The Role of The Treasure Hunt Approach in Advancing Students' Reading Skills in Arabic

Abstract

Students' reading abilities are significantly improved by the Arabic language learning method known as the treasure hunt. Through the use of play and exploration components, this approach encourages students' interest and participation in pleasurable activities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well seventh-grade pupils at MTs Al-Jawami can read Arabic by using the treasure hunt approach. The research employs a pretest-posttest design (with a control group) involving students as research subjects. Data collection instruments include Arabic reading ability tests, observations, and student participation questionnaires. Normality testing was conducted using the Lilliefors test, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon test to determine significant differences between pretest and posttest results. Additionally, N-gain calculations were used to measure improvements in students' reading skills. Results indicate that students in both the experimental and control classes demonstrated below-average reading abilities in Arabic, with pretest scores of 59 and 44.75, respectively. This low performance was attributed to ineffective teaching methods that caused boredom and hindered understanding. However, the treasure hunt method in the experimental class proved effective, yielding an average posttest score of 83.25, compared to only 51.25 in the control class. N-gain analysis showed significant improvement in the experimental class, categorized as high to moderate enhancement, while the control class exhibited only low improvement. This study recommends implementing the treasure hunt approach in Arabic language instruction to enhance students' reading skills through interactive, enjoyable activities that encourage collaboration.