AN ANALYSIS STUDY ON STUDENTS’ PROBLEMS IN READING DESCRIPTIVE TEXT AT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

This study was driven by the challenges faced by seventh-grade students at SMPN 1 Gambut in reading English descriptive texts during the 2023/2024 academic year. The purpose of this study was to determine the difficulties faced by students when reading the texts and to explore various methods applied by teachers to overcome these reading problems. This study was conducted with a phenomenological approach using qualitative methodology. The participants of the study consisted of 33 students and their English teachers.

Based on the research, the difficulties faced by seventh-grade students at SMPN 1 Gambut in learning English include: learning disorders marked by a lack of self-confidence; learning dysfunctions characterized by visual impairments, low intelligence, and poor memory; learning disabilities involving challenges with pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary; and underachievement due to a low interest in learning. To address these issues, teachers employ strategies such as providing simplified descriptive texts to make learning more accessible, using engaging teaching methods, and making classroom activities more enjoyable to foster enthusiasm for reading descriptive texts.