The effectiveness of using games to improve students' vocabulary (a quasi-experimental study at the tenth grade students of SMA Nusantara 1 Tangerang)
ABSTRACT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING GAMES TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY A Quasi-Experimental Study at the First Grade Students of SMA Nusantara 1 Tangerang, Skripsi of English Education at Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teachers’ Training of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2014. Keywords : Vocabulary, Noun, Games In Indonesia, English is considered as one of foreign language that becomes a compulsory subject in every level of education. There are four skills of English; listening, reading, speaking and writing. It also has some components; vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Vocabulary is one of basic components in learning a foreign language. Learning vocabulary is important, but some students have some difficulties in understanding vocabulary. Hence, in teaching vocabulary, teachers need some good techniques. The aim of this research is to find out whether the use of games is effective to improve students’ understanding of noun. To reach this goal, the writer used a quasi-experimental research consisting three classes of research: two classes as the experiment classes and one class as the controlled class. The research was begun by giving pre-test question in each class, treatment manipulation in both experimental classes and a post-test to know is there any increasing score before and after treatment in the end of meeting. The population of this research is first year students and the sample of this research are X-1 and X-3 as the experimental classes, while X-2 as the controlled class. There were 38 students in each class. The writer used cluster random sampling to get the samples. To know the differences result among the three classes, the writer used t- test to analyze the data. The result of this research shows that there is
ABSTRAK THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING GAMES TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY, Skripsi, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Fakultas Ilmu Tarbiyah dan Keguruan, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2014. Keywords : Vocabulary, Noun, Games
Di Indonesia, bahasa Inggris merupakan bahasa asing yang wajib di pelajari seluruh siswa di setiap tingkatan kelas. Bahasa Inggris memiliki 4 skill berbahasa, yaitu: mendengarkan, membaca, berbicara dan menulis. Bahasa inggris juga memiliki beberapa komponen, yaitu: vocabulary (kosakata), grammar (aturan membuat kalimat) dan pronunciation (pengucapan). Vocabulary atau kosakata adalah salah satu komponen yang paling mendasar dalam mempelajari bahasa asing. Mempelajari vocabulary (kosakata) menjadi sangat penting, namun beberapa siswa memiliki kesulitan dalam memahami kosakata. Oleh karena itu, dalam mengajar kosakata, guru perlu menggunakan teknik mengajar yang baik.
Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah apakah penggunaan games efektif untuk meningkatkan pemahaman siswa terhadap kosakata bahasa Inggris. Untuk mencapai tujuan ini, penulis menggunakan metode eksperimental yang terdiri dari tiga kelas penelitian: dua kelas eksprimen dan satu kelas kontrol. Penelitian ini dimulai dengan memberikan pre-test kepada ketiga kelas, manipulasi perlakuan pada dua kelas eksperimen, dan post-test di akhir pertemuan di masing-masing kelas. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas X (Sepuluh) SMA dan sample yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kelas X-1 dan kelas X-3 sebagai kelas eksperimen, sedangkan kelas X- 2 sebagai kelas kontrol. Terdapat 38 siswa pada masing-masing kelas. Penulis menggunakan metode cluster random sampling untuk menentukan kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol.
Untuk mengetahui perbedaan hasil antara ketiga kelas, penulis signifikan yang sama, yaitu 3,17 > 2,00. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa hipotesis alternatif yang menyatakan bahwa penggunaan games efektif untuk meningkatkan pemahaman kosakata siswa pada dua kelas eksperimen dengan kelas yang tidak menggunakan games sebagai teknik mengajar kosakata.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All praises be to Allah, the Lords of the world who has given His grace and blessing upon the writer in finishing her last assignment. Peace and salutation be upon the prophet Muhammad SAW, his family, his companions and his adherence.
First of all, on this occasion, the writer would like to express her deepest gratitude to her beloved parents (Sagimun, S.Pd and Sukarmi) for all the love and support all the time, it means a lot for her, also her only one brother (Imam Muzhaffar Najib) who always helps and cares about her.
The writer also would like to express her really great honor and deepest gratitude to her advisors, Dr. H. M. Farkhan, M.Pd and Teguh Khaeruddin, MAppLing who have guided and given their time for consultation, suggestions, correction and patience during the process in finishing this skripsi.
The writer’s gratitude also goes to:
1. All lectures, especially in Department of English Education, who have taught some new knowledge and educated the writer during her study at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
5. Special thanks for Ikrima Nur Endah, Yona Erviani, Wiwin Winingsih, Ahmad Subhan, Mahmud Badaruddin, Allen Subekti, Restu Esa Putra, M. Noor Afdillah, for all of the sweet memories, supporting the writer when got stuck, helping the writer done this skripsi and cheering the writer up when getting down.
6. Danar Mulyadi S.I.Kom who has provided time, support and motivation during finishing the skripsi.
7. All friends in Bees United, for the sweet friendship more than 4 years.
8. To Sapta Hidayat Guntur, who has never stopped encouraging and motivating the writer to finish this skripsi.
9. Also all people who have given their contribution in finishing this skripsi that writer could not mention one by one. The words are not enough to express and appreciate their dedication. May
Allah SWT, the Merciful, bless them all. Finally the writer realizes that this skripsi is not perfect yet, therefore the writer would humbly accept some suggestions from everyone who reads this skripsi.
Tangerang, June 17
th
2014
Table of Contents
Endorsement Sheet .......................................................................................................................... i
Abstract in English .......................................................................................................................... ii
Abstract in Bahasa Indonesia ......................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgment ............................................................................................................................ v
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... vii
List of Tables.................................................................................................................................. xi
List of Appendix ............................................................................................................................. x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1
A. Background of the Research ................................................................................ 1 B. Identification of the Problem ............................................................................... 4 C. The Scope and Limitation of the Problem ........................................................... 4 D. The Formulation of the Problem .......................................................................... 5 E. The Objective of the Research ............................................................................. 5 F. The Significance of the Research ......................................................................... 6CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................... 7
A. Vocabulary ........................................................................................................... 71. Definition of Vocabulary ............................................................................... 7
2. Vocabulary Division ...................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODLOGY ...................................................................... 22
A. The Place and Time of the Research ..................................................................... 22 B. Research Design .................................................................................................... 22 C. Population and Sample .......................................................................................... 25 D. Technique of Data Collection ............................................................................... 26 E. Technique of Data Analysis .................................................................................. 26CHAPTER IV: RESEARCH FINDING .................................................................................. 30
A. Description of Data ............................................................................................... 301. Pre-test Score .................................................................................................. 30
2. Post-test Score ................................................................................................. 32
3. Gained Score ................................................................................................... 36
B. Analysis of Data .................................................................................................... 38
1. Experiment Class A and Controlled Class ...................................................... 38
2. Experiment Class B and Controlled Class ...................................................... 42
C. The Test of Hypothesis ......................................................................................... 46
D. Interpretation of Data ............................................................................................ 47
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ............................................................. 48
A. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 48List of Tables
Table 4.1 The students’ scores of pre-test of experiment class A (X-1), experiment class B (X-3), and controlled class (X-2) .................................. 30Table 4.2 The students’ scores of post-test of experiment class A (X-1), experiment class B (X-3), and controlled class (X-2) .................................. 32Table 4.3 The students’ gained scores of experiment class A (X-1), experiment class B (X-3), and controlled class (X-2) .................................. 36Table 4.4 The Comparison score of each student of Experiment Class A and Controlled Class .................................................................................... 38Table 4.5 The Comparison score of each student of Experiment Class B and Controlled Class .................................................................................... 42List of Appendix
Appendix 1 Teaching Plan ............................................................................................... 53
Appendix 2 Lesson Plan of Experiment Class ................................................................ 58
Appendix 3 Lesson Plan of Controlled Class .................................................................. 79
Appendix 4 The Test Specification of Pre-test Instrument ........................................... 100
Appendix 5 The Test Specification of Post-test Instrument .......................................... 106
Appendix 6 The Research Instrument: Pre-test Question .............................................. 112
Appendix 7 The Research Instrument: Post-test Question ............................................ 117
Surat Bimbingan Skripsi ................................................................................................ 123
Surat Izin Penelitian ....................................................................................................... 124
Surat Keterangan Telah Melakukan Penelitian ............................................................. 125
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Research Vocabulary is one of English components which links the four skills of English. Without vocabulary, students will not be able to read, to write, to
speak even to listen in English. It means they cannot follow the teaching and learning process of English subject well. If this happened, consequently the goal of English subject in the curriculum that has been arranged by the Ministry of Education cannot be reached. It is stated on the KTSP curriculum that the objective of English subject is to emphasize the development of communicative competence covering linguistic competence, discourse competence, socio-cultural competence, and strategic competence. Linguistic competence, in particular, includes such components as grammar, vocabulary,
1 and pronunciation. In short, the mastery of vocabulary will influence on students’ performance in English because it links the four English language skills.
In addition, some research findings found that the acquisition of good vocabulary makes students more creative in their spoken and written competence rather than who have short understanding in vocabulary. Unfortunately, many teachers keep teaching English in the same way, they talk in front of the class formally; explain about the material then give the
2 Furthermore, based on the observation about teaching and learning vocabulary in the class, in MAN 11 Jakarta, (22 February 2013), the writer found that the process of teaching and learning vocabulary in that class make students bored. The methods that teacher used were too old, the teacher only asked to the students to read some kind of text, then he wanted the students to deliver what is told by the text and answer the question available below the text. If students found some words that they have not known before, they only asked to the teacher and the teacher will translate the word. It was so different with the concept of teaching and learning vocabulary that was stated by Jeremy Harmer “Translation is a quick and easy way to present the meaning of words but it is not always easy to translate words and in the second place, even where translation is possible, it may make it a bit easy too easy for
2 students by discouraging them for interacting with the words.” The statement showed that translating the words like usually done by English teacher is not
always good for students for remembering new words in English vocabulary.
Vocabulary is not only translating word per word. It is divided into verb, adjective, noun and adverb. Each of categories is also divided into some parts, for example verb is divided into regular and irregular verb, noun is divided into concrete and abstract, countable and uncountable, and etc. There is needed long explanation to discuss about noun word. For example countable and uncountable noun have a singular and plural form. If the teaching and learning process of vocabulary run like the writer explained before, the students could not know vocabulary division; it is why teaching vocabulary is
3 for concrete, tangible, physical objects are learned more successfully than the
3 other types of noun. The research will be focused on the introduction of noun in English. Noun is very basic knowledge of vocabulary but students seem feel difficult of those forms because of the materials and the way teacher delivered the materials made students lost interest in learning vocabulary. Considering to this situation, the writer thought to use game, so that teaching vocabulary in English teaching will be fun. Students have to enjoy the teaching and learning process, so that they can understand the materials, in this case learning vocabulary.
The use of games in teaching vocabulary has become more widely used recently. As it is stated in “Teaching Vocabulary” by Michael J.Wallace, language games are used probably for two main reasons; First, an increasing emphasis on the importance of motivation and of the appropriate kind of positive affective atmosphere in the classroom. Second, an increasing emphasis on the importance of ‘real’ communication. If a game is working properly, it very often supplies a genuine desire to communicate in the target language, even within the artificial confines of the classroom. Vocabulary is a teaching topic which lends itself very easily to the games approach, and there are literally hundreds of vocabulary games ranging from elementary to
4 advanced level. It is obviously stated that the use of games in teaching vocabulary help students to increase their motivation in learning vocabulary, it can also be the stimulus for their response in target language, so that the writer thought to use certain game to teach vocabulary. Games also give students an
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teacher and some students about the process of teaching and learning English
in that school. She found that the process of teaching and learning English in
Nusantara 1 Senior High School is quite same with what happened in MAN 11
Jakarta. Based on that situation, the writer decided to choose SMA Nusantara 1
as the place to do the research. The writer found that the students there have
limited vocabulary, especially in first year students, they faced some
difficulties when they making a sentence in English or getting the information
from an English text.The writer chose first grade students in SMA Nusantara 1 as the subject
of the research. They have lack of English vocabulary, so they could not
follow English subject well. In this research, the reason why the writer
concern to use games in learning vocabulary is because students like games,
no matter what they learned they will enjoy when they learned through games.
Games are recommended to be used in teaching vocabulary, because games
make students have their own experience about some certain words and it will
help them to be easy in remembering the words.This is the reason why the writer decided to choose the title of the
paper The Effectiveness of Using Games to Improve Students’ Vocabulary
(A Quasi Experimental Study at the Tenth Grade Students of SMA
Nusantara 1 Tangerang).B. Identification of the Problem
Based on the discussion above, the writer found some problems for
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3. Students have low motivation in learning English vocabulary.
C. The Scope and Limitation of the Problem Based on the identification of the problem above, the writer wants to
make vocabulary learning in class fun with the certain game. Then, this
research focused on the effectiveness of using vocabulary match-up, word grid
and bingo games in understanding English vocabulary at the first grade
students of SMA Nusantara 1 Tangerang, especially in term of noun
vocabulary. The scope of this research was limited only on the implementation
of those games in the class during the teaching and learning process and the
result of students’ understanding of noun of English vocabulary after the
treatment.The implementation of those three games can be described as the best
technique in teaching and learning process to encourage students in
understanding English noun vocabulary. The differences of the result of
students’ work after the treatment can be seen in the end of the treatment by
using an evaluation test.D. Formulation of the Problem To make this study is easy to be understood, the writer formulates the
question to represent the problem above as “Are the Games Effective to
Improve Students’ Understanding of Noun?”
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F. The Significance of the Research
Hopefully, the significance of this research can be useful for the students itself, the teacher and also for the next researcher, as follows: a) For the students, this study is expected not only to increase their motivation in learning English, but also can help them to have more
English vocabulary. By using games, Students can avoid boredom in a classroom, so the material can be easily accepted by them.
b) For the teacher, this study is hoped to be one of some alternatives in teaching vocabulary through implementing some vocabulary games.
c) For the other researcher, it is hoped that this study could be one of the
references in conducting some researches for the better result.
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK A. Vocabulary
1. Definition of vocabulary
Vocabulary is very basic knowledge for students in Indonesia in learning English as a foreign language. It has been introduced to the students from very beginning level of school. Students at least must understand the meaning of the words, so they will get what is conveyed by the text or what is spoken by someone. The more students have sufficient vocabulary, better sentences they could create. For this reason, it is clear that vocabulary is very basic knowledge which can be used as the foundation to construct better English for students. There are several versions of the definition of vocabulary. According to Oxford dictionary, vocabulary is all the words that a
1 person knows and uses. Another definition comes from Kridalaksana that was stated in Vocabulary 1 that vocabulary is a component of language that contains all of information about meaning and using a
2 word in a language. “Vocabulary is defined as all the words in a particular language” that was the statement about vocabulary of Wehmeier, et al, it was stated on The Teaching of EFL Vocabulary in
3 the Indonesian Context: The State of The Art, TEFLIN Journal.
Based on the definition above, the writer can conclude that
8 an important role in learning a foreign language, in this case learning English. They could build their skills in English if they could master the vocabulary. The more vocabulary they have, it could facilitate them to develop their four English skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing).
2. Vocabulary Division
There are many opinions about the division of vocabulary. Jo Ann Aebersold classified the vocabulary into active and passive vocabulary: a. Active vocabulary refers to items which the learner can use appropriately in speaking or writing and it is also called as productive vocabulary.
b. Passive vocabulary refers to language to items that can be recognized and understood in the context of reading or listening, 4 and it is also called as receptive vocabulary.
While based on Haycraft that was stated on Vocabulary, Semantics, and Language Education by Evelyn Hatch and Cheryl Brown, he defined the division vocabulary into two terms as receptive vocabulary is words that the student recognizes and understands when they occur in a context, but which he cannot produce correctly. Productive vocabulary is words which the student understands can
5 pronounce correctly and use constructively in speaking and writing.
For emphasizing the particular features of vocabulary, Fries divided
9 structure. These include the so-called auxiliaries, prepositions,
conjunctions, interrogative particles, the articles, etc.
2. The large body of “content words”, these words that functions as symbols for the phenomena which we react upon as the world of reality about us. Content words can be divided into three classes: a. Class 1, the words for “things” that we called as nouns.
b. Class 2, the words for “action” that we called as verbs.
c. Class 3, express judgments, and the precise meanings shift with the various “things” to which the “quality” word is attached as 6 a “modifier”. We called it as adjectives and adverbs.
3. Noun
In learning a foreign language, children are always easy to remember the words which they can see the things (concrete). Therefore, the learning of foreign language is better if we start from the acquisition of the concrete things. “Children may begin their lexical development by using features that vary along perceptual dimensions
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(e.g., texture, shape, sound).” In another book, Allen stated that the success in learning often depends on the number of senses which are used in the learning process. When students can touch something, in addition to hearing and seeing the word that names it, there is a stronger8 chance that the word will be learned. It is clear that children acquire some nouns earlier than another word class, such as verb, adjective or
10 Rodgers found that nouns are easiest to learn, following by adjectives; on the other hand, verbs and adverbs were most difficult. That opinion is also supported by Ellis and Beaton still in the same book; they confirmed that nouns are easier than verbs, because learners can form
9 mental images of them more readily.
Firstly, the writer wants to identify the noun itself and kinds of noun. A noun, or substantive, is the name of a living being or lifeless
10 thing: Mary, horse, hat, London. Another definition about nouns commonly defined as words that refer to a person, place, thing, or idea.
Following are the kinds of noun: Concrete and abstract nouns – concrete nouns are they can be perceived by our senses; they are things that we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch. Those nouns that are not concrete are
abstract. Ex: newspaper (concrete), love (abstract).
Singular and plural nouns – singular refers to one thing, while plural represents more than one thing. Ex: box (singular), boxes (plural).
Animate and inanimate nouns – animate are nouns that refer to the alive things, inanimate are nouns that refer to things that are not alive. Ex: lizard (animate), postcard (inanimate).
Count and noncount nouns – there are some nouns that can be counted, so we can use a or an with them and can also make them plural. These nouns are called, appropriately, count nouns. There
11 Proper and common noun – nouns that are actual names are called proper nouns. Noun that are not names are called common nouns.
11 Ex: tissue (common noun), Disneyland (proper noun).
B. Teaching Vocabulary
The need of teaching vocabulary is obviously important. For many years, vocabulary was not seen as the main focus of English language learning. The teaching of English language was only emphasized on the grammatical knowledge. Linguist David Wilkins stated that “without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary
12 nothing can be conveyed” this is how he described the importance of vocabulary learning. Students who have sufficient vocabulary can develop their grammatical acquisition, as Ellis said that “the main reason for believing that vocabulary knowledge can help grammar acquisition is that knowing the words in a text or conversation permits learners to understand the meaning of the discourse, which in turn
13 allows the grammatical patterning to become more transparent.” Therefore, language teachers are hoped to have some knowledge on how to manage foreign language learners’ classroom, in order to increase the success of vocabulary learning.
Teaching vocabulary is clearly more than just presenting a new
14 word , according to Michael Wallace, teachers should consider some principles on which such learning is to be based:
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2. Quantity Secondly, the teacher has to decide on the number of vocabulary items are to be taught. Learners may get confuse and low motivation in learning vocabulary if they get so many words to be learn at a time. Therefore, teachers should choose the words that are easy to be understood by the students.
3. Need In any case, one would hope that the choice of vocabulary will relate to the aims of the course and the objectives of individual lessons. Therefore, teachers should choose the words that students really need in communication.
4. Frequent exposure and repetition There has to be a certain amount of repetition until there is an evidence that the student has learned the target word. It means that, teacher should give much practice on repetition, so the students can master the words well and they can use the words in their spoken or written.
5. Meaningful presentation Meaningful presentation means teacher should present the target language as well as the form of the word itself. This requires the
15 words that presented are perfectly clear and unambiguous.
From the explanation above, I summarized that teachers should consider some principles above in teaching vocabulary before teaching
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C. Games
As have been mentioned in the previous chapter, most of senior high school students admitted that they are usually bored in vocabulary learning. They have never changed their learning habits, they just have to find out some word that they think it is unfamiliar word, asked to the teacher, and let the teacher translated the word. It makes them learn passively, because they have no time to interact with the new word. In addition, translating is not always an effective way in introducing the new word to the learner. In this study the writer tried to use certain games in order to increase students’ motivation in learning vocabulary.
In teaching vocabulary, an English teacher should prepares some materials that will be learned by the students, they also have to prepare what technique will be used in the classroom, so students can understand the material. One of teaching technique that widely used recently is using games. According to Oxford Advance Dictionary, game is an activity or a sport with rules in which people or teams
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compete against each other. Another definition of game is expressed17 by Hornby that game is an activity that you do to have some fun.
Since games can present fun and enjoyment in a classroom, thus it can be a good technique in language learning.
Furthermore, there are many opinions supporting the idea of using games in teaching vocabulary. Games are helpful because they can 18 make students feel that certain words are important and necessary.
14 classroom, including "a welcome break from the usual routine of the language class", "motivating and challenging" "effort of learning", and
19 "language practice in the various skills." The benefits of games are also stated by Andrew Wright in his book:
1. Games can help and encourage many learners to sustain their interest and work.
2. Games also help the teacher to create contexts in which the language is useful and meaningful.
3. Games make the students want to take part in order to be more understand what others are saying or have written.
4. Games can be found to give practice in all the skills (reading,
20 writing, listening and speaking).
There is no doubt for the writer to conduct a research about teaching vocabulary by using games. It has many advantages, not only for the students to increase their motivation in learning, but also for the teacher to make them more creative in their teaching. This situation definitely makes the teaching and learning process becoming more fun.
D. How Games Help Learning
There were some research findings proved that games are suitable in vocabulary teaching. Based on Michael J. Wallace “the basic aim of vocabulary games and vocabulary exercises are usually very similar: to develop the students’ vocabulary, perhaps by extending his vocabulary
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21 to the lesson.” There were several studies proved that the use of games in learning vocabulary is effective.
A study entitle The Effectiveness of Using “Card Game” Technique in Introducing New Vocabulary had been done by Dian Khairunnisa, a scholar of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta. This research was conducted to know that teaching new vocabulary using the use of “card game” as the teaching technique is effective to improve students’ achievement in learning vocabulary. This study was hold in 2012 with population taken is two classes. In this study, the author tried to use certain game, namely, “Card Game” in introducing a new vocabulary to the students at the eleventh grade of Darul Ma’arif Senior High School. She implemented two kinds of
22 Card Game; they are Giving a Message and Collect Your Word. This research was proven that using Card Game is effective to introduce new English vocabulary to students in senior high school. Both of the games are very useful for students in remembering their new English vocabulary, because to win the game, students need to remember the word or sentence that has been given by the teacher. Students have to compete with other teams to be the winner.
Another study has the title Reinforcing Students’ Vocabulary through Puzzles’ Game written by Zaini Rahman. This research is aimed to make significant result in students’ vocabulary achievement th th by using puzzle. The study was hold from May 16 May to 25 of
16 had seen the changes of students’ score; he also had calculated students’ score from pretest and posttest. It can be seen that teaching by using puzzle in vocabulary subject has reinforced students’ ability in memorizing the vocabulary. Games can create some new situation in a classroom, so students feel fun when they are learning and the important thing is that students can easily retrieve the vocabulary in different way of learning. There is an article; the title is Learning Vocabulary through Games written by Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen. To assess the effectiveness of learning vocabulary through games in the classroom, the author want to know how students' experiences help with their learning and what
24 progress they gain. On that article, the author tried to apply different kinds of games in English lessons. He implemented the games to know how students’ reacted through the games. Another way to gather the data, the author also interviewed the students to know what are their problem and their progress during the process. In early step of the research, the author has designed a simple questionnaire to help students understand clearly about the study. After collecting the data, the author got the result of the study. The result was divided into three subsections; i) students' expectations and attitudes, (ii) students' progress and iii) unanticipated problems. i) Students’ expectations and attitudes It was found that all of students expressed their wish to learn
17 Games are not only for pleasure, but it also has to gain learners’ vocabulary progress. After the implementation of several games in their class, most of learner answered teachers’ question quickly, even though there were still some students cannot answer the question, they could learn from their friends’ answer. Most of students agreed that games can help them to learn vocabulary easily than the traditional way. iii) Unanticipated problems Using games in teaching and learning process is not always success. Sometimes it could be fail due to the lack of cooperation between members of the class. Another reasons related to the issue of using games in teaching and learning process is students usually used their first language while playing the games. It impeded the acquisition of the target language they learned. The use of games in teaching and learning foreign language has a great effect for teachers and students. Teachers should be creative in choosing and implementing the game in a classroom. They have to know the aim of the lessons first, the level of their students, students’ need and how to convey the purpose of the game that will be played. There are many advantages for students in learning foreign language using games. One of the advantages is; games can increase students’ motivation in learning a foreign language. Mccallum emphasizes this point by suggesting that “games automatically stimulate student
18 some games in vocabulary teaching in the huge classes. Since so many schools having the huge classes, consist of more than 30 students, and many students only know the meaning of some English vocabulary in their first language. The writer is curious whether games are still effective to improve students’ vocabulary.
E. Teaching Common Nouns by Using Games
In the previous discussion of this research, the writer has explained the reason of using games as a technique in teaching common noun for senior high school students. The further explanation about games also has been also discussed earlier in this chapter. This section will only concern about the application of the games in teaching nouns in the classroom.
The use of games in teaching common noun is to help students to reduce their boredom in learning a language. The games that have been selected by the writer, such as vocabulary match-up, word grid and bingo are the games that frequently used in teaching vocabulary. The goal of those games is to make learning vocabulary become more competitive; students need to cooperate with their own team to defeat other teams. This situation raises students’ motivation in learning vocabulary. The writer tries to implement the games in teaching vocabulary in experimental classes.
The implementation of the games in experimental classes will be
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26 and fun way to practice students’ vocabulary and other skills. To do matching games there are several procedures; Write some vocabulary words on the board. One by one, have students pick up a definition and place it under the correct word. The student says the word and definition, and the next student continues the activity.
Extra challenge: After all definitions are placed, the students will create their own sentences with the words, and share with the 27 class.
2. The other game was word grid. The purposes of this game are to check how many words and definition that students have remembered and to know how well students build the sentence with the word. This is an activity which is found useful to highlight the problem of students who still feel difficult in creating a sentence and to move students' knowledge of the word on to beyond what the word means. The preparation before implementing the game is simple; Collect together a list of words that students have learnt recently and some quick definitions of the word. Draw a large grid on the board. The size will depend on the number of students, but limit to a maximum of twenty as beyond
28 this their concentration is likely to lapse.
3. In the last meeting, to review the words and definition that have been memorized by the students, the writer used another game that is Bingo game. Vocabulary Bingo is a game for the whole class
20 matching the definition given by the teacher to the vocabulary
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word on their bingo card.There are many techniques in teaching vocabulary; the use of game is one of them. It is not only to entertain the students, but games also make language teachers become more creative. As stated in Techniques in Teaching Vocabulary that teachers are responsible for creating conditions which encourage vocabulary expansion, and a
30 well-chosen game can help the students acquire English words.
F. Thinking Framework
As it has been mentioned before, many students still have problem in learning vocabulary. Memorizing and understanding English vocabulary are the major problem. They often found unfamiliar word, it can be said that students have lack of vocabulary. They also often get bored when they cannot find the meaning of certain word. They tend to ask their teacher if they found some difficult words rather than to find out the words by themselves and memorize the words.
To help students memorizing English vocabulary, the writer thought to begin with the most concrete word, like noun. In teaching common noun, teachers should provide interesting teaching technique. Using games can be the one of teaching technique to help students easier to remember the words. Games are more effective than translation method usually used. It can increase students’ motivation in
21 match-up, word grid and bingo, the use of those games is to create a different condition in learning English vocabulary, especially in learning common noun. It is purposed that students can work together to find the right answer to win the game, it is also hoped that students could know the meaning of the word. Students can be motivated to compete with each other in order to win the game. According to the consideration above, the writer assumes that the games could be effective to improve students’ understanding in learning common noun.
Based on the statements above, the writer can say that using games could improve students’ understanding and memorization of common noun. Games are also considered to be one of effective teaching techniques in teaching vocabulary especially common noun at first grade students of SMA Nusantara 1 Tangerang.
G. Hypothesis
1. Ho (Null hypothesis) = Games are not effective to improve students’ vocabulary.
2. Ha (Alternative hypothesis) = Games are effective to improve students’ vocabulary.
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A. The Place and Time of the Research
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The writer conducted the research on March 28 2014 and the research run for six meetings, consisted of giving the pre-test in the beginning of the research, implementing the technique, and giving the post-test in the end of the meeting. The research took place at SMA Nusantara 1 Tangerang which is located on Jl.Cisadane V Tangerang.
B. Research Design
In this research the writer used an experimental study. An experimental study is the only type of research that can test hypotheses to establish cause-effect relations. In experimental research the researcher manipulates at least one independent variable, controls other relevant
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variables, and observes the effect on one or more dependent variables. It means that an experimental research is one of research design which is done to collect information whether or not a technique or media has an effect to the students in their learning.
In this research, there were two variables; the independent variable was games and the dependent variable was students’ understanding of
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control group. In order to generalize the data, the writer decided to use three classes; two classes as the experimental classes and the other class as the controlled class. In the experimental class, the writer used games as the technique in teaching noun, while in the controlled class, it did not receive any treatment, but it was treated as usual. The research was done for six meetings: