x x
Besides the strengths, TPR also has its limitation as follows: a Whilst it can be used at higher levels, TPR is most useful for beginners. It
is also at the higher levels where preparation becomes an issue for the teacher.
b Students are not generally given the opportunity to express their own thoughts in a creative way.
c It is easy to overuse TPR. “Any novelty, if carried on too long, will trigger adaptation.” Asher writes, “No matter how exciting and productive the
innovation, people will tire of it.” d The teacher may find that it is limited in terms of language scope. Certain
target languages may not be suited to this method. e It can be a challenge for shy students.
http:www.statemaster.comencyclopediaTotal-Physical-Response Disadvantages, in January 2010.
D. Rationale
In order to teach vocabulary effectively and successfully, especially to adolescents or junior high school students, teachers have to pay attention to some
factors causing the success of teaching vocabulary. One of them is choosing the appropriate method or approach. As everybody knows, there are some methods in
teaching language, but not all methods are effective. Considering that all methods have their own strengths and weaknesses, the
teacher should be able to choose the appropriate method or the most effective one. Grammar Translation Method and Total Physical Response are kinds of method
and approach that can be applied in teaching vocabulary. There is an important difference between Grammar Translation Method and Total Physical Response.
Grammar Translation Method focuses on translation of the text and Total Physical Response focuses on listening comprehension.
Grammar Translation Method is very simple and easy to apply in the classroom. The teacher just prepares the reading text as the teaching material then
x x
reads it and tries to translate into the mother tongue. In fact, it will make the students feel bored because the procedure is very monotonous and there is no two
ways communication between the teacher and the students. Total Physical Response is an approach combining speech and action.
Total Physical Response can minimize students’ stress when studying foreign language especially vocabulary. Students feel happy doing the teacher’s command
and are not required to say anything until they feel ready. So, Total Physical Response will give better effect on students’ vocabulary mastery if it is applied
well.
E. Hypotheses
Based on the rationale above, the hypotheses of this research can be formulated as follows:
1. There is a significant difference in vocabulary mastery achievement
between students taught by Total Physical Response and those taught by Grammar Translation Method.
2. The group taught by Total Physical Response has a better achievement in vocabulary mastery than those taught by Grammar Translation
Method.
x x
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A. The Research Objectives
The objective of this research is to find out whether or not the use of Total Physical Response to enhance students’ vocabulary mastery is effective.
Besides, this research also provides information for using method of teaching vocabulary in order to give little contribution in the English vocabulary teaching.
The other objective of this research is to improve the effectiveness of teaching vocabulary. Besides, students are hoped to master English vocabulary easily.
B. The Research Method
In conducting the study, the writer uses experimental research. Fraenkel and Wallen 2000: 9 state that experimental research is the most conclusive and
scientific methods because the researcher actually establishes different treatments and then studies their effects. Other experts, Mason and Bramble 1997: 93
define experimental research as the kind of study in which the researcher is interested in learning about the effects of a certain conditions independent
variables and other conditions dependent variables in controlled setting. In addition, Johnson and Christensen 2000: 220 state that experimental research is
carried out within the context of an experiment. More, Johnson and Christensen also state that one or more variables are varied and the others are kept constant.
It can be concluded that experimental research is a systematic and scientific approach to research in which the researcher manipulates one or more
variables, controls and measures any change in other variables. The study uses this method as the most appropriate method in measuring
the effectiveness of Total Physical Response to enhance students’ vocabulary mastery by comparing two groups of students. One group is taught using Total
Physical Response, while other group is taught using Grammar Translation
