THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPEED READING TECHNIQUE TO STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION (A Study at the Eighth Grade Students of SMP Negeri 10 Kota Bengkulu)

This study was conducted to find out the effectiveness of using speed reading technique in
teaching reading comprehension at the eighth grade students of SMP N 10 Kota Bengkulu.
This research was a quasy experimental research that used post-test only. The population of
this research were the eighth grade students of SMP N 10 Kota bengkulu there are 210
students. The sample of this research were 60 students from two classes; the experimental
group and the control group. The experimental group was treated by using speed reading
technique, while the control group was taught by conventional strategy. The two classes have
similar ability in English based on the scores of mid-term examination. It can be concluded
that those group could be accepted as the samples of this research. After giving the treatment
for three meetings, the post-test was conducted to both of classes. In experimental group
there was a significant positive effect towards the students‟ reading comprehension ( it was
found that the t-count 1,696 while t-table was 1,676). T-count was bigger than t-table
(1,696>1,676). The control class also had a possitive effect but not significant. The students
of the control group got score post-test less than experimental group. From the post-test, the
total score of both group those which was taught, the control group got 2491 score with an
mean score 83,7 while the experimental group got 2619 score with an mean score 87,3. Based
on those result, it can be assumed speed reading technique was effective in students‟ reading
comprehension.
Key words: Speed Reading, Reading Comprehension