The impact of sulam projects tamil comic book on learners comprehension and motivation in reading skill teaching and learning

Kaaminy Kanapathy

Abstract

This study explores the impact of using Tamil comic books as a teaching tool to enhance students' reading comprehension and motivation. Recognizing the decline in reading habits among younger generations and the challenges associated with traditional methods of teaching Tamil, the research investigates how comics combining engaging visuals and narratives can make learning more interactive and appealing. Employing a quantitative approach, the study involved pre-tests, post-tests, and questionnaires to evaluate comprehension skills and motivation among 20 form two students in a Malaysian secondary school. This study employs a quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of Tamil comic books on students’ reading comprehension skills and motivation to read. Results revealed significant improvements in reading comprehension, with students scoring an average of 77.9% on post-tests, indicating enhanced abilities in understanding vocabulary, sentence structures, and narrative flow. Additionally, the questionnaire findings demonstrated heightened motivation, with 85% of students expressing strong or very strong enthusiasm for learning Tamil through comic books. The integration of comics helped address comprehension challenges, such as identifying main ideas and paraphrasing, while fostering a more enjoyable and engaging learning experience. The study concludes that Tamil comic books serve as an effective educational tool, bridging gaps in traditional teaching and offering a practical strategy to enhance language skills and cultivate a lifelong interest in reading. These findings highlight the potential of incorporating innovative resources like comics into Tamil language education to support learners’ academic and personal growth. Keywords: Tamil Reading Skills, Tamil Comics, Tamil Reading Comprehension

References

Affendi, A., & Masnan, A. H. (2022). Exploring Outdoor Classroom Learning as An Extension of Indoor Classroom Learning in Preschool. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 3(2), 10-24. Arikunto, S. (2010). Prosedur Penelitian (Suatu Pendekatan Praktik). Jakarta: Rineka Cipta. Bakar, N. A. A., Mansor, K. Z., Batmanathan, P., & Rashed, Z. N. (2021). Level of Study Motivation among Students in Two Schools at Hilir Perak District: Tahap Motivasi Belajar dalam Kalangan Murid di Dua Buah Sekolah di Daerah Hilir Perak. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 2, 56-63.

Damanik, I. J., & Harianja, G. S. (2022). The effect of comic books to improve reading comprehension ability at grade VIII at SMP N 12 Pematangsiantar. Bilingual: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, 4(1), 49–53-49–53.

Dardjowidjojo, S. (2003). Psikolinguistik: Pengantar pemahaman bahasa manusia. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.

Ismail, H., Syahruzah, J. K., & Basuki, B. (2017). Improving the students’ reading skill through translation method. Journal of English Education, 2(2), 124-131.

Jatta Kölin, D. (2021). Comics in Education; Can Comics Facilitate Reading Comprehension for ESL learners. In.

Kanapathy, K., Jamal, M., Pranchis, R. K. M., & Venkatachalapathy, V. (2023). A Critical Analysis on Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Tamil Unit Student-Teacher Teaching Practice Experiences: A New Case Study Approach. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 4(2), 7-18. Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1992) The Action Research Planner (3rd ed.). Geelong Deakin University Press

MA’ARIF, N. U. (2023). THE EFFECT OF COMIC STRIPS ON STUDENTS WRITING RECOUNT TEXT AT EIGHT GRADE OF MTs (Doctoral dissertation, STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY).

Monarisa, A., & Suwarno, B. (2016). Teaching reading comprehension through the interactive technique (a quasi-experimental research at The SMPN 1 Bengkuku City). Linguists: Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching, 1(1). 29-37.

Nallaluthan, K., Masran, M. N., Subramanium, P., Nashir, I. M., Zainal, M., Kolandan, S., & Narayanan, D. (2024). Evaluating The Result of Work-Based Learning Teaching Model at RISE@ UPSI. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 5(1), 116-136.

Nallaluthan, K., Masran, M. N., Thurasingam, V., & Kanapathy, K. (2023). Malcolm Knowles' Theory of Andragogy at Research Management and Innovation Centre Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (RMIC-UPSI): Work-Based Learning Model. Evaluation Studies in Social Sciences, 4(2), 30-50.

Nesvadba, J. (2015). Application of Comics in Language Teaching Masarykova univerzita, Pedagogická fakulta].

Rengur, Z., & Sugirin, S. (2019). The effectiveness of using comic Strips to increase students’ reading comprehension for the eighth grade students of SMPN 1 Pundong. 6th International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2018).

Richards, J. C., & Renandya, W. (2002). Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Rokhayani, A., & Utari, A. R. P. (2014). The use of comic strips as an English teaching media for junior high school students. Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature, 8(2),143-149.

Sugiyono, S. (2011). An Analysis of Learner Errors in Written Production Made By The Students of SMA Negeri Colomadu Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta].