Examining English Reading Comprehension’ Enhancement on Narrative Texts using the Application of Direct Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA) Strategy

Abstract

The study reported in this article aims to investigate whether the use of the Direct Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA) strategy can help students find ways to enhance their English reading comprehension of narrative texts at a vocational senior high school in the Province of Gorontalo. The study focused on first-grade students, particularly in class X TKJ. A quantitative method was employed, utilizing a one-group pre-test post-test design to determine the significant difference in students’ comprehension before and after being taught using the strategy. The results indicate that the use of the Direct Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA) strategy help enhances students’ reading comprehension of English narrative texts. This was evidenced by a significant difference between the mean scores of the pre-test (8.7) and post-test (18.48). The t-test result indicated that T-test was higher than T-list: 13.91 > 2.056, with a significance level (α) of 0.05 = 2.056. Thus, H1 was accepted since L0 < L-list (0.100 < 0.173). Moreover, the use of this strategy facilitated students in maintaining focus, fostering critical thinking, active engagement in the learning process, enhancing comprehension of reading components, and understanding reading texts more easily.