IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY ACHIEVEMENT BY USING SCRAMBLE GAME.

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IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY

ACHIEVEMENT BY USING SCRAMBLE GAME

A THESIS

Submitted to Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the Degree of Sarjana Pendidikan

By:

AFNI WIDIA NINGSIH

Register Number: 209321029

P

ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTEMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS

STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN

2014


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, the writer would like to express thankful to ALLAH SWT, the Almighty God for the mercy and guidance in giving her Blessings, Health, Protection, Knowledge and opportunity so this thesis could do and finally complete this thesis with entitled “ Improving The Students’ Vocabulary Achievement by Using Scramble Game.” This thesis aimed at fulfilling one of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Pendidikan at English Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, State University of Medan.

During the process of writing this thesis, the writer realized that she had to learn this thesis to give more contribution to the readers. Meanwhile, she has been, given any suggestions, comments, and guidance for which the writer would like to extend her sincere and special thanks to :

Prof. Dr. Ibnu Hajar, M.Si, the Rector of State University of Medan.

Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum, the Dean of Faculty of Languages and Arts, Vice Dean I, Vice Dean II, Vice Dean III and all the administrative staff.  Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd the Head of English Department as well as

her thesis for the precious time on giving advices, great helping, Dra.Rahmah, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Department.

Dra. Masitowarni Siregar, M.Ed., the Head of English Education Study program.

Dra. Sortha Silitonga, M.Pd., as well as her great thesis consultant for her Generous assistance, great guidance maked be strong, precious advised and value time she spent on supervising the draft of this thesis.

All the lectures of English Department, for their valuable knowledge, advices, and guidance during her academic years in English Department.  My beloved parents, Misnadi, S.Pd and Paini, S.Pdfor their endless love,

precious pray, support, and everything they given to the writer not only in completing this thesis but also in her life.


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My beloved brother and sister; Tukiman, Herianto, Pardiana, and Titinwho always support, advises financial and moral support, pray and motivate her in education and give the writer more spirit in finishing this thesis.

All English Department Students ’09, especially extension class A whose name are not mentioned one by one, for their companionship, help, support, information, and encouragement.

Medan, April 2014 The Writer

Afni Widia Ningsih Reg.Num.209321029


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ABSTRACT

Widia Ningsih, Afni. 2014. Improving The Students’ Vocabulary Achievement by Using Scramble Game

This study deals with the Improvement of the students’ vocabulary achievement by using scramble game in junior high school. This reserach was conducted by applying Classroom Action Research with two cycles in six meetings. The subject of this study was a class in the second year students of SMP PAB 10 Medan. There were 23 students that participated in this research. The qualitative data were taken from the diary notes, interview sheet, observation sheet, and questionnaire sheet and the quantitative data was taken from the test result and done in a pre test and the two tests. The result of of the quantitative data indicate that the score of the students improved from cycle I to cycle II with a pre-test mean of 61.96, the test of cycle I was 68.74 and the test of cycle II was 74.26. The result of based on the data above, it can be concluded that the application of scramble game was significantly improved students’ vocabulary achievement.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT ... i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iv

LIST OF TABLES ... vi

LIST OF FIGURE ... vii

LIST OF APPENDICES ... viii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. The Background of the Study ... 1

B. The Problem of the Study ... 4

C. The Scope of the Study ... 4

D. The Objective of the Study ... 5

E. The Significance of the Study... 5

CHAPTER II .... REVIEW OF LITERATURE A. Theoretical Framework ... 6

1. Students’ Achievement in Vocabulary ... 6

2. Vocabulary ... 7

a. The Kinds of Vocabulary ... 9

b. The Principles of Teaching Vocabulary ... 11

3. The Assesment in Vocabulary ... 14

4. Scramble Game ... 15

B. Conceptual Framework ... 17

CHAPTER III .. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A. Research Design ... 18

B. The Subject Of The Research ... 20

C. The Instruments Of Collecting Data ... 20

D. The Procedure Of Data Collection ... 21

E. Technique Of Data Analysis ... 22

CHAPTER IV THE DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS ... 25

A. The Data ... 27

B. The Data analysis ... 27

1. The Activities of The First Cycle ... 27

2. The Activities of The Second Cycle ... 29


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CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 38

A. Conclusion ... 38

B. Suggestion ... 38

REFERENCES ... 39


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LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Procedure of Data Collection for the First Time ... 21

Table 3.2 Table of Procedure of Data Collection for the First Cycle ... 21

Table 4.1 Score of Students’ Vocabulary Test ... 31

Table 4.2 Comparison of the Students’ Score ... 32


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LIST OF FIGURE


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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A Lesson Plan ... 40

Appendix B Students’ Score ... 55

Appendix C Interview Sheet ... 56

Appendix D Observation Sheet ... 60

Appendix E Questionaire Sheet ... 61


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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. The Background of the Study

English has different characteristics from other sciences and social subjects in schools. The differrence is laid on the language function as a communication tool, and as a consequence language has a central act on students’ development social, emotional, and intelligence. So that the language achievement becomes one of the decisive key to the success in learning all subjects.

Language as a means of communication is produced by combining words into sentences. Before combining words into sentences, the language users should understand about word’s meaning which is called vocabulary. Learning vocabulary is closely related with learning about words. There is no vocabulary without words. According to Milton (2009:3), words are the building blocks of language and without them there is no language. Knowing about a language should be preceded by knowing about vocabulary so that the communication can be done well. In addition, vocabulary has a strong relationship with one’s intelligence. As Napa (1991: 6) says that vocabulary is one of the components of language and that no language exists without words. Words are the sign or symbols for ideas. They are the means by which people exchange their thoughts. The more words people learn the more ideas people should have, so that they can communicate the ideas more effectively.

In Indonesia is a foreign language, it is the most popular language. English is the important language for learning. It is proved by the increasing number of


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school which includes English as their subject. English used to be taught firstly in Junior High School, but now days, most of Elementary schools also make English as their subject.

People can find the words in spoken or written form since words are the building blocks for all of the skills in language namely speaking, listening, writing, and reading. In relation to reading, there is a strong connection between vocabulary and reading itself. Bromley (2004), in a comprehensive review of research on vocabulary development, concludes that vocabulary knowledge

promotes reading fluency, boost reading comprehension, improves academic achievement, and enhances thinking and communication. The more words people

have the easier people can comprehend a text and those words are obtained partially from the text that people read.

Teaching English in Indonesia is based on KTSP curriculum. The purpose of teaching English based on KTSP is to develop communication skill in English language. The skill is not only reading, listening, speaking and writing, but also in achievement of vocabulary important too.

Many students have difficulties to improve their achievement of English vocabulary. One of the problems is the students do not understand the meaning of English vocabulary. In the process of teaching and learning vocabulary, the teachers are not using media. They introduce new English word to the students and then ask them to find the meaning by using dictionary.However, the most of the students do not bring dictionary in English lesson.So, the process of teaching


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English vocabulary does not run well, becausethe students are passive in the classroom. It means that vocabulary is one of the important skills to the students.

Allen (1997:149) states that vocabulary is very important in a language, when we learn a language like English, we learn the words of language. Students must continue to learn words as they learn structure as they practice in target language. Through vocabulary, we convey our ideas, emotion and efficiently. The students are also difficult to deliver their ideas because of their limitation of

vocabulary. On the other hand, some students don’t have self-confidence speaking

using that vocabulary. As consequences, students will be difficult to communicate to each other or share their opinion.

To solve the problems, teachers do something to help their students to improve their vocabulary achievement. The writer wants to conduct an experiment on the use of word walls as an alternative in teaching, The Junior High School students are given something new and different from what they usually get in class. In other words, the teacher makes the students active instead of being silent. Through this study, the writer wants to find out a new teaching technique to increase the quality of English teaching learning process in Junior High School.

The reason of the writer uses scramble game in teaching vocabulary is the students can study how spell the words, how to write the words and what the meaning of the words in the same time. The other reason why the writer choose the media for teaching vocabulary is it trains the students memorizing the words. The writer also interested with the study about media in order to motivate childrento learn English with fun and enjoy. Scramble game is considered as an


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effective and enjoyable game to teach vocabulary because it enables students to practice and discuss the meaning of vocabulary through team work. By applying this game, the students’ vocabulary achievement is hoped to improve. Scramble game is going to be applied in the classroom of junior high school where the students will divided into some groups. Then they are asked to match the question cards with the right answer cards. In addition the answer cards are in the scramble form, so the students should arrange the random words first before they match it to the questions cards. This study will be useful and meaningful to increase the students’ vocabulary mastery.

B. The Problem of the Study

In relation to the background of the study, this research is addressed to the following question, “Is the students’ vocabulary achievement significantly improved by the application of scramble game?”

C. The Scope of the Study

There are some activities which can improve students’ vocabulary

achievement. One of the activities is the application of scramble game. So, the

focus of the study is the improvement of students’ vocabulary achievement by


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D. The Objective of the Study

This study is applied to improve students’ vocabulary achievement by using scramble game. It was expected that the scramble game greatly can motivate students in junior high school to learn vocabulary.

E. The Significance of the Study The significances of this study are:

1. Theoretically, this study is useful to enrich knowledge on the theories of language learning. The findings will enhance previous theories on the second language learning.

2. Practically, the findings of the study are useful and relevant to:

a. English teaching learning process, to improve the situation of the class more active by conducting the scramble game in learning vocabulary b. Students to develop their vocabularies by using scramble game

c. Other researchers can use the result of this study as the information for further research in the same interest.


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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

After analyzing the data, conclusions can be concluded as following: 1. The students’ vocabulary achievement was an improvement on the

students’ vocabulary by applying Scramble Game supported from the

qualitative and quantitative data.

2. It is found that the good media, suitable teaching method could help students to be more active in teaching and learning process.

B. Suggestion

In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are stated as the following: 1. In teaching English its better to use Scramble Game especially in teaching

vocabulary because by applying this way, students more active in teaching and learning process, because the students are more active and critical and also can helps the teacher in monitoring and encouraging the students so that the students can comprehend the material easily.

2. It is also suggested to the reader who are interested for further study (students of university) related to this research, they should explore the knowledge to enlarge their understanding about how to improve vocabulary achievement and search another references.


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REFERENCES

Chamberlain, Alan, 1981. Language Games: A Challenge to the Teacher’s Creative Imagination. Singapore: RELC.

Gairns, Ruth and Redman, Stuart. 2003. Working with Words: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Vocabulary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hanafiah,NanangdanCucuSuhana.2009.KonsepStrategiPembelajaran.Bandung:P T.RefikaAditama.

Harmer, Jeremy. 2004. The Practice of English Languages Teaching: 3rd Edition England: Longman.

Huyen, N.T.T. & Nga, K.T.T. 2003. The Effectiveness of Learning Vocabulary through Games. Asian EFL Journal 5.

Kemmis, S and R. Mettagart.2005. The action Research

Meizaliana. 2009. Teaching Structure Through Games To The Students Of Madrasyah Aliyah Negeri 1 Kepahiang, Bengkulu. A Thesis. Postgraduate Program, Diponegoro University Semarang.

Redman, S. 2001. English Vocabulary in Use. Jakarta:Erlangga

Thornbury, Scott. 2002. How to Teach Vocabulary. England: Pearson Longman. Uberman, Agniezka. 1998. The Use of Games for Vocabulary Presentation and

Revision. In. G.T.Macomber (Ed), Forum English Teaching (p.20-25). Washington: United States Department of State for Teacher of English. Widodo,Rahmat.2009.ModelPembelajaranScramble.http://wyw1d.wordpress.com


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school which includes English as their subject. English used to be taught firstly in Junior High School, but now days, most of Elementary schools also make English as their subject.

People can find the words in spoken or written form since words are the building blocks for all of the skills in language namely speaking, listening, writing, and reading. In relation to reading, there is a strong connection between vocabulary and reading itself. Bromley (2004), in a comprehensive review of research on vocabulary development, concludes that vocabulary knowledge

promotes reading fluency, boost reading comprehension, improves academic achievement, and enhances thinking and communication. The more words people

have the easier people can comprehend a text and those words are obtained partially from the text that people read.

Teaching English in Indonesia is based on KTSP curriculum. The purpose of teaching English based on KTSP is to develop communication skill in English language. The skill is not only reading, listening, speaking and writing, but also in achievement of vocabulary important too.

Many students have difficulties to improve their achievement of English vocabulary. One of the problems is the students do not understand the meaning of English vocabulary. In the process of teaching and learning vocabulary, the teachers are not using media. They introduce new English word to the students and then ask them to find the meaning by using dictionary.However, the most of the students do not bring dictionary in English lesson.So, the process of teaching


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English vocabulary does not run well, becausethe students are passive in the classroom. It means that vocabulary is one of the important skills to the students.

Allen (1997:149) states that vocabulary is very important in a language, when we learn a language like English, we learn the words of language. Students must continue to learn words as they learn structure as they practice in target language. Through vocabulary, we convey our ideas, emotion and efficiently. The students are also difficult to deliver their ideas because of their limitation of vocabulary. On the other hand, some students don’t have self-confidence speaking using that vocabulary. As consequences, students will be difficult to communicate to each other or share their opinion.

To solve the problems, teachers do something to help their students to improve their vocabulary achievement. The writer wants to conduct an experiment on the use of word walls as an alternative in teaching, The Junior High School students are given something new and different from what they usually get in class. In other words, the teacher makes the students active instead of being silent. Through this study, the writer wants to find out a new teaching technique to increase the quality of English teaching learning process in Junior High School.

The reason of the writer uses scramble game in teaching vocabulary is the students can study how spell the words, how to write the words and what the meaning of the words in the same time. The other reason why the writer choose the media for teaching vocabulary is it trains the students memorizing the words. The writer also interested with the study about media in order to motivate childrento learn English with fun and enjoy. Scramble game is considered as an


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effective and enjoyable game to teach vocabulary because it enables students to practice and discuss the meaning of vocabulary through team work. By applying this game, the students’ vocabulary achievement is hoped to improve. Scramble game is going to be applied in the classroom of junior high school where the students will divided into some groups. Then they are asked to match the question cards with the right answer cards. In addition the answer cards are in the scramble form, so the students should arrange the random words first before they match it to the questions cards. This study will be useful and meaningful to increase the students’ vocabulary mastery.

B. The Problem of the Study

In relation to the background of the study, this research is addressed to the following question, “Is the students’ vocabulary achievement significantly improved by the application of scramble game?”

C. The Scope of the Study

There are some activities which can improve students’ vocabulary achievement. One of the activities is the application of scramble game. So, the focus of the study is the improvement of students’ vocabulary achievement by using scramble game.


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D. The Objective of the Study

This study is applied to improve students’ vocabulary achievement by using scramble game. It was expected that the scramble game greatly can motivate students in junior high school to learn vocabulary.

E. The Significance of the Study The significances of this study are:

1. Theoretically, this study is useful to enrich knowledge on the theories of language learning. The findings will enhance previous theories on the second language learning.

2. Practically, the findings of the study are useful and relevant to:

a. English teaching learning process, to improve the situation of the class more active by conducting the scramble game in learning vocabulary b. Students to develop their vocabularies by using scramble game

c. Other researchers can use the result of this study as the information for further research in the same interest.


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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

After analyzing the data, conclusions can be concluded as following: 1. The students’ vocabulary achievement was an improvement on the

students’ vocabulary by applying Scramble Game supported from the qualitative and quantitative data.

2. It is found that the good media, suitable teaching method could help students to be more active in teaching and learning process.

B. Suggestion

In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are stated as the following: 1. In teaching English its better to use Scramble Game especially in teaching

vocabulary because by applying this way, students more active in teaching and learning process, because the students are more active and critical and also can helps the teacher in monitoring and encouraging the students so that the students can comprehend the material easily.

2. It is also suggested to the reader who are interested for further study (students of university) related to this research, they should explore the knowledge to enlarge their understanding about how to improve vocabulary achievement and search another references.


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REFERENCES

Chamberlain, Alan, 1981. Language Games: A Challenge to the Teacher’s Creative Imagination. Singapore: RELC.

Gairns, Ruth and Redman, Stuart. 2003. Working with Words: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Vocabulary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hanafiah,NanangdanCucuSuhana.2009.KonsepStrategiPembelajaran.Bandung:P T.RefikaAditama.

Harmer, Jeremy. 2004. The Practice of English Languages Teaching: 3rd Edition England: Longman.

Huyen, N.T.T. & Nga, K.T.T. 2003. The Effectiveness of Learning Vocabulary through Games. Asian EFL Journal 5.

Kemmis, S and R. Mettagart.2005. The action Research

Meizaliana. 2009. Teaching Structure Through Games To The Students Of Madrasyah Aliyah Negeri 1 Kepahiang, Bengkulu. A Thesis. Postgraduate Program, Diponegoro University Semarang.

Redman, S. 2001. English Vocabulary in Use. Jakarta:Erlangga

Thornbury, Scott. 2002. How to Teach Vocabulary. England: Pearson Longman. Uberman, Agniezka. 1998. The Use of Games for Vocabulary Presentation and

Revision. In. G.T.Macomber (Ed), Forum English Teaching (p.20-25). Washington: United States Department of State for Teacher of English. Widodo,Rahmat.2009.ModelPembelajaranScramble.http://wyw1d.wordpress.com