THE USE OF WATTPAD APPLICATION TO IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION IN NARRATIVE TEXT FOR THE 7TH GRADE STUDENT OF SMP IT AL-FIKRI SEMARANG IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

Keywords: Vocabulary mastery, Wattpad, Reading Media
This study investigates the effectiveness of the Wattpad application as a tool to
enhance reading comprehension in narrative texts among seventh-grade students
at SMP IT Al-Fikri Semarang during the 2023/2024 academic year. The research
employs a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach.
A sample of 24 students was divided into control and experimental groups based
on their pretest scores. The experimental group utilized Wattpad for reading
exercises, while the control group followed traditional methods. Data were
collected through pretests, posttests, and questionnaires, and analyzed using SPSS
to determine the significance of the results.
The findings indicate that Wattpad significantly improved reading comprehension
in the experimental group compared to the control group. The mean score
differences between pretest and posttest results were statistically significant, with
higher improvements observed in students who used Wattpad. These results
suggest that integrating Wattpad into reading instruction can be an effective
strategy for enhancing students' reading skills. Further research is recommended
to explore the long-term impacts and applicability of Wattpad in different
educational settings.