The objective of the research is to know the influence of optimizing of Contextual Teaching and Learning in student reading improvement. This research is quantitative research using experimental method. Subjects of this research are 40 students that are divided into two classes, namely control class (20) and experiment class (20). The writer used cluster random sampling technique to determine the sample.
The writer collected the data using test and observation. Furthermore, the data was analyzed by using descriptive statistical analysis technique and the hypothesis used t-test. Hypothesis test shows that contextual teaching and learning is more effective to improve students’ reading comprehension. This can be seen from the results of test score, it shows that the experimental class which was given treatment using contextual teaching and learning got higher score than control class without contextual teaching and learning.
Based on the t test with the standard of significance of 5%, it was found t count 3.05 and t table 2.021. Because of t count ≥ t table, so although little, there is real difference between results of study of learning using CTL that is 60.00 and learning that is not using CTL that is 56.80. Consequently, learning reading text using CTL is more effective when it is applied in the process of learning English than the non CTL. However, the writer could not deny that the different score between two classes is not much. But the reading improvement in the experiment class has proven that Contextual Teaching and Learning Method can be a good method in developing reading ability.
The result of this study is expected to be information and inputs for the institution, teachers, students and all of the circles to improve students’ achievement.