IMPROVING THE SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH ENGLISH SONGS AT SMP NEGERI 11 JEMBER IN THE 2014/2015 ACADEMIC YEAR

Abstract

All people should use good language to communicate each others. Fardhani (2003:1) states that vocabulary is an important aspect of language learning and no language exists without any words. In line with this statement, the students are required to be able to master vocabulary in order to master other language skills and components. The subjects of this research were the students of VII-A grade at SMP Negeri 11 Jember in the 2014/2015 academic year. This class was chosen because the students in that class were passive in the English classand they had the lowest mean score of English midterm test scores comparing with the other five classes of the seventh grade. It was seen from the mean score of their test that was only 65.45 which did not reach the standard score in that school, that is 72. Besides, the students had difficulties in learning vocabulary, especially in spelling, memorizing, and understanding the meaning of the words. So that, the objectives of this classroom action research were to improve the students’ vocabulary achievement and their participation in teaching and learning process. There were two kinds of important data in this research: primary data and secondary data. Theprimary data were collected through vocabulary test and observation, while the secondary data were taken from interview and documentation. This research was conducted on May 18th - May 29th, 2015 in two cycles to get the primary data in the form of vocabulary achievement test and observation. Each cycle consisted of two meetings and a vocabulary achievement test. In each meeting, the researcher and the English teacher did collaboration. The researcher was teaching vocabulary through English songs while the English teacher was observing the students in class. xiv The vocabulary achievement test was needed to know the students’ vocabulary achievement after learning vocabulary through some English songs in class. The target percentage of the students’ vocabulary achievement was at least 70% students who got the standard minimum requirement score, which is 72. The result of vocabulary achievement test in the first cycle showed that there were 23 students (60.5%) got score at least 72. It means that the target percentage of the students’ vocabulary achievement in Cycle 1 did not achieve yet. Based on the results of the first cycle above, the actions were continued to the second cycle because the result of the first cycle did not achieve the criteria of success of the research yet. In addition, the result of the students’ vocabulary achievement in the second cycle showed that there were 31 students (81.6%) could achieve the standard minimum requirement score, that is 72. It means that the target percentage of the students’ vocabulary achievement in Cycle 2 had achieved. Further, the observation was used to know the students’ active participation during the teaching learning process of vocabulary by using English songs. The target percentage of the students’ active participation was at least 70% students who were active in class. There were two meetings in each cycle. In the first cycle Meeting 1, there were 22 active students (57.9%) besides in Meeting 2 there were 28 active students (73.7%). The average result of the students’ active participation in Cycle 1 was 65.8%. It means that the target percentage of the students’ active participation in Cycle 1did not achieve yet. Thus, the observationswere continuedto the second cycle. In the second cycle Meeting 1, there were 30 active students (78.9%) besides in Meeting 2 there were 32 active students (84.2%). The average result of the students’ active participation in Cycle 2 was 82%. It means that the target percentage of the students’ active participation in Cycle 2 had achieved. The successful results of this research could be reached by revising some weaknesses found in Cycle 1, so it could give better results in Cycle 2. Finally it could be reported that the use of English songs in teaching vocabulary could improve the seventh grade students’ vocabulary achievement at SMP Negeri 11 Jember in the 2014/2015 academic year.