Improving The Students’ Vocabulary Mastery By Using Pictures (A Classroom Action Research at SDN 05 Jaten In the Academic Year 2008/2009)

Oleh :
Bayu Kurniawan - K2203031 - Fak. KIP

ABSTRACT This study is based on the problems of the low vocabulary mastery of the sixth grade students of SDN 05 Jaten. It focuses on knowing how effectively pictures can improve students’ vocabulary. It also identifies the phenomena taking place when teaching by using pictures are implemented in teaching and learning vocabulary. Finally, the aim of this study is to find out the strengths and the weaknesses of the implementation of teaching vocabulary by using pictures in the sixth grade of SDN 05 Jaten. The technique implemented in this research is teaching by using pictures. The procedure of the research consists of identifying the problems, planning the action, implementing the action, observing or monitoring the action, reflecting the result of the observation, and revising the plan for the following steps. The research is conducted in two cycles. Cycle 1 consists of three meetings and cycle 2 consists of five meetings. Techniques in collecting the data are qualitative and quantitative method. In qualitative method, the researcher uses observational and non-observational techniques. Observational technique consists of observations, field notes, and photographs, while non-observational technique consists of interviews and document. The results of the observation are in the form of field notes, interviews and photographs. The qualitative data are analyzed through some steps, namely: 1) data reduction; 2) data display; 3) conclusion drawing and verification. In quantitative method, the researcher used tests. The test consists of pre-test and post-test. The technique to analyze the tests result is by comparing the mean score of pre-test and post-test. In this action research, the researcher was the teacher and the observer was the researcher’s friend who knows the action research. The results of this research show that pictures can effectively improve the students’ vocabulary mastery. The improvement can be seen in the form of students’ behaviour and students’ score. The students become more active and have higher motivation in teaching and learning process. The improvement of students’ score can be seen from the differences between pre-test and post-test. The mean score of pretest improves from 4.63 to 6.82 in post test 1 and it also improves to 7.89 in post-test 2. The test result shows that there is a significant improvement of the students’ vocabulary after the researcher conducted the research. It proves that teaching vocabulary by using pictures can improve the students’ vocabulary. The result of the research implies that teaching by using pictures can be an appropriate technique in teaching vocabulary. Teaching vocabulary by using picture also makes the students grasp and remember new vocabulary more easily. English teachers can also mix or add other techniques like game, quiz, etc, in teaching vocabulary by using picture.