been read.

Dorothy Rubin states that reading comprehension is a complex intellectual

process involving a number of abilities. The two major abilities concern word

meanings and reasoning with verbal concepts.23 English has been taught as a

foreign language in our country, however, it does not mean that the result of

teaching English in our school is satisfactory, despite the fact that it is taught

continuously for six years at the high school, three years at SMP, and three

years at SMA. Ramelan say that most SMA graduates are still very poor in

their reading comprehension, since they cannot usually read or understand

articles in English dailies.24

There are different lists of skills that they feel are basic to

understanding. The skills usually listed are as follows:25

1. React to the sensory images (visual, kinesthetic, taste, smell) suggested by

words.

22 F. Dubin, D.E Eskey and W. Grabbe, op cit, p. 6

23 Dorothy Rubin, Diagnosis and Correction in Reading Instruction, (New York: CBS College Publishing, 1982) p.207

24 Ramelan, Introduction to Linguistic Analysis, (Semarang: IKIP Semarang Press, 1992) p.3

25 Dorothy Rubin, op. cit, p.207

21

2. Interpret verbal connotations and denotations.

3. Recognize and understand the writer�s purpose.

4. Determine whether the text affirms, denies, or fails to express an opinion

about a supposed fact or condition.

5. Identify the antecedents of such words as who, some, or they.

5. Factors Affecting Comprehensions

As it has already been shown, reading comprehension need some

intellectual ability to master it. There are six basic factors that influence the

students� ability in comprehending written materials.

a. Background Experiences

Students who have little experience may have some difficulties in

comprehending many ideas and activities with which other children are

familiar before they learn in school. For an example, a student who never

sees or hears about the mountain, and in some occasions dealing with it

will find the story hard to follow, so he must have experiences in his

background that enables him to bring personal meaning to the events an

feelings if the story.

b. Intellectual Abilities

Second aspect of comprehension is the students� ability to think, it

all depends on his intellectual development. Although the teacher gives

the same textbook and same purpose of reading, the result of reading may

22

be different. The number of ideas that they understand and the depth of

their understanding will be largely dependent upon their general capacity

to learn. The slow learning or dull-normal students cannot be expected to

show same reaction or gain the same appreciations as the bright students

when they read together for pleasure or to gain information.

c. Language Abilities

The third aspect is the students� language abilities, including

semantics or word meaning and grasp of syntax. Understanding of

semantics comes from experience with words in various, personally

meaningful settings. A grasp of syntax is needed to recover the structure

of the language, so the students have to master syntax which links deep

and surface structure.

d. Affection

Such as personal interest, motivation, attitudes, beliefs, feelings;

students will attend a better understanding to the story about a topic if they

find personally interesting. The cause of greater understanding is also

affected by reader�s attitude and beliefs, readers could understand

materials better when it matches their own attitudes and beliefs on a topic.

This affection is usually linked to each other.

23

e. The purpose of reading

This fifth factor also determines the comprehension ability, student

could also have difficulties to understand the story if he reads it with no

particular purpose in mind. Comprehension is always directed and

controlled by the needs and purposes of an individual.26 If that so, they

must establish their own purpose before reading and commits the entire

story to memory.

f. Skills of comprehending

Another factor which influences the depth and the amount of

comprehension is the skills that the students have developed for that

purpose; the ability to comprehend develops gradually from the simple to

the complex skills. The teacher give a balanced program, include direct

teaching of techniques which will aid the student in developing attitudes

and skill of thoughtful, purposeful reading.

6. Correlation between Vocabulary and Reading

One reason why children find reading in some subject fields difficult

because of their lack of vocabulary. Whereas in fact of vocabulary is the most

important thing in reading skill. Most of us if we find the difficult word, we

still just continue our reading in the hope that the word we read is not really

important or that it�s meaning will become clear later on. But sometimes these

word that we passed usually as the key of our reading and understanding. We

26 F. Dubin, op.cit, p. 14

24

can not catch and grasp the idea from our reading as well as possible. So

looking up the difficult words in dictionary is better for us.

25

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS

A. Research Methodology

1. The Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to get empirical data about the correlation

between students� achievement and reading ability, at the second grade

students of Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) II Narogong , Bekasi.

2. Operational Definitions of Variables

There are two kinds of variables in this research, the first variable is

the students� vocabulary achievement score which is taken by how many

vocabularies that they know from the test given; it is considered as

independent variable (variable X). The second variable is their Reading ability

score which is taken from their comprehension in reading with the texts; we

considered it as dependent variable (variable Y).

The students� vocabulary achievement from the test of vocabulary that

is carried out by English book for Senior High School and work sheet (LKS-

Lembar Kerja Siswa), while reading comprehension ability was carried out by

the work sheet (LKS-Lembar Kerja Siswa).


26

3. Place and Time of the Study

The research was conducted at MAN II Bekasi that is located on Jalan

Bojong Asih V Perum Narogong Indah Rawa Lumbu, Bekasi.

The research was carried out from July 24th up to 1st August, 2006.

After getting an agreement of the school principal and then consult to an

English teacher who is teach at the second year of IPS (Social Sciences) of

MAN II Beaks.

4. Method of Study

In completing the data, the writer used the field research. In the field

research, the writer conducted the research for the students at the second year

of MAN II Bekasi. The writer gave a test to the students and asked them to

answer the question that she made.

This research uses the correlation method, with the analysis of Product

Moment according to Karl Pearson.1 It is usually used to correlate two

variables based on its correlation coefficient value. It is useful to describe and

find out the significance of the correlation between those two variables,

variable X and variable Y.

1 Prof. Drs. Anas Sudijono, op. cit, p. 177-178

27

5. The Technique of Sample Taking

The writer takes the whole students of IPS II at MAN II Bekasi

because they have enough knowledge and motivation in their study and their

reading ability is also good enough.

There are 123 students they are of IPA I, IPA II, IPS I, and IPS II, that

placed on second year of MAN II Bekasi. From those classes the writer took

one class of class IPS II they are 40 students as an experiment class and also

as sample of this study. The percentage of the sample in this research is 33%.

6. The Technique of Data Collecting

In completing the data, the next step of this research is collecting the

data; the function of data collecting is to determine the result of the research.

In collecting data, the writer uses some techniques.

a. Field Research

In this research, the writer gave a test to the students of IPS II at MAN

II Bekasi. This test was focused on the vocabulary test and reading test.

b. Testing

Since the writer wanted to investigate the correlation between two

kinds of test, vocabulary and reading comprehension, so the writer uses

test method. The test is divided into two parts; the first is vocabulary,

which consists of 20 items. The second is reading comprehension, which

also consists of 20 items.

28

7. The Research Instrument

The research instrument plays an important role to collect data. The

instrument used in this research is an objective test, and the writer used one

type of objective test, which is multiple-choice type. Multiple-choice type can

be scored objectively and can measure learning out come directly.

In this research, the test consisted of 40 items with five alternatives.

The alternatives include one correct answer and four wrong answers. There

are four passages and from each passage the writer makes a question on

reading comprehension including question of vocabulary, main idea, detail,

not detail, and inference. The test of vocabulary is not only based on the

contents of the passage in the textbook but also taken from another book,

which is correlated to their study and syllabus.

From these tests, the writer takes all questions that have significant

correlation with the students� compulsory book, like New Light Contextual

Approach to Learning English for Year XI (Published by PT Pabelan) and

work sheet (LKS- Lembar Kerja Siswa) kelas 2 (Published by PT Hayati). So

the questions of the test calculated are relevant to the objective of the course.

8. Technique of Data Analysis

To find out the influence of the students� achievement vocabulary to

their reading ability, the writer uses a Pearson product moment correlations.

29

The correlation technique is an analysis technique to evaluate hypothesis

concerning correlation between two variables that are examined statistically.

In the correlation technique, the variables are compared to know

whether the correlation is very significant or it only happen by chance. The

formula of product moment correlation is:2

rxy 22 yx

xy

rxy = the correlation coefficient

∑xy = the sum of the multiplication between variable X score and

variable Y score.

∑x2 = the sum of standard deviation from Variable X

∑y2 = the sum of standard deviation from Variable Y

B. Research Findings

1. The Description of Data

As it has been mentioned in chapter one, the writer used the field

research. She held field research by taking the scores of 40 students as an

experiment test and analyzed those scores in order to find out whether there is

any correlation between students� achievement vocabulary and their reading

2 Prof. Drs. Anas Sudijono, op cit, p. 183

30

ability by using the Pearson r formula. So, in total there are 40 scores because

the samples had 2 set of scores.

The first score is vocabulary that consists of 20 items and the second

one is reading comprehension ability that also consists of 20 items, the

scoring is 5 for each correct answer and 0 for the wrong answer. The data of

vocabulary and reading test score result can be seen in the following tables.

(The form of the test and the result score can be seen in appendix).3

2. The Analysis of Data

Having finished the field research by using vocabulary test and

reading comprehension test, the writer uses statistic calculation of the Pearson

Product Moment Formula to analyze the data from the result of vocabulary

test and reading comprehension test. The following table shows the

calculation result based on the theory.

3 See Appendix 1 and 2, p. 41-44

31

Table 1 The Result of Product Moment Table

No X Y x y by x2 y2

1. 60 55 -2 -1 2 4 1

2. 75 75 13 19 247 169 361

3. 80 65 18 9 162 324 81

4. 50 50 -12 -6 72 144 36

5. 60 50 -2 -6 12 4 36

6. 45 40 -17 -162 272 289 256

7. 70 55 8 -1 -8 64 1

8. 60 55 -2 -1 2 4 1

9. 60 65 -2 9 -18 4 81

10. 80 65 18 9 162 324 81

11. 70 40 8 -16 -128 64 256

12. 55 45 -7 -11 77 49 121

13. 55 55 -7 -1 7 49 1

14. 75 65 13 9 117 169 81

15. 75 70 13 14 182 169 196

16. 65 75 3 19 57 9 361

17. 50 25 -12 -31 372 72 961

18. 45 55 -17 -1 17 289 1

19. 40 45 -22 -11 242 484 121

20. 55 45 -7 -11 77 49 121

21. 65 70 3 14 42 289 196

22. 45 60 -17 4 -68 64 16

23. 70 60 8 4 32 49 16

24. 55 50 -7 -6 42 9 36

25. 50 50 -12 -6 72 144 36

26. 50 50 -12 -6 72 144 36

27. 60 55 -2 -1 2 4 1

28. 60 65 -2 9 -18 4 81

29. 65 80 3 24 72 9 576

32

30. 60 50 -2 -6 12 4 36

31. 65 45 3 -11 -33 9 121

32. 65 45 3 -11 -33 9 121

33. 70 35 8 -21 -168 64 168

34. 75 65 13 9 117 169 81

35. 70 65 8 9 72 64 81

36. 45 60 -17 4 68 289 16

37. 75 65 13 9 117 169 81

38. 70 55 8 -1 -8 64 1

39. 75 60 13 4 52 169 16

40. 65 60 3 4 12 9 16

N=40 2480 2240 0 0 ∑by=4648 ∑x2=4459 ∑y2=4887

xy )()( 22 yx

xy

SDx N

x2

40

4459

475,111

= 10.5

SDy N

y2

40

4887

33

175,122

= 11.05

)()(r

22 yx

xyxy

)4887()4459(

4648r xy

21791133

4648r xy

09,4668

4648r xy

99,0r xy

df nr-N

= 40-2 = 38

To know the correlation them in 5% and 1% significance, the writer

used r table with df formula: df = N � nr

df = degrees of freedom

N = total number of respondents

Nr = numbers of variable (X and Y)

df = N � nr = 40 � 2 38 (�r� value consultation table)

df = 38, so it used the nearest df that 40.

At the degree of significance of 5% = 0.304

At the degree of significance of 1% = 0.393

34

3. Test of Hypothesis

The writer has mentioned the hypothesis before from the hypothesis,

the writer have criteria of test hypothesis:

If ro > rt The alternative hypothesis (Ha) is accepted and Null

Hypothesis (Ho) is rejected. It means there is correlation between students�

achievement in vocabulary and reading ability.

If ro < rt The alternative hypothesis (Ha) is rejected and Null

Hypothesis (Ho) is accepted. It means there is correlation between students�

achievement in vocabulary and reading ability.

According to the table of significance, it can be seen that df 38 is

closer to r table df 40, so the writer took the r table df 40, we get point 0,304

on r table for the 5% significance degree, and point 0,393 on 1% significance

degree. So it means point 0.99 on ro is very high than r table (0.99 > 0.304

and 0.99 > 0,393), from that result, we can conclude that null hypothesis (Ho)

is rejected and alternative hypothesis (Ha) is accepted.

In conclusion, there is a correlation between students� achievement in

vocabulary and there is significant.

35

The level of influence is as follows

Table 2 The �r� Product Moment Table

Product Moment (r) Interpretation

0.00 � 0.20

0.20 � 0.40

0.40 � 0.70

0.70 � 0.90

0.90 � 1.00

Very low

Low

Moderate

High

Very High

Based on the result of statistics calculation above, the correlation

between the two variables X and Y is positive, it is 0.99. In another word, the

correlation between the students� achievement vocabulary and their reading

ability is considered very high as seen in the table above.

36

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

Based on the data described above, the comparison between students�

achievement in vocabulary and reading ability, are obtained that the value of ro is

1.00 the degree of freedom (df) is 38. In the table of the degree of significant of

5% and 1% the value of the degree of significant is 0.304 and 0.393. It means that

Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted, and it can be concluded that a correlation

between students� achievement in vocabulary and reading ability is significant.

The writer also concludes that most students are still weak not only in

their achievement of vocabulary, but also in reading comprehension ability. For

example using dictionary is very helpful for them to find out the meaning of

words. The writer also finds out that the correlation between vocabulary and

reading is significant. So, both of them cannot be separated each other.

B. Suggestion

Based on the conclusion above, it is suggested that in reading ability and

in vocabulary are:

1. English teacher is a motivator and stimulator. The teacher should support the

students� expectation about reading and arouse their interest to increase their

reading comprehension.


37

2. A teacher should know and able to implement a good method in teaching

reading, because it is quite complicated to learn.

3. The teacher should encourage the students to have and use dictionary as a tool

to help them with difficult words.

4. The teacher should also give a high motivation to the students to read more

and more English literature to increase their vocabulary level.

38

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Burton, S. H. Mastering English Language, London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1982 Collier-Macmillan International: A Division of the Macmillan Company, The Key to

English Vocabulary: English Services London: Collier Macmillan Limited, 1971

Crystal, David, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Australia:

Cambridge University Press, 1995 Depdikbud, Kurikulum 1994. GBPP SMU, Jakarta: Depdikbud, 1994 Dubin, F. and Eskey, D. E. and Grabbe, W, Teaching Second Language Reading for

Academic Purposes (California: Edison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1986) Enong, Azimar and Djalunushah, Tata Bahasa Inggris Modern dalam Tanya jawab

(Jakarta CU. Miswar, 1980) Tarigan, Henry Guntur, Pengajaran Kosakata, Bandung: Angkasa, 1986 Grellet, Francoise, Developping Reading Skills, (Cambridge: Cambridge University

press, 1981) Hill, Walter R, Secondary School Reading process, program, procedure, Boston:

Allyn and Bacon, 1969) Hornby, A. S, Oxford Advanced Learner�s Dictionary of Current English, Revised

and updated, (Oxford university press, 1987) L. Bond, Guy and Bond Wagner, Eva, Teaching the Child to Read (New York: The

Macmillan Company, 1969) Lee Field, and Aebersold, Jo Ann, From reader to Reading Teacher, (Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press) Lester and Crow, Allice, How to Study: To Learn Better, pass Examination, Get

Better Grades (USA: Collier Macmillan publishers, 1976) Longman, Dictionary of Contemporary English, Second Edition (Harlow: Longman

Group, 1987)


39

Madox, Harry, How to Study, Greenwich: Fawcet Premier, 1963) Mc Charty, Michael and Carter, Roland, Vocabulary and Language Teaching,

(London: Longman, 1988) Nation, I. S. P. Teaching and Learning Vocabulary, (New York: Newburry Hoouse

publishers, 1990) Nation, Paul, New Ways of Teaching Vocabulary, (USA: Teacher of English to

Speaker of Another Language/TESOL Inc, 1994) Natal, Christine, Teaching Reading Skill in a foreign language (London: The

Neumann Educational ltd, 1982) Ramelan, Introduction to Linguistic Analysis, (Semarang: IKIP Semarang Press,

1992) Robinson, H. Alan and B. Smith, Nilla, Reading Instruction for today�s Children,

Second Edition (USA: Prentice-Hall, 1980) Rubin , Dorothy, Diagnosis and Correction in Reading instruction, (New York: CBS

College Publishing, 1982) Schmitt, Norbert and Mc Carthey, Micael, Vocabulary in language Teaching, (USA:

Cambridge University press,1997) Webster, Merriam, Webster�s New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed, (Cleveland:

Wiley publishing Inc, 2002) Widyamartaya, A. Seni membaca untuk Studi, (Yogyakarta: kanisius, 1992)

Documents

Rc20 the correlation between students’ achievement in vocabulary and reading ability