Using Authentic Materials in Improving Students’ Achievement in Reading Comprehension of the Ninth Year Students of SMP Negeri 1 Bantaeng

This research aims at answering the problem (1) Do authentic materials improve the third year students’ reading achievement of SMP Negeri 1 Bantaeng? The method employed in this research was quasi-experimental research. The subject of this research was the ninth year students of SMP Negeri 1 Bantaeng in academic year 2014/2015. The number of population was 165 students. This research employed cluster random sampling technique with 66 students as the sample. The technique of collecting data used reading test. Data on the students reading skills were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this research result showed that using authentic materials improve students’ reading achievement. It could be seen from the students’ mean score of posttest 76.36 for experimental group 68.18 for control group. (76.36 > 68.18)