The Use of PowerPoint in Students’ Reading Comprehension of Descriptive Text at Grade XI SMK N 6 Padang

Abstract

Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill in English learning, yet students at eleventh-grade SMK N 6 Padang still faced difficulties comprehending descriptive text, particularly in determining the main idea, finding specific information, understanding vocabulary in context, and making inferences. This research aimed to describe students’ reading comprehension of descriptive text through PowerPoint media and to identify the most difficult reading aspect for students. A quantitative descriptive method was used, with a population of 65 eleventh-grade students of Fashion Design at SMK N 6 Padang, from which 30 students of class XI Tata Busana 2 were selected as the sample through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a 20-item multiple-choice reading test delivered through PowerPoint-based slides and analyzed using mean scores and percentage categories. The findings showed that students’ overall reading comprehension was categorized as High (mean score 80.2). Students performed very highly in determining the main idea (86.7) and finding specific information (86.0), while their performance in making inferences (76.0) and understanding vocabulary in context (74.0) was categorized as high, with vocabulary in context being the most difficult indicator. It is concluded that PowerPoint media effectively supports students’ reading comprehension of descriptive text.