Developing Culturally Based Teaching Materials for Explanatory Texts in Senior High School

Abstract

This study aims to develop culture-based explanatory text teaching materials to enhance students' understanding of cultural values. Employing the Research and Development (R&D) method with the ADDIE model—Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation—this research focused on creating materials that integrate local cultural elements into language instruction. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observations, and pretest-posttest assessments. Validation was conducted by material, media, and cultural experts to evaluate the feasibility and quality of the teaching materials. The validation results indicated a high level of feasibility with an average score of 90%, suggesting that the materials met expert standards in terms of content accuracy, cultural relevance, and instructional design. Implementation was carried out with Grade XI students of a senior high school, and the effectiveness of the materials was measured using gain score analysis. The findings revealed a significant improvement in students' understanding of explanatory texts, with a gain score of 0.72, categorized as high. Before the intervention, 40% of students scored below 60, while afterward, only 10% remained below that threshold, and 65% of students achieved scores above 76. Student responses were also highly positive; 85% agreed that the culture-based materials were more engaging, easier to understand, and helped them connect the content with their cultural experiences. These results highlight the effectiveness of integrating local culture into language teaching and suggest that culturally responsive materials can improve both learning outcomes and student motivation. The study concludes that culture-based explanatory text materials are a valuable innovation for enhancing students’ comprehension and appreciation of cultural values within the Indonesian language curriculum.