2.1.5 Assessing Vocabulary
Teaching vocabulary is very important and it obviously seems that words need to be learned in order to be able to use the language well. In this case,
vocabulary is the basic elements that should be learned and it is the provision of the people who want to learn a new language. In school level, such as senior high
school, the vocabulary needs to be assessed because it can be considered that vocabulary is a particular priority in language learning. The principle which has to
be mastered by learners is the ability to memorize perfectly the largest number of common and useful word-groups Palmer, 1925. The strategies that are usually
used in assessing vocabulary are multiple choice and matching. These strategies are easy to be done and to be scored. The teachers can easily score the correct
answers and through this way, the teachers can measure the students’ mastery of vocabulary.
In assessing vocabulary, the teachers have to understand what vocabulary is and then find the purpose of assessing vocabulary. In this case, the teachers
should be able to understand that vocabulary knowledge involves knowing the meaning of words. Because of this reason, the purpose of vocabulary test is to find
out whether the learners can match each word with a synonym, a dictionary type definition or an equivalent word in their own language Read, 2000. In
vocabulary testing, the teachers assess learners’ knowledge of words. Indirectly, it can be said that the teachers measure the learners’ mastery of vocabulary.
In assessing vocabulary, the teachers need to master the strategies of assessing vocabulary, such as multiple choice and matching test. According to
Wesche and Paribakht 1997, through multiple choice, the learners can know another meaning for the words, the learners can choose the right word by
eliminating the other words, so the learners can learn more vocabulary items. For example: if there are 20 items tested through multiple choice types, the learners
can learn approximately 100 vocabulary items. In multiple choice and matching tests, the learners indirectly learn to guess meaning of the words. We can also say
that learning vocabulary will not be separated with dictionary because it has an important role in learning vocabulary. However, in the vocabulary tests, the
students are not allowed to use dictionary. Dictionary is only used in teaching learning process to help the students improve their knowledge of new words. This
is an example of matching test Read, 2000: region
_ 1. position in relation to others
status _
2. gas that we breathe cell
_ 3. part of a country
oxygen _
4. smallest part of living thing skeleton
_ 5. useful liquid
6. set of bones in the body 7. exciting event
In matching test, the students are to make a connection between target words and their synonyms or definitions Read, 2000: 171.
This research uses a practical way in the process of assessing vocabulary, that is by giving test in the form of matching test. The words taken are the
common academic words from the text books such as English as a Second Language Cambridge International Examination: 2000; Cambridge University
Press , Learning to Use English 2: 2006; PT Piranti Darma Kalokatama, Window on the World: 2001; Erlangga , Linked to the World 1; 2006: Yudhistira, Linked
to the World 2: 2006; Yudhistira, English Grade XI Science and Social Programme: 2005; PT Bumi Aksara, and Contextual Learning: 2007; Grafindo
Media Pratama. These books contain many academic words and the meanings
that the students learn during their study in senior high school. Six hundred academic words in the tests are taken from the books mentioned above.
2.1.6 Understanding of Language Testing
In education field, it is not avoided that evaluation is important in order to know the students’ mastery of the materials they have learned. Same as the
students in senior high school who are learning English or the other subjects, they will have their evaluation after they finish studying the materials. When the
students are learning a language, they will experience language tests. Language test is a device for the institutional control of individuals, it is clearly important
that it should be understood McNamara, 2000. There are many kinds of language tests and they are distinguished from the test method and test purpose
McNamara, 2000: 5-7.
2.1.6.1 Types of Test in Terms of Test Method
Types of test which is differed based on test method are paper-and-pencil language test and performance test. The form in paper-and-pencil tests is taken
from the familiar examination question paper. They are functioned to assess either the English components grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation or the
receptive understanding of a language listening and reading comprehension. The PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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