Development of Grade 7 Students’ Arabic Reading Comprehension Ability Using Cooperative Intergrated Reading and Composition: CIRC

Abstract

This research aimed: 1) to study the reading ability for main idea of Arabic language after learning by using cooperative integrated reading and composition (CIRC) for Grade 7 students compared with the school score criteria of 70%, 2) to compare the reading ability for main idea in Arabic language before and after learning by individuals in each reading article, and 3) to study the opinions of students on the use of cooperative integrated reading and composition (CIRC). The samples were one class of 40 Grade 7 students in a private Islamic school in tandem with ordinary education, Wang Thonglang District, Bangkok Metropolis. The tools were: 1) 4 lesson plans, 2) 2 a pretest and a posttest of reading comprehension in Arabic language, and 3) interview questions for 12 students. The experimented was conducted for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed by determining percentage, mean, standard deviation, dependent t-test, and content analysis.

The results of the research revealed that: 1) all students were able to read and get the main idea; with excellent score (60%), very good score (30%) and good score (10%);
2) all students gained more points ranging from 2 to17 in the posttest; when comparing the ability of the whole class in each subject, the post-learning scores were significantly higher than those of the pre-learning ones at .01; and 3) most students liked to study together in groups or teams since it helped them complete their assignments effectively resulting in the high quality of their works and effective solutions to problems that occurred during work.