DEVELOPING READING MATERIALS IN TEACHING ENGLISH FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BASED ON NORTH SUMATERA LOCAL CULTURE

This thesis focuses on the development of narrative reading materials for 9th-grade students in teaching English, with an emphasis on incorporating elements of North Sumatra's local culture. The study's objectives were to create reading texts that resonate with the cultural context of North Sumatra while meeting the educational requirements of the curriculum. Data for this research were gathered from various sources, including existing English reading materials, syllabus, interviews with teachers, and questionnaires administered to 9th-grade students at SMP Nasrani 1 Medan, with a total of 32 student respondents. Three data collection techniques—observation, questionnaires, and interviews—were employed to understand students' needs and preferences. The analysis revealed that the developed reading materials successfully catered to students' varied reading needs, aligning with the core competencies outlined in the 2013 curriculum. Additionally, a needs analysis conducted in February 2023 affirmed the materials' appropriateness for grade nine students at SMP Swasta Nasrani 1 Medan. The materials underwent validation by two experts, receiving a commendable score of 93.5%, indicating their high quality and suitability for use in teaching narrative texts at the school. In conclusion, this research demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating North Sumatra's local culture into English reading materials, offering a valuable resource for teaching narrative texts in junior high schools.