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CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDING AND DISCUSSION
This chapter describes the various stages of activities developed as part of implementing the collaborative learning in a classroom action research. The
objective is to present the fact findings which provide evidence answering the problem statement stated in chapter I. The description of the findings is based on
the data from the researcher’s field note, the participant’s notes, the collaborator’s observation, the interview, and the tests. Broadly, the activities, spread out over a
period of 9 weeks, fell into two groups: those considered preliminary phase of CL and the main phase of CL applying teaching cycle under the following steps: pre-
reading activities, while-reading activities, and post-reading activities.
A. Introduction
This study began when the researcher realized that the eleventh year students of science one of MAN Sukoharjo had problems in comprehending the
English texts. The problems were indicated by the low achievement of English semester test mean: 4.0 and low motivation of the students. Then the researcher
conducted the preliminary observation to find out the problems faced by the students and teaching-learning situation done by the previous teacher.
Concerning with the students’ problems, there were many factors which caused their difficulties in comprehending the English texts. Based on the
interview the writer got from either students or the previous teacher informally, the causes were as follows.
Firstly, the previous teacher still used product approach in teaching reading. It meant that she just provided her students with reading material and a
number of questions dealing with the text to answer. Besides, the teacher tended to present the material monotonously. For example, when she taught a certain
topic, she just explained the material related to the topic while the students listened to the teacher’s explanation, and took notes, or even for sometimes took a
nap. Then, she asked the students about difficult words. After that she asked them to answer the questions with their friends to be discussed and checked together.
These would not help the students develop their reading skills. Teacher should understand and use a learning style and learning strategies in order to help the
students in comprehending the English texts. Secondly, the students were low motivation and they tended to be
passive because of their experience when they were in the tenth and class. Some of the students felt relaxed because they could go up to the next grade although
their marks were not so good, especially English. They did not realize that they should have better capability in order to prepare the national examination. They
still hoped that the teacher could help them in determining the success of national examination.
In relation to the problems above, the researcher considered that the attempt to improve the student’ capability in comprehending the English texts
in this class was difficult enough. Therefore, the researcher tried to maximize the students’ capability in comprehending the English texts with the available media.
Moreover, he wanted to use the Collaborative Learning CL technique which is theoretically able to improve the students’ learning because of the following
reasons. Firstly, CL provides a set of meaningful activities and it does the followings: 1 raise the achievement of all students, including those who are
gifted or academically handicapped; 2 help the teacher build positive relationships among students; and 3 give the students the experience they need
for healthy social, psychological, and cognitive development. Secondly, CL is working together to accomplish shared goals. Thirdly, CL tends to use the
discussion group, group work, and pair work. The groups are used to give a change from the normal pace of classroom events and to improve the amount of
student participation in lessons. And fourthly, through CL, the involvement of all students can maximize their learning so that their achievements increase,
especially in comprehending the English text.
B. The Description of the Previous Condition
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