REVEALING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ENTHUSIASM IN READING ACTIVITES

Reading is one of the major skills in achieving English proficiency. However, students will not achieve proficiency if they are not enthusiastic about reading. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the reasons behind the students’ lack of enthusiasm in reading activities. This was a qualitative case study by conducting observation and interview to nine students of XI and XII MIPA (Mathematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam) and IPS (Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial) or (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) and (Social Sciences) at a public senior high school in Gresik, East Java. The result showed that there were three type of enthusiasm shown by the students, which were: strongly enthusiastic, less enthusiastic and not enthusiastic. The reason that made students had strong enthusiasm was they liked reading, had self-motivation and awareness. On the other hand, the reason that made them lose their enthusiasm were that how teachers teach reading, had no motivation, preference, and low background knowledge of English. Therefore, instead of blaming students who lacked enthusiasm for reading activities, teachers should devise and implement an appropriate strategy to increase enthusiasm for reading activities.