Improving Students' Reading Comprehension on Narative Texts Through Contextual Teacing and Learning (CTL) at Great Nine of SMPN 2 Kamang Magek Agam Regency

Many students of Grade IX-2 of SMPN 2 Kamang Magek, Agam Regency are poor in reading comprehension on narrative texts. The problems are caused by low interest,limited reading materials, poor students’ prior knowledge, students’ society , parents’ supports, and as well as poor of vocabularies. The purposes of this research were: to find out to what extent CTL could improve students’ reading comprehension on narrative texts, and What factors can influence students’ reading comprehension of narrative texts through Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) at grade IX-2 of SMPN 2 Kamang Magek Agam Regency. This research was classified into Classroom Action Research (CAR). It consists of four phases (planning, action, observation, and reflection) and three cycles. The participants of this research were the ninth grade students of SMPN 2 Kamang Magek, Agam Regency, academic year 2008/2009. The findings of this research indicated that was in the first cycle, only 9 students (40,90%) who got marks above the minimum standard (KKM), it was 60. Then, in the second cycle, there have been significant progress than the first cycle, i.e. 17 students ( 71,02%) who got marks above the minimum standard (KKM ).In the the third cycle, there were 19 students (86,36%) who got marks above KKM. The factors could influence students’ reading comprehension of narrative texts were the teacher’ s and students’ condition, setting of place and time, topic of reading materials , motivation, and interesting media. related to the tteaching materials. The result of this research indicated that CTL could improve students’ reading comprehension of narrative texts. It is suggested for researcher himself (as an English teacher) to apply CTL in teaching and learning activity,especially in teaching of narrative texts..