CRITICAL READING 6

REVIEW OF JOURNAL entitled ‘3-Ls: A MODEL FOR TEACHING YOUNG LEARNERS' written by Chuzaimah Dahlan Diem (2011), Universitas Sriwijaya.

The fact that EFL literacy in Indonesia is still low led me to conduct this study to cultivate reading habits and increase literacy skills of young learners. Using the 3-Ls—libraries, literature, and literacy—as an instructional model, the study involved five methods: Informational Text Structures; Online Resources; Partnership with Librarians; Big6; and Literature Circles. The sample consisted of 200 fifth graders divided equally into five groups, each of which was also divided into experimental and control groups. Each of the experimental groups was taught for three months using one method. All the students in both groups were given English tests and a questionnaire before and after the experiment. The results showed that the experimental groups outperformed the control groups with a significant mean difference of 21.73 on literacy skills and 10.15 on reading habits. Using regression analysis, it was also found that 3-Ls as a whole had given a significant contribution to both students’ reading habits (R2 0,793) and literacy skills (R2 0,943) with the highest percentage contributed by every method was reading skill. However, in spite of demonstrating significant effects on students’ literacy, these methods still did not bring the students’ literacy to an acceptable level. A factor that might contribute to the low achievement of their English literacy was that the 3-Ls model requires optimal facilities.

As the follow up on this research, first, it could be replicated but the period of the treatment should be extended to at least one full semester and with optimal library facilities. To maximize the value of the new instructional model requires an intensive teaching and learning process as well as better libraries, and Internet connections are needed. Second, to speed up English literacy improvement and maintain reading habits of the citizens, the government has to pay attention to not only the quantity but also the quality of the teachers and the educational staff, including librarians and computer specialists, lab assistants, and other technicians. Finally, since the contribution of the method of teachers collaborating with the librarian has such a significant value in increasing reading habits and literacy skills, then it is suggested recommended that each elementary school continue to not only to develop its school library but also its individual classroom library.