From the explanations above, it can be concluded that vocabulary is very important in language learning to support other language skills. The skills are
listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
4. Technique in Teaching Vocabulary
The technique of teaching vocabulary refers to the way of teaching vocabulary that teacher use to deliver material to the students. It has important
role, especially on vocabulary learning. The success of teaching and learning process depends on not only the teachers’ and the students’ competences but
also the technique of teaching, especially in this case the technique of teaching vocabulary.
Cross 1995: 5 presents two ways in introducing new words, namely showing meaning in some ways and using language that the students already
know in order to make clear the meaning of the new lexical item. Notion 1990: 3 proposes four ways in vocabulary teaching, namely: 1 the material
of vocabulary is necessary to pay attention; 2 words are dealt with as they happen to occur; 3 vocabulary is taught in connection with other language
activities, for example reading; 4 time is spent either in class or out of school on the study of vocabulary without an immediate connection with some other
language activities. Celce and Murcia 1991: p.289-300 mention two techniques of teaching
vocabulary as follows.
a. Planned vocabulary teaching
Planned vocabulary teaching is the teaching where the teacher goes into the classroom with an item or a set of vocabulary items that the
teacher has decided beforehand. The planned vocabulary teaching can be described as the vocabulary lesson since the primary objective of
the teaching activities is the presentation and practice of the lexical items themselves.
b. Unplanned vocabulary teaching
Unplanned vocabulary teaching is extemporaneous teaching of vocabulary items that come up without planning in the course.
Therefore, teaching English to children needs special techniques. The best way to add breadth and depth to child’s vocabulary is by providing a
variety of opportunities for new and interesting experience. For example, many kindergarten or first grade children will benefit from a visit to a farm.
Activities that directly focus on words and language help to build children’s vocabularies and expressional skills. For example:
1. The teacher can make a chart of pictured illustrating fruits, vegetables,
furniture, animals, toys, numbers, colors, opposites, etc. 2.
Children may retell stories read by the teacher. 3.
Children may play word game. 4.
Children may describe objects, each other, clothes, animals, etc. 5.
Word games can also require listening and knowledge of concepts Petty, Walter T. Jensen, Julie M, 1980: 285.
There are also lots of techniques that can be use in teaching vocabulary to children. Kurikulum Tahun 2004 Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris Untuk SD
MI Provinsi Jawa Tengah 2004 p: 2, states: Kompetensi berbahasa untuk anak Sekolah Dasar Children as Language
Learners dapat dicapai melalui: a cara- cara yang alamiah natural way, b melalui pemberian motivasi by giving motivation, c dengan
mendengar dan mengulang- ulang by listening and repeating, d dengan melakukan proses imitasi guru by imitating the teacher, e
dengan berbahasa dan berinteraksi dengan sesama teman atau lawan biacara by doing and interacting with each other, f melalui terjemahan
bahasa aslinya through translation from their native language.
D. Pictures 1. The Definition of Pictures
