Promoting EFL Students' Reading Engagement Using Digital Picture Book At An Islamic Junior High school

Abstract

Reading is one of the most important skills a student must master. This attracted the author's interest in investigating the use of digital picture book in promoting EFL students' reading engagement. Therefore, this research aims to find out teachers' strategies for using digital picture book in promoting EFL students' reading engagement and to find out students' responses to using digital picture book in promoting EFL students' reading engagement. This research used a qualitative method with a case study design and data was collected through observation, interviews and questionnaires with English teachers and 23 students who had experience using digital picture book. The findings revealed that English teachers used digital picture book in promoting EFL students' reading engagement in eighth grade at an Islamic junior high school in Ciamis. These findings also show that students view the use of digital picture book positively in promoting EFL students' reading engagement. They feel that digital picture book have a positive effect on their reading engagement. However, a small number of students also feel the disadvantage of digital picture book, that they cannot be used if there is no internet connection. Based on the findings, it is known that even though digital picture book have shortcomings, students still give positive responses. In conclusion , digital picture book can be used as a good teaching medium in promoting EFL students' reading engagement. The author suggests that future researchers examine digital picture book on other aspects of English at different levels and with different numbers of participants.