APPLYING ENCYCLOPEDIA IN TEACHING READING 1

APPLYING ENCYCLOPEDIA IN TEACHING READING FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Cahya Komara University of Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA Komcah@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
This article notes encyclopedia as one of suitable media to teach reading for senior high school students. English teachers are given the better way to teach reading by using it in order to present a proper reading material at school. The explanation of reading, the types of it, and the term of encyclopedia are given to make the right and complete connection between those subject and media solution. This article will prove how encyclopedia can benefits the senior high school students in learning reading. First, it can improve students reading ability as one as gain their knowledge. Then, it can increase their interest in reading. Last, it can improve their understanding of vocabularies and grammars after reading encyclopedia. The application of encyclopedia is shown by the main procedure, tips, and how to make assessment after utilize it. Encyclopedia will affect for English teachers for the future and senior high school students to master their reading skill.

Key words: Reading, Encyclopedia, the Application.

INTRODUCTION Nowadays English is very important for people in order to communicate with others in the entire world. It is because English as the global language that people require to have it. For example, traveler or visitor which go overseas. According to Johnson (2001: 3), There are about a billion people in the world today learning English as a foreign language. It proves English language have been considered of the values by learning it and used widely. Therefore, English language is essential to be learned for human. To get English proficiency, people must comprehend English language skills particularly reading. It is important to be learned because reading expands language intuition. Bhatnagar (2010: 214) explained that reading is an interactive process between the reader and the text, resulting in comprehension of the text read. It means all about putting many correct words and sentences into humans head. Then the brain imitates those words and sentences directly produce the meaning. For example, read a sentence from advertisement, Buy This New Car. By having reading skills, people can read and know the meaning of text language. In addition, reading skill must be required in learning English.

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The importance of reading has been considered in education world for teaching and learning the students. Teaching reading is viewed as a crucial that English teachers must give students the ability of it. It is highlighted in Coleman report (2007: 13) that stated reading knowledge was becoming a goal in teaching English for students. It means reading capability is realized to become the purpose for English teachers to educate the students. Likewise, learning reading for students is also the main. Anderson (1999: 2) strengthened in his book that reading is the most important skill to master for students. It clearly defines reading as the prominent ability for them to achieve in learning English. In fact, many senior high school students in Indonesia often get difficulty in reading at school because of unsuitable media that English teachers use in process of teaching and learning. English teachers generally emphasize and focus simply on giving reading lesson without considering the utilization of a proper media for them. For example, English teachers use long articles with difficult words to teach descriptive text, and as the consequences it uninteresting the students. Senior high school students become difficult to comprehend reading text because they do not understand the material from the English teachers. According to Anderson (1999: 24), Teachers must consider the type of materials that they will use in the reading class. English teachers should give the right media for their students to make them easier in learning reading material. The appropriate media that English teachers can be utilized in aim to give reading material for senior high school students is by using the book of encyclopedia. According to Bocco (2011: 1) explained, Encyclopedia or encyclopdia is a book or series of book contains general information within. In encyclopedia, the information consists of articles with one topic and area or different subjects combine in one book making students can read it completely. In short, encyclopedia is suitable as media of teaching reading for senior high school students at school. Due to reason that encyclopedia can be employed to teach reading for senior high school students, it becomes a good media that can provide a wide range of reading understanding for them. It is ideal for English teachers because encyclopedia has all requirements to make their students mastering the reading ability. Encyclopedia also becomes the answer of what is the best solution for students to accomplish the reading lesson, and the advantages by using it will be acquired.

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TERM OF READING There are two definitions from the experts about what exactly reading is. According to Grabe and Stoller (2002: 5), Reading is the ability to draw meaning from the printed page and interpret this information appropriately. From the definition, reading is seen as the ability which conducts human to understand the connotation of what they read from any printed paper. Then, the information which they get from it approaches appropriately to be construed. For example, reading a headline from newspaper TSUNAMI WIPED OUT JAPAN. It clearly describe that the huge wave have destroyed Japan tragically. Readers can directly understand what it means and get information from it. Therefore, reading is the ability which conducts human knows and understands the information appropriately. The other explanation of reading comes from Farells book (2003: 1) who stated that reading is the process of constructing meaning through the dynamic interaction among the reader exacting knowledge, the information suggested by the written language and the context of the reading situation. It means reading as process when readers read and they knowledge combines with dynamic dealings created meaning and information from the author base. For example, in an article about solar technology, readers know about solar energy by combining the meaning and information base on its explanation. Thus, reading is occupied process combine dynamic dealing from readers knowledge, but the information through base on the explanation of author. There are six types of reading which conduct English teachers as the basic form in teaching reading. According to Pearson Education (2011: 61-62), The six types of reading are Scanning, Skimming, Intensive Reading, Extensive Reading, Word-for-Word Reading, and Speed Reading. Scanning and skimming are quick reading however different while scanning analyzes the main words information whereas skimming tries to find the first general information. Intensive reading focuses on the specific information to get the understanding, but extensive reading simply knows the over whole meaning. Word-for-Word Reading is slowly reading every each of words to understand the idea while Speed Reading is fast read everything by detail comprehension. From two quotations above, reading is seen as the ability of conducting humans interpretation and enlightens the information appropriately. Reading is also as occupied process combine dynamic dealing from readers knowledge but the information based on authors explanation. Moreover, reading has six types divided into Scanning, Skimming, Intensive Reading, Extensive Reading, Word-for-Word Reading, and Speed Reading.

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TERM OF ENCYCLOPEDIA There are two explanations from the expert about encyclopedia. According to Elizabeth in Cambridge dictionary (2005: 410), Encyclopedia is a book or set of books containing many articles arranged in alphabetical order which deal either with the whole of human knowledge or with a particular part of It. It describes encyclopedia as a book or set of books which is constructed of many articles within ordered alphabetically. The article in encyclopedia presents accurate information to cover the thing or concept for which its name stands from many branches of human knowledge. Furthermore, the articles are also full of many subjects to make it complete. For example, encyclopedia of animal or encyclopedia of science which have many articles and give knowledge for readers. Therefore, encyclopedia is a book or set of books which consists of articles for human knowledge. Another expert added about the term of encyclopedia. Hartman and James (1998: 49) mentioned that encyclopedia is general-work reference par excellence, usually published in multi-volume systematic formats with one or more alphabetical indexes, and involving consultant from a number of broadly based discipline supplying fact and figures. It describes encyclopedia to become a reference book and published in many volumes with systematical formats and also require indexes within. The contents are based on branch knowledge with illustration and image. From the two quotations above, encyclopedia is a book or set of books that containing many articles of human knowledge. Encyclopedia becomes references book which is published many volumes and cover the pictures and photographs.

THE BENEFITS OF APPLYING ENCYCLOPEDIA Encyclopedia is excellent media for English teachers to master senior high school students reading ability and the benefits of it can be surely seen when the usage of this book totally used. Below are the values through encyclopedia: 1. Encyclopedia improves students reading ability as one as gains their knowledge properly. Encyclopedia can improve students ability in reading and gains their knowledge properly because it contains many articles ordered alphabetically which come from many branches of knowledge within making senior high school students can easily to read that

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book. Encyclopedia is very complete and accommodates students to read everything from it so it will automatically develop them in how to say the words. Students when read encyclopedia, they can improve their reading ability by read it continually. Anderson (1999: 73) said that when readers read for information they approach the text with the goal of being able to gain new information to increase their learning. It means that students can get twice value when they read the text with a lot of information within especially by read encyclopedia that known as source of knowledge. 2. Encyclopedia increases students interest in reading. Encyclopedia definitely can increase senior high school students interest in reading a book because encyclopedia consists of illustration, maps and photographs which make students get attracted while read it. According to Anderson (1999: 76), Students should be encouraged to see reading in English not only as academic experience but also as a source of pleasure. Materials should be interesting and motivating for students who want to read it. For example, students read book encyclopedia of animals and the articles surely consist of image or maps which strongly attract students to see and read it. Although the encyclopedia contains many pages, a hundred, thousand or more, they will enjoy by read it and learning reading with pleasure. 3. Encyclopedia improves students reading understanding by knowing many new vocabularies and grammars. Encyclopedia improves senior high school students reading understanding in order to know many new words and sentences from it. In fact, encyclopedia contains many articles with different topic or areas and full of words or sentences that enriches the students reading understanding. According to Grabe and Stoller (2002: 219), Research shown, to establish a firm foundation for the vocabulary building to be done in academic courses, we should encourage our students to read as much as they can before they leave our classes. It estimates that by creating students to read a lot can make their vocabularies become extend. By consistently reading an encyclopedia, that goals could be reach. It is because encyclopedia has that requirement to advance many new vocabularies and grammars.

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APPLYING ENCYCLOPEDIA IN TEACHING READING The practice of using encyclopedia is for the level of senior high school students. The time requires four up to 6 hours or three meetings. The aims of its to improve students reading ability as one as gains their knowledge properly, to increase students interest in reading, to improve students reading understanding by knowing many new vocabularies and grammars, and mastering reading ability by using encyclopedia for students can read it. Preparation This activity takes place at school library. Elley (1992: 67) stated that the number of books in the school library is indicators of the extent to which schools are prepare to encourage students to read. Check the availability of encyclopedia books in the library. Be ready for the students to bring any stationary or anything to support the study.

Procedure 1.

Explain to the students that reading material will be given outside of class. The reading class moves to the school library. The theme is reading the book of encyclopedia.

2.

In library, encyclopedia is introduced in front of students. Tell students the purpose of using this book.

3.

Give explanation that students are allowed merely to choose one of the encyclopedias in library and continue for the next meeting. Lets start to read the book. Give them time an hour to read and explore the encyclopedia. Make sure students read the encyclopedia, and they have to choose one article that mostly descriptive text from it and start to search out the information.

4.

5.

Next hour, give students chance to tell about what article they have read from encyclopedia. Tell students to read it aloud in front of class, and make the others student knows what is the topic about.

6.

Students have to show and share if any difficult words or sentences to increase their reading vocabularies and grammars.

7.

If the time is up, continue to read the book in the next meeting.

Tips

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Do not make students read more than one article to give a chance for any others student to read the encyclopedia as well in front of class. Be patient for the students to read encyclopedia quietly, continuously, so the reading ability of students will be automatically increase. Make sure the students have to read the article not only observe the images or photographs because encyclopedia surely interesting them.

Assessment

English teachers need to make assessment to the senior high school students after using encyclopedia as the media of teaching reading. Assessment is the legitimate way to show students result. Suskie (2009: 4) mentioned that assessment is the ongoing process of systematically gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to determine how well student learning matches our expectations. That makes it becomes important part to know the achievement of the students. Below are how to assess: 1. After 4 hours maximum students read encyclopedia, in the next meeting teachers have to make assessment to know their progress of reading. The assessment could be takes place at school library or at the classroom. 2. Firstly, teacher has to prepare the reading test format to assess the students. Select one of encyclopedia and make sure it has never been read by the students. 3. Choose one article (descriptive texts), and it depends on teachers decision based on knowing students performance after accomplish the whole activity in learning reading by encyclopedia. 4. Copy it and add 5-10 questions related to the information in encyclopedia, for example What is the main idea of the article above?. 5. Give the copy of the test to all of students as much as the number of them at the class. The time is given only 40 minutes. 6. Collect the students answer sheet and make the score for their achievement.

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CONCLUSION In conclusion, encyclopedia has many advantages for high school students in order to improve their reading skill. It is because encyclopedia is viewed to provide the suitable media as students need in learning reading at school. English teacher by using encyclopedia can give reading lesson to increase high school students reading ability as one as gain their knowledge, increases their students interest in reading a book, and improves their understanding by knowing many new vocabularies and grammars by read it. In addition, Encyclopedia is a breakthrough and recommended to be used as perfect media for teaching reading senior high school students.

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REFERENCES

Johnson, Keith. (2001). An introduction to foreign language learning and teaching. London: Pearson Education Limited. Richard, Jack. C, & Rodger, Theodore. S. (2007). Approaches and methods in language teaching, second edition. New York: Cambridge University Press. Bhatnagar, Nithin, & Bhatnagar, Mamta. (2010). Communicative English for engineers and professionals. New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley. Anderson, Neil. J. (1999). Exploring SL reading issues and strategies. Boston: International Thompson Publishing Company. Bocco, Diana. (2011). What is reading? Retrieved June, 20, 2011, from

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-encyclopedia.htm. Grabe, William, & Fredricka, Stoller. L. (2002). Teaching and researching reading. London: Longman Publisher. Farell, Thomas C. S. (2003). Planning lesson for a reading class. Singapore: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre. Education, Pearson. (2011). Humanities and communication skills. New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. Elizabeth, Walter. (2005). Cambridge advance learners dictionary, second edition. London: Cambridge University Press. Hartman, K. R. R, & James, Gregory. (1998). Dictionary of lexicography. London: Routledge Publisher. Elley, B. Warwick. (1992). How in the world do students read? Hamburg: Grindeldruck GMBH Publisher. Suskies, Linda. (2009). Assessing student learning: a common sense guide second edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.