Improving Students’ Reading Skill through Vocabulary Network and Synonym Strategy at Grade XI IS 4 of SMA Negeri Gunung Talang, Solok Regency

There are two problems faced by students at grade XI IS 4 of SMA Negeri Gunung Talang, Solok Regency. The first problem is lack of vocabulary mastery. The problem of lack of vocabulary mastery leads them to the second problem is that the difficulty in comprehending the text. The purposes of this research are to determine whether using vocabulary network and synonym strategy can improve students’ reading skill and to find out the factors which influence the change of students’ reading skill through the use of the strategy at grade XI IS 4 of SMA Negeri Gunung Talang, Solok Regency. This research is classroom action research. The data are collected through reading test items, observation checklists and field notes. Reading test items are intended to measure students’ reading skill, observation checklists are used to observe the teacher’s and students’ activities in the classroom while field notes are used to obtain further information which are not included in reading test items and observation checklist. The research has shown that vocabulary network and synonym strategy could improve students’ reading skill. This could be seen from the result of students’ reading test administrated at the end of each cycle. The students’ score increased significantly from average of 44.3, to 64.3, to 70.8 and 74.2. There are some factors influence the students’ improvements in reading skill, such as the new strategy applied in teaching and learning process and the attention given to students by collaborator teacher. It is suggested to the English teachers to apply vocabulary network and synonym strategy at their own classes which have the same condition, and conduct similar studies to other level of students to see whether the strategy is applicable and effective to improve students’ ability in other language skills; listening, speaking and writing.