ABSTRACT
This research is aimed to find out whether: (1) Discovery Learning is more
effective than Grammar Translation Method to teach vocabulary; (2) students
having high self-esteem have better vocabulary mastery than those having low
self-esteem; and (3) there is an interaction between teaching methods and
students’ self-esteem in teaching vocabulary.
The research was conducted at IKIP PGRI Pontianak in the academic year of
2013/2014 which consists of six classes. The samples were taken by cluster
random sampling. There are two classes used as sample, namely class C as the
experimental group taught by using discovery learning and class A as control
group taught by using Grammar Translation Method. The data of the research
were collected using two valid and reliable instruments, namely questionnaire and
vocabulary test. The questionnaire is used to classify students into two groups: the
students who have high self-esteem and those who have low self-esteem. The
vocabulary test is used to know the students’ vocabulary mastery. After normality
and homogeneity test were conducted, the hypothesis test was done. The data of
vocabulary test were analyzed by using multifactor analysis of variance 2x2 and
Tukey test.
The research findings are: (1) Discovery Learning is more effective than
Grammar Translation Method to teach vocabulary; (2) the students who have high
self-esteem have better vocabulary mastery than those who have low self-esteem;
(3) there is interaction between teaching methods and students’ self-esteem in
teaching vocabulary.
According to the research findings, it can be concluded that Discovery
Learning Method is an effective method to teach vocabulary to the second of IKIP
PGRI Pontianak in the academic year of 2013/2014. However, in the
implementation of the methods, a teacher must consider about the students level
of self-esteem. As proved in the research, creativity influences the students’
vocabulary mastery. By considering the students’ level of self-esteem, a teacher
can choose the method he/she uses properly to teach vocabulary in order to
improve the students’ vocabulary mastery.
Keywords: Vocabulary, discovery learning, grammar translation method, selfesteem,
experimental research.