Improving News Listening Comprehension Using the 5W+1H Learning Method

News listening comprehension remains a significant challenge for Indonesian secondary school students, particularly in identifying key information elements systematically. This study aims to enhance the news listening comprehension abilities of eighth-grade students at SMP Negeri 39 Maluku Tengah through the implementation of the 5W+1H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) instructional approach. The research employed a Classroom Action Research (CAR) methodology consisting of four interconnected steps: planning, action, observation, and reflection, conducted over two cycles during the 2023 academic year. Participants comprised 17 students from class VIII-2, selected based on their documented difficulties in news comprehension tasks. Data collection utilized multiple instruments including structured observation sheets, in-depth interviews with teachers and students, validated questionnaires, and comprehensive listening comprehension tests featuring authentic news audio materials. Data analysis followed a systematic three-stage process: data reduction, data display, and conclusion formulation, with quantitative test scores analyzed using standardized scoring formulas and qualitative data examined thematically. Results demonstrated significant improvement in both learning processes and academic outcomes. The average test score increased substantially from 57.06 in Cycle I to 82 in Cycle II, representing a 43.7% improvement. Student achievement of the school's Minimum Completeness Criteria of 69 improved dramatically from 29% (5 students) in Cycle I to 82% (14 students) in Cycle II. Qualitative findings revealed enhanced student engagement, improved systematic thinking skills, and increased confidence in news analysis tasks. The 5W+1H method proved highly effective in transforming passive listening into active, goal-directed comprehension activities, providing students with a structured framework for extracting essential information from complex news content.