Improving the Eighth Grade Students’ Participation and Their Vocabulary Achievement by Using Riddles

Abstract

This classroom action research was intended to improve the VIIIB grade students’ vocabulary achievement by Ridlles at SMMPN 09 Jember. Based on the preliminary study, it was found that the VIIIB grade students had problem in vocabulary. It happened because the English teacher rarely used media in teaching vocabulary, she just explained some difficult words of text used, directly then asked them to do exercises in the work sheets, then discussed it together with the class. However, this way did not seem to be effective to be implemented. Besides during the activity in the classroom, some students’ were just silent when the teacher asked them to answer the teacher’s questions, then they never asked the question. They still had problems in memorizing words and understanding the text given. It was proved by looking at their mean vocabulary score (71) which was the lowest among the other eighth grade classes. It also did not achieve the minimum of standard score (74) for English subject. Thus, the using of riddles was done to enhance the students’ vocabulary achievement. The study was done in two cycles to improve the students’ vocabulary achievement and active participation. Each cycle covered two meet ings of the action implementation and one meet ing for administering the test. Besides, the observation checklist consisted of 5 indicators and the students were categorized as active if they could fulfill at least 4 indicators. The observation results in Cycle 1 showed that there was 47,5% students were actively involved during the teaching and learning process. It means that it improved 25% from 22,5% in pre-Cycle. Besides, the percentage of the students who achieved the minimum of standard score (74) increased into 9% from the pre-Cycle (52%) to Cycle 1 (61%). In other words, Cycle 1 did not fulfill the criteria of success because 74% of students had not achieved the research criteria. Then, the action was continued to Cycle 2 to improve the students’ vocabulary achievement and their active participation. The result of Cycle 2 showed much better result. It was reported that 81% of the students participated actively during the learning process. It means that there was 33,5% improvement from Cycle 1 which was 47,5%. Furthermore, the increase also happened to the students’ vocabulary achievement test that showed 81% of the students passed the standard minimum score. Based on the result above, it can be concluded that the use of riddles can improve the VIIIB grade students’ participation and vocabulary achievement.