learners can thrive and focus on learning.
5
In other words, both providing care and instruction
are teachers’ jobs. On the other side, young learners have both advantages and disadvantages
because of their respond to language according to what it does and what they can do with it, rather than treating it as an abstract system. Thus, young learners will
seem more familiar to the concrete aspects rather than the abstract ones. It can be concluded that young learners have the moment when their ages are
very promising in learning, because they acquire knowledge easily but still with limited materials based on their level of learning. Hence, it is important to know
techniques in teaching language the more vocabulary aspect.
2. Vocabulary
a. Definition of Vocabulary
It is well known that vocabulary is the basic element of language, Harmer stated that the vocabulary holds the important role as provider of organs and
flesh while language structures make up the skeleton of language.
6
Vocabulary is the basic component of language, vocabulary itself can be defined as the total number of words that make up a language.
7
It is also a language component that consists of information about meaning and words use in language.
8
Caroline said that vocabulary is words that language consists of. It is words collection that is known by individual.
9
In short vocabulary is a language component which is words that hold up a language which make up language user competent in every single skill of
target language. It is one of important aspects of language that cannot be neglected in learning language.
5
T. Linse, op. cit., p. 2
6
Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of English Language Teaching, New York: Longman Publishing, 1991, p. 153
7
A.S Hornby, Oxford advanced Learner’s Dictionary Oxford University Press, 1985, P.956
8
Harimukti Kridalaksana, Kamus Linguistik, Edisi Ketiga Jakarta:PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1993, P. 127
9
T. Linse. loc. cit., p.121
Looking at how important vocabulary of one language is, the variety of vocabulary usage will tend to help someone in manipulating grammatical
structures. In short, it can be said that someone’s ability in manipulating the
grammar when expressing meaning does not have any potential unless words are used.
10
b. Kinds of Vocabulary
Harmer divided vocabulary into two kinds, Active and Passive Vocabulary. 1. Active Vocabulary
It is also called as the productive vocabulary. Learners more commonly use it appropriately in speaking and writing. Although when in practice, it
seems more difficult to be carried out, but at least learners must know how to pronounce it appropriately, able use the words with good structure in target
language. Vocabulary can be called as an Active Vocabulary when students have already learnt it and they are expected to be able to use it properly.
2. Passive Vocabulary It is called as receptive vocabulary as well. It is words that commonly are
uneasy to be recognized and understood in the context of listening and reading either by learners. The Passive Vocabulary refers to items that learners will
probably find it difficult or even not able to produce it and they will only recognize it when they meet them.
11
In short active vocabulary is easier to use because probably someone has already learned it properly and practiced it a lot, while passive vocabulary will
tend to be difficult to use after it is acquired but no more used because probably it is considered as an unimportant word to use. Then in avoiding this case, someone
needs to practice and have more directional contact to words that are just found so that it will not go away easily.
10
Harmer, op. cit.,
11
Ibid,. p. 159
