The Use of Probing-Prompting Technique to Improve Reading Comprehension of Eighth Grade Students

Abstract

This research explores the effectiveness of the Probing-Prompting Technique in enhancing reading comprehension and student engagement among eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 4 Pancarijang. Utilizing a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test and post-test setup, the study involved 20 students selected from a total of 66 eighth-grade students. The research instruments included a reading test and a questionnaire to measure comprehension and interest. The findings showed a significant improvement in reading comprehension, with the pre-test mean score of 56.00 rising to 69.00 in the post-test, supported by a t-test value of 5.378, which exceeded the critical t-table value of 2.093. Additionally, the questionnaire revealed a high level of student interest, with a mean score of 84.75, indicating strong engagement. The study concludes that the Probing-Prompting Technique significantly improves both the reading comprehension and the interest of students in learning.