Students’ Perceptions And Engagement In Learning English Reading Through Papuan Local Reading Texts: (A Case Study At SMK Muhammadiyah Aimas)

This research aimed to investigate students’ engagement in English reading instruction through the use of Papuan localized reading materials at SMK Muhammadiyah Aimas. This study employed a descriptive qualitative research design using a case study approach. The participants of this research were 20 students of Grade XI Computer and Network Engineering (TKJ).The data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire consisted of 20 items using a five-point Likert scale to measure students’ behavioral, affective, and cognitive engagement. Meanwhile, the interviews were conducted to obtain deeper information regarding students’ experiences and responses toward the use of Papuan localized reading materials in English reading lessons.The findings of the questionnaire showed that students demonstrated high engagement in all engagement dimensions. Behavioral engagement obtained a mean score of 4.17, affective engagement obtained 4.09, and cognitive engagement obtained 4.06. The interview findings revealed that most students considered Papuan localized reading materials interesting, easier to understand, and closely related to their daily lives and cultural background. The students also stated that localized reading materials helped them understand English vocabulary and reading texts more easily, increased their interest in learning, and made them feel more comfortable during English reading lessons Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the use of Papuan localized reading materials positively contributed to students’ engagement in English reading instruction. Therefore, integrating local cultural content into English reading materials can support students’ learning experiences and classroom engagement.