A Correlational Study Between Vocabulary Mastery and Speaking Ability Of Senior High School Students

Abstract

Variations of words are required in order that people will be able to communicate with others. If people mastered it well, it would be easier for them to express their ideas. Through vocabulary, people are able to communicate, learn and think. Therefore, vocabulary is so important in language learning and teaching. Moreover, speaking ability refers to an individual's capacity to communicate effectively through spoken language. It encompasses various skills such as pronunciation, vocabulary usage, grammar, fluency, and coherence in verbal communication. This ability is crucial in interpersonal interactions, professional settings, academic endeavors, and everyday conversations. However, speaking is can be difficult element to learn because students do not have enough vocabulary. Students' limited vocabulary can affect their speaking ability, as vocabulary is at the heart of the English language. Students’ speaking skill depends on how much vocabulary they have. Thus, this correlation research design was intended because the researcher's aim is to know the significant correlation between the students’ vocabulary mastery and their speaking ability. The population of this research was the Tenth Grade Students of State Senior High School in a small village in Jember in the academic year of 2023/2024. There were 341 students who were divided into 10 classes. In taking the sample, the researcher used cluster random sampling by lottery. X-B class which had 34 students was selected randomly as the research sample.