Reading comprehension in the EFL context requires abilities not only linguistic competences but also reading strategies. The timely acquisition of this competence has a crucial effect for language learners. Unfortunately, most language learners in all level have low skills and high difficulties to acquire reading skills. This study aims to explore students’ abilities and difficulties in comprehending English reading texts as secondary level. This study is categorized as qualitative study consisting of three main data gathering methods: semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and group discussions. The data collected then are analyzed in stages, namely data condensation, data display, and data conclusion. Based on the result of analysis, this study showed that students have low reading achievement at secondary level. The low achievement is affected by some reading difficulties such as low reading exercises, unwilling to read out loud, low reading skills, low vocabulary, low phonemic awareness, low reading strategies, and low grammatical competence. For further studies, reading exercises and phonemic awareness in reading activities should be paid intention with giving students with various reading texts to train them comprehend EFL texts.

The objectives of this research are to find out the learning needs of students of VIII grade in improving their reading skills and to develop suitable reading learning materials using a genre-based approach for students in the second semester of the middle schools. This research is categorized into research and development (R & D). The steps of this research are needs analysis, product development, evaluation by the expert, revision, and final product design. The data were in the form of quantitative data obtained using a questionnaire and qualitative in the form of open-ended questions, then the reading materials were revised based on the experts’ suggestions. This study indicated each chapter contained: chapter number and chapter title, let's start, let's learn the model, let's work together, let's create and improve, follow-up, let's reflect, let's summarize, and mini dictionary as that the appropriate supplementary reading materials concerning the text-based reading materials were successfully developed through development models, namely Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate (Four-D Model). Finally, the developed materials are considered appropriate for the subjects of the study based on the results from the expert judgment questionnaire. The aspects of this questionnaire were content, instructional design, language, learning resources, and graphics. It can be concluded from this data that each aspect of the developed materials was considered "feasible" according to the expert.

Indonesian Economic Development has become a gate to Bali and Lombok for international visitors. Recently, the Lombok tourism development has established a refinement after facing serial earthquakes. In the statistic for the tourism year 2016, there were 3.1 million tourists coming to Lombok. In addition, 3.8 million people were targeted to come to Lombok in the year 2020. In other words, Lombok promotes the highest contribution to the national government economy. Because of these issues, the vocational high schools which have tourism study programs should lead their students in foreign language communication, English. Teaching English for a specific purpose needs a precise instructional model because ELT teachers apply the ELT model for different objectives. Therefore, learners study English for different purposes. For vocational high school students, they learn English to help them to communicate in the workplace. Because of this, they are directed to have communicative competence. In senior or junior high schools, scientific-based instruction has been applied to help students learn English and even other subjects. This instruction is considered as a solution for them to have not only linguistic competencies but also communicative skills. Therefore, this study will be aimed at developing an instructional model for vocational high school students in tourism zones. This study applied the procedural research and development (R&D) design. The R&D design follows the Borg & Gall and David design, which consists of pre-development and development stages. The product of this study was an instructional model, namely the tourism-based instructional (TBI) model for vocational high school students in the tourism zones.

This study investigates the culture-based instructional materials (C-BIM) model to improve students’ reading and writing skills viewed from critical thinking skills at the junior-high-school in Indonesia. This study is a mixed-method employing the explanatory sequential design. The data are in the form of quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data are collected first and followed by the quantitative one. The research instruments are in the form of reading and writing tests, questionnaires, and interview sheets. The test is used to see the students’ reading and writing achievements. Meanwhile, the questionnaire is utilized to determine the students’ and teachers’ intercultural awareness and perception of incorporating cultures in teaching materials. The data of reading-writing achievement are analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Thus, the data of students’ and teachers’ cultural awareness and perception are gained by applying qualitative steps: analysis, reduction, coding, interpretation, and conclusion. Based on the result of the research, this study indicates that the C-BIM model significantly affects students’ reading and writing skills. Also, it has an interaction between teaching materials and critical thinking skills. Researchers elaborate on those in the discussion part of this article regarding the students' intercultural competence and perception.