Teaching Reading through the Paired Reading Method

The purpose of this study is to find out whether the use of paired reading method improve the students’ reading skill and students’ perception on paired reading method. The data collection process was carried out by doing pre-test and post test; and distributing the questionnaire to 83 students in 3 classes mathematics and natural science (MIPA) of SMA Negeri 1 Matangkuli in the academic year 2020/2021. The sample was chosen by using simple random sampling technique. In the first meeting the students faced difficulties in reading text; but, after they are taught by using paired reading method, the students’ comprehension of reading text have improved. It was proven by the improvement of the mean score of students’ pre-test and post-test (61 to 83). Moreover, based on the analysis of the questionnaire, most of the students gave positive response (73%) in learning reading by using paired reading method. The researcher found that most of the students were interested and motivated in learning reading. The data also showed that students felt the use of paired reading method could help them in understanding the text. This method made the students more enthusiastic because it made them feel more curious to continue reading text. This also indicated that the teaching by using paired reading method can be applied as one of the techniques to improve students’ English reading skill.