RESEARCH PROPOSAL : The Use of AceReader Pro Software in Improving Students Reading Skill; An Experimental Study of 2nd Semester

Students of STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi in 2012/2013 Academic Year. Name : Inas Afifah Zahra NIM : 1001065245

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A. The Background of the Research English is the language that most used for international education nowadays, especially for students that take this subject as their main course. Student who is currently learning English in a school, college, or institute of further education will join approximately one billion other people around the world who engaged in the same pursuit. In learning English, there are four basic of skills, such as speaking, writing, listening, and also reading. Speaking and writing involve language production and are therefore often referred to as productive skill. Listening and reading, on the other hand, involve receiving messages and are therefore often referred to as receptive skill.1 Reading is one of the English language skill which is known as an exercise that dominated by the eyes and the brain2 which the eyes receive messages and the brain then has to work out the significance of these messages. At the same time, being able to read English is very essential because reading plays an important role to develop and understand English; especially, for EFL students. The following idea is supported due to the fact that reading has become a part of our daily activities, as an illustration, we read many texts that starts from holiday

Harmer, J. 1998. The Practice of English Language Teaching New Edition. New York: Longman Press. p. 16 2 Ibid, p. 190

brochures to academic books. Therefore, the ability to read English in any form will give a great number of advantages in our life. Reading itself should not be separated from the other skill. There are few cases in real life when we do not talk or write about what we have read or when we do not relate what we have read to something we might have heard. It is therefore important, to link the different skill through the reading activities, such as reading and writing (e.g. summarizing), and reading and speaking (e. g. discussion).3 Reading skill is also essential both in the target and the native language. Students may not find any difficulties when reading a text in the source language, but what happens to the students is the other way when they read texts in the target language. In contrast to source language, most students become frustrated when they have difficulties in reading the target language. Based on the writers experience as the teacher in STKIP Panca Sakti , Pondok Gede, Bekasi, there are some problems according to master a reading skill through students. The writer found the facts that most students love to read in order to get some pleasure from many kinds of texts, such as fiction picture books, chapter books, magazines, non-fictions, and also poetries, but when it comes to the matter of comprehension the students get depressed easily. One of their problems is the difficulty to find out the main idea of the written text. They often confused to highlight the red line of the passage; especially, related to their courses. Actually, in this present-day the computers and related technology are giving the benefits in education, and they often referred to as CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning). CALL programs typically required learners to respond to stimuli on the computer screen and to carry out tasks. 4 With the help of these tools, like software, it is easier to understand a given lesson and make the learning process more interesting for both student and teacher.

Grellet, F. 1994. Developing Reading Skills. A Practical guide to reading comprehension exercise. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 8. 4 Dudeney, G., Hockly, N. 2007. How to Teach English with Technology. Essex: Pearson. p. 7.

So, with this intention, the writer is interested in doing a research at STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi, for the writer is the teacher in that institution. The writer is fascinated to know the use of technology for improving students reading skill; specifically, in the term of finding the main idea of the written text. Finally, this research will use a popular software for improving a reading skill, which is well known as AceReader Pro software.

B. The Statement of the problem Based on the background of the research, the writer states the problem as follow: Is the use of AceReader Pro software effective in improving the students reading skill at the second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti Pondok Gede, Bekasi?

C. Theoretical Discussion 1. The meaning of AceReader Pro Software 1.1 The Definition of AceReader Pro Software AceReader is referred to as reading improvement software, reading assessment software, online reader software, reading fluency software, vision training software, and speed reading software.5 The keywords of this definition are ace, reader, software, improvement, fluency, assessment, training, vision, and also speed. Ace means a person who is very good in doing something, while reader means a person who reads, especially ones who read aloud in a particular ways. Software is a program used to operate the computer; besides, improvement refers to the process of something becoming better. Assessment means evaluation, while fluency is the quality of doing something. Training is the process of learning the skills that you need. Vision means the ability to see and speed indicates as the rate at which something moves. Due to the definition of this software, it can be underlined that AceReader is a computer program to make someone be better in term of

http://www.acereader.com/ , viewed on 21st of March 2013

evaluation, quality, learning through the good ability to see and rate about reading. The goal of AceReader is to help you read faster, while maintaining or even improving your comprehension by breaking two major bad habits in reading, such as subvocalization (pronouncing the words in your mind while you read) and also Re-Reading/Regression (letting your eyes wander back to re-read text). AceReader paces you to read at higher speeds. At these higher speeds, it becomes physically impossible to subvocalize. And because AceReader displays text by flashing word sets, you will be forced to read ahead and will not have the opportunity to regress. The educators are using AceReader as a productivity tools, because it improves students' reading speed, fluency, and comprehension by practicing skimming text rapidly from a variety of documents and clipboard. The clipboard allows students to import text from other applications, such as their favorite word processor and text from the Internet (i.e. Web pages, e-mail, and news groups). Utilize the "Burst" and "Sentence Search" features to read efficiently while online. Adjust (1) speed of text presentation, (2) font color, (3) font size, (4) background color, (5) number of words or lines, (6) delays, and much more.

There are three ways to use AceReader Pro software: a. Course Mode Course mode is giving the easiest way to use the program because it provides self-adjusting lesson. It consists of activities about reading comprehension test. b. Menu Mode Menu mode is giving the control to the exercise you want to perform because it trains the way you want to try. There are two main activities in this part, such as determining a current reading speed, and also increasing a reading speed.

c. Expert Mode Expert mode is giving the most control to your exercise. It is used to train or to read faster while on your computer while having full control. In other words, this menu is used to train the text you need to read.

In addition, AceReader Pro software can be used for personal, education, business, and also special uses according to their needs about reading skill improvement.

2. The Meaning of Reading Skill 2.1 The Definition of Reading There are many definitions of reading that have arisen in recent decades. Based on William Grabe and Fredicka Reading is the ability to draw meaning from the printed page and interpret this information appropriately6. The key words of this definition are to draw, meaning, interpret, and also information. Draw means to bring something; besides, meaning is true message. Interpret indicates as explanation, while information means knowledge that refers to the context. So, it can be said that reading is the ability to bring a message from the passage and explain the knowledge well according to the content of the passage. Another definition is given by Linse that says Reading is a set of skills that involves making sense and deriving meaning from the printed word7. The key words of this definition are a set of skill, sense, derive, meaning, and also word. Skill is the ability to do something well, in spite of sense that means understanding about something. Derive means to get something; besides word is a piece of information or news. However, it can be concluded that reading also means as a group of abilities which contains of making understanding and taking some ideas from the piece of printed information.

Grabe, W., Stoller, F. L. 2002. Teaching and Researching Reading. London: Longman Press. p. 9. 7 Linse, C. T. 2006. Practical English Language Teaching. New York: McGraw Hill. p. 69.

According to some popular dictionaries, such as Collins described that Reading is the act, ability, or any matter that can be read; written or printed text8, Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary explained that Reading is the activity, the act of somebody who reads in the particular way to understand the situations9, and Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary interpreted that Reading is the skill or activity of getting information from books10. In line with those three definitions from various dictionaries it highlights that reading is a kind of activity to get information in the particular way.

2.2 The Conceptual Definition of Reading From the experts and dictionaries definition about reading, the writer concludes that reading skill is the ability to understand the message or information from printed word and giving the clear explanation according to the context of the passage.

2.3 Kinds of Reading According to Linda and Beatrice, there are four kinds of reading. They are: a. Reading for Pleasure Reading for pleasure means that students may read any kind of book they want and like, because it is not the matter of what they read, but they enjoyment during reading activity. b. Reading Comprehension Reading comprehension means that students make connections between what they read and what they already know. There are some important comprehension skills, such as: i. Previewing Previewing means to find out what students are going to be reading before they actually read.
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Collins. 2013. English Dictionary, viewed 21 st of March 2013 <http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/reading?showCookiePolicy=true> 9 Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary. 2010. Oxford University Press. p.1220. 10 Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary. 2010. Cambridge University Press. p.1181.

ii. Scanning Scanning means that students do not have to read all the words in the passage. The students need to read only key words that will answer their question. iii. Skimming Skimming means that students need to skim to get general idea of a passage or book not specific details. The students need to read only a few important words.

c. Reading Faster Reading faster means that students do not read slowly in order to increase the less time and improve the comprehension while reading activity.

d. Thinking Skill Thinking skill means that students need to be able to think in English as they read in order to make logical connections between the ideas and information in their reading.11

From those kinds of reading, the writer only focuses in reading comprehension for skimming skill. The writer will assess the students in skimming area.

2.4 Levels of Reading According to Burns, the levels of reading can be divided into four categories: a. Literal Comprehension Reading for literal comprehension is getting the ideas, information or message explicitly stated in the passage. In this level, the reader knows the words meaning and able to paraphrase or recall of details directly in own words.
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Mikulecky, B. S., Jeffries, L. 2004. More Reading Power. New York; Longman. p. 2, 13, 17, 25, 38, 159, 181.

b. Interpretation Reading Interpretation reading is identifying ideas or information not explicitly stated in the passage. In this level, the reader is able to infer factual information, main idea, comparison, cause-effect relationships which is not explicitly stated in the passage.

c. Critical Reading Critical reading is evaluating what is read. The reader analyzes, evaluates, and react his personal information to the information presented in a passage. In other words, the reader compares his previous experience in the element of the new material of the passage.

d. Creative Reading Creative Reading is applying which is read to new situation. In this level, the reader able to product a new idea, develop his new insights through the reading materials.12

From those levels of reading, the writer only focuses in literal and interpretation reading area.

D. Theoretical Framework AceReader is a computer program to make someone be better in term of evaluation, quality, learning through the good ability to see and rate about reading. It has a goal to help someone read faster; especially, for educators that use this software as a productivity tools, because it improves students' reading speed, fluency, and comprehension by practicing skimming text rapidly from a variety of documents. Coupled with AceReader definition, reading skill is the ability to understand the message or information from printed word and giving the clear
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Burns, P. C., et.al. 1984. The Reading in Todays Elementary School. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. p. 177, 183, 189, 190

explanation according to the context of the passage. It has a variety of kinds, such as for pleasure, comprehension, faster which is concerning to the main comprehension skills, like previewing, scanning, and also skimming. Moreover, it also divided into four levels, such as literal comprehension, interpretation reading, critical reading, and creative reading. By understanding the definition of AceReader software and reading skill, the writer assumes that AceReader software can develop students reading skill because it supports a goal to help someone read faster by skimming technique and also kinds of modes such as course mode, menu mode, and expert mode. The writer presumes if students have a problem in finding the main idea of passage, so it can be solved by practicing skimming text rapidly from a variety of documents that included in AceReaders feature. According to statements above, the writer will do the research in order to know the effectiveness of using AceReader Pro software to improve the students reading skill at the second semester in English department of STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi.

E. Hypothesis Ho : AceReader Pro software is not effective in improving the students Reading skill at the second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti Pondok Gede, Bekasi AceReader Pro software is effective in improving the students Reading skill at the second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti Pondok Gede, Bekasi

Hi :

F. Research Methodology 1. The Objective of the Research The objective of the research is to know how significant the AceReader Pro software to improve students reading skill at the second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi.

2. The Time and Location of the Research The research itself will be conducted on ________________ 2013 in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi.

3. The Population and Sample of the Research The population of the research is taken from the students of the second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti, Pondok Gede, Bekasi. However, the writer takes only 25 students as the sample by using random sampling.

4. The Method of the Research In this research, the writer will use pre-experimental method that will be done in six meetings. The writer taught the students in class by using AceReader Pro software to teach reading skill. The writer accepts whether the AceReader Pro software is effective in improving students reading skill based on the students scores in pre-test and post-test. Design: R O T O

R= O=

Randomized (subject) Observation (the writer gives pre-test to measure the students treatment) reading ability before giving the

T=

Treatment (the writer gives the treatment that have been planned before)

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O=

Observation (the writer gives post-test after giving the treatment to see the effect of the treatment itself13

5. The Variable of the Research Variable X Variable Y : The use of AceReader Pro software : Reading skill of second semester in English Department of STKIP Panca Sakti Pondok Gede, Bekasi

6. The Instrument of the Research The writer will assess the students reading skill by using a test, and the data that are resulted from that test are quantitative data (discrete data.)

7. The Technique of Data Analysis The technique that will be used here is the analysis of two different averages. The analysis will use the t-test (uji t). The Formula: Explanations: t = the result of t-test calculation = The average of the post-test reading test of sample object = The average of the pre-test reading test of sample object n s = the number of sample object = the final of Standard Deviation14

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Sumarsono, S. 2012. Metodologi Riset Pendidikan Bahasa, Jakarta: Uhamka Press. p. 39. Sumarsono, S. 2012. Statistika Pendidikan Bahasa,. Jakarta: Uhamka Press. p. 92.

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8. The Procedure of the Research The writer will do some steps or procedures of this research as I have listed below: a. Asking permission to the head master of STKIP Panca Sakti and reading lecturer to do the research. b. Asking the letter of recommendation to do the research from Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. Hamka University. The research will be conducted on ____________ 2013 by using AceReader Pro software to improve students reading skill. c. Giving a pre-test to measure students reading skill before giving the treatment. d. Giving the treatment, in this case is the use of AceReader Pro software during teaching-learning process. e. Giving another test or post-test to measure students reading skill as the result of the treatment. f. g. Taking both scores (pre-test and post-test). Analyzing the value of the students average scores by using ttest. h. i. Making hypothesis Making conclusions and reports

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9. Bibliography Burns, P. C., et.al. 1984. The Reading in Todays Elementary School. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary 3rd Edition. 2010. Cambridge University Press. Collins. 2013. English Dictionary, viewed 21st of March 2013
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/reading?showCookiePolicy=true

Dudeney, G., Hockly, N. 2007. How to Teach English with Technology. Essex: Pearson. Grellet, F. 1994. Developing Reading Skills. A Practical guide to reading comprehension exercise. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Grabe, W., Stoller, F. L. 2002. Teaching and Researching Reading. London: Longman Press. Harmer, J. 1998. The Practice of English Language Teaching New Edition. New York: Longman Press. Hornby, A.S. 2010. Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary 8th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Linse, C. T. 2006. Practical English Language Teaching. New York: McGraw Hill.
Mikulecky, B. S., Jeffries, L. 2004. More Reading Power. New York; Longman.

Sumarsono, S. 2012. Metodologi Riset Pendidikan Bahasa. Jakarta: Uhamka Press Sumarsono, S. 2012. Statistika Pendidikan Bahasa. Jakarta: Uhamka Press
http://www.acereader.com/ viewed on 21st of March 2013

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