THE USE OF COMIC STRIPS AS MEDIA IN IMPROVING STUDENTS’ READING SKILLS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of comic strips as a medium to improve students’ reading comprehension skills at SMAN 1 Darul Imarah. Reading is a complex process that requires mastery of various skills, including identifying main ideas, understanding vocabulary, recognizing references, and locating specific information. Preliminary observations revealed that many students at SMAN 1 Darul Imarah face challenges in these areas, which hinder their reading performance. Previous studies indicate that comic strips, which combine visual and textual elements, can enhance student engagement, facilitate vocabulary learning, and improve comprehension. This research focuses on determining whether the integration of comic strips into reading instruction can address students’ difficulties and improve their overall comprehension skills. Data ware collected through reading comprehension tests administered prior to and following the implementation of the model. The findings demonstated a significant improvement in studens’ reading performance, with the score increasing from 3,625 in the pre-test to 4,900 in the post-test. with the average score risisng from approximately 69.71 to 94.23, reflecting an average gain of 24.52 points. Among all the students assessed, 38 student demonstrated improved scores, 14 maintained the same scores, and none showed a decline. These result indicate that the treatment had apositive effect on enhancing students’ reading abilities. The findings are expected to benefit students by enhancing their reading strategies, support teachers in adopting engaging teaching methods, and provide future researchers with a reference for further studies in English language education.