Critical Literacy Approach in Understanding Reading Texts

Abstract

In this technological era, critical literacy approach plays an important role as it can help students to think critically then transform their thinking into some practical actions. This research aimed to investigate the practice of the critical literacy approach in understanding reading texts and how the students perceived this approach. The researchers employed a descriptive qualitative method by doing classroom observations and interviews. The data were collected from fifth-semester students of English Education Department UIN Antasari Banjarmasin in academic year 2022. For the interview, the participants were chosen based on the snowballing method. The data were analyzed using the flow model by Miles and Huberman, including data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions. The finding of this study indicated that most students succeed in using critical literacy approach by doing all the phases of the model critical literacy approach including: code breaking, making meaning, using text, and critically analyzing the text. Moreover, students perceived critical literacy approach positively since it helped students in developing their competence in reading while also helping them criticize the text. They became more active and confident in sharing their perspectives. This also could improve their proficiency, especially in reading critical engagement with the texts.