MELISHA RAME Pengarang LAURENSIUS KIAN BERA Dosen Pembimbing 1 Zantty O. Padahana Dosen Pembimbing 2 Santri Emilin Pingsaboi Djahimo Ketua Penguji Laurensius K. Bera Penguji 1 Zantty O. Padahana Penguji 2

This research aims at finding out types of difficulties in reading comprehension of descriptive text and to find out the causes of difficulties in reading comprehension of descriptive text encountered by seventh-grade students of SMP Negeri 7 Kupang. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative and the data source of this research are 30 seventh-grade students in class A. The researcher used test-like assignment and interview to collect data. The researcher analyzed the data by using descriptive qualitative techniques (identification, description and conclusion). First is the researcher identifying the result of students test and result of interview to determined what types of difficulties and what cause that student faced. The second is the researcher described the data to make the result of the research clear, readable and understandable. Finally, the researcher concluded the result of this research and present it in the form of narrative. The result showed that students faced difficulties in five aspects in reading comprehension of descriptive text. They have difficulty in understanding main idea with a total of 71 incorrect answers out of 120 answers (59,17%). Difficulty in locating reference with a total of 88 incorrect answers out of 120 answers (73,3%). Difficulty in understanding vocabulary with a total of 82 incorrect answers out of 120 answers (70%). Then, difficulty in making inference with a total of 81 incorrect answers out of 120 answers (66,7%) and difficulty in finding detailed information with a total of 80 incorrect answers out of 120 answers (66,7%). Besides, the researcher found causes of difficulties in reading comprehension of descriptive text because of internal factor namely students have no interest in learning English, lack of English learning experience, lack of ability to read English texts, lack of vocabulary, low prior knowledge, did not know structure of descriptive text and external factor namely lack of teaching techniques, less supportive home, school environment. It is recommended that students should be self-aware of the value of reading comprehension and motivated to pursue it. teacher should come up with more creative ways to teach reading. Teacher should be diligent in going to class to teach. Key words: Reading, Reading Difficulties, Descriptive Text.