INVESTIGATING STUDENT’S PERCEPTION OF WATTPAD APPLICATION USAGE IN ENHANCING READING COMPREHENSION AT MTS SABILUL CHALIM LEUWIMUNDING

Abstract

This study explores students’ perceptions of using the Wattpad application as a digital reading platform to improve English reading comprehension at MTs Sabilul Chalim Leuwimunding. The objective was to examine how Wattpad supports students’ motivation, vocabulary growth, and understanding of narrative texts, while assessing its effectiveness as a learning tool. A qualitative descriptive method was applied, with data collected through classroom observations, interviews with ten students, documentation, and a reading comprehension test using Wattpad stories. The findings reveal that students generally have positive perceptions of Wattpad because of its engaging stories, user-friendly features, and accessibility, which motivate them to read more actively. They showed progress in identifying main ideas, interpreting vocabulary in context, and summarizing stories. However, issues such as advertisements, limited content quality, and occasional internet disruptions were noted. Overall, the study suggests that Wattpad can serve as an innovative medium for enhancing reading comprehension in English classes, offering valuable insights for teachers and curriculum developers in digital-based education.