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B. Reading Comprehension
1. Definitions of Reading
Reading is one of the basic skills in learning a language. In this sense, John J. De Boer assumed that reading is viewed as an active process where the
reader employs visual symbols of printed written language to search for and to reach out meaning.
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Its mean that reading is not only get the information from the text passively but also to process it on mind to understand the meaning.
That assumption is in line with a linguist expect, Arthur W. Heilam assumpt that reading is a process of getting meaning from printed word symbols; it is
no merely a process of making conventionalize noise associated with these symbols.
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Regarding those definition above, when a reader to get the meaning of the printed written selection, it is obviously needed agreat number of
mechanical skills and comprehension skills as process. During that process, many things are happening, like the reader is looking at print material,
deciphering the marks on the page in some sense, deciding what they mean and how they related to each other. The reader also is thinking about what
heshe is reading. The reading process related to the language form, while comprehension relates to the language content as the end product.
Most of readers reading as a simple, as speak passive process that involves reading words in a linear fashion and internalizing their meaning one
at a time. Nevertheless, reading is not only translating each word but also involves a cognitive process of understanding a printed message.
Based on the definition above, reading is not only getting meaning from word to word or line to line to understand what we read. But also reading
is a process of thinking. So for each definition has its own activity, it depends on the reading purpose of the reader.
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John J. De Boer, and Martha Dallman, The Teaching of Reading: Revised Edition, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc,.1964, p. 17.
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Arthur W. Heilman, Princilpes and Practices of Teaching Reading, Second Edition, Columbus: Charles E. Merill Publishing Co., 1981, p .8.
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2. Purpose of Reading
There are many purposes in reading activity. The purpose for reading will help the readers focus on information, consequently such purpose are
most effective when establish by the reader. Obviously, the purpose for reading should be established before a selection is read. Afterward, the stated
purpose can be used as a basic for discussion to determine whether the reader has achieved his goal. As McDonough and Shaw quoted from William that
usefully classified reading into: a.
“Getting general information from the text b.
Getting specific information from a text, and c.
For pleasure or interest”
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From the statement above it can be concluded there are two kinds purpose of reading activity. Reading for information usually used in reading
task, it is probably seen an as a type of reading ability. Readers read because they have to read. It included the materials which are classified as nonfiction,
sciences, social studies, articles, newspaper, etc. Weather reading for pleasure, the reader may read either quickly or slowly based on the way heshe likes,
associated largely with novel, short stories, and poems. In addition, Rivers and Temperedly 1993:38 list the following
examples of some the reason that L2 student may need or want to read:
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a. To obtain information for some purpose or because we are curious about
some topic b.
To obtain instruction how to perform some task for our work or daily life e.g knowing how appliance works
c. To keep in touch with friends by correspondence or to understand business
letters d.
To know when or where something will take place or what is available e.
To know what happening or has happened as reported in newspapers to magazines, reporters
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Jo McDonough and Christopher Shaw, Material and Method in ELT: Teachers’ Guide,
Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1993, p. 102.
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Jo McDonough and Christopher Shaw, Material and Method in ELT, ... pp. 102-103.
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