USE OF TWO STAY TWO STRAY STRATEGY IN TEACHING READING

This study focuses on teaching reading comprehension by using the Two Stay Two Stray (TSTS) strategy to the second year (eighth grade) students of the junior high school, SMPN Beutong Ateuh, Nagan Raya, Aceh. This study compares the results of the students’ achievements in reading before using the TSTS and after using the TSTS. The results showed that the implementation of the TSTS in the teaching-learning of reading comprehension with the students was more successful than the results using the traditional Grammar Translation Method (GTM). The students in the experimental class (EC) taught using the TSTS got significantly higher scores than those in the control class (CC) who were taught using the GTM. Therefore, the use of TSTS in teaching reading comprehension is an effective way to improve the students’ ability. Based on the results from the questionnaire, the students gave positive responses to the TSTS strategy; they got positive motivation after learning using TSTS. It further increased their self-confidence, social interaction, individual accountability and group skills as well as getting better reading comprehension because they could understand the materials better by learning together as a team. The students discussed and shared the materials with their friends in their groups. They also freely communicated with each other and were more enthusiastic when they were in the process of teaching-learning