Improving the Eighth Grade Students‟ Vocabulary Achievement by Using Nursery Rhymes

Abstract

This Classroom Action Research was done to improve the eighth grade students active participation and their vocabulary achievement by using Nursery Rhymes at SMPN 2 Banyuanyar, Probolinggo. Based on the preliminary study that has been done by the researcher, it was found that the eighth grade students at SMPN 2 Banyuanyar Probolinggo had a lack of vocabulary. The students got difficulties on pronuncing and memorizing the vocabulary. They also got difficulties on increasing their motivation in learning vocabulary . To overcome the problems, implementing interesting media was needed in teaching vocabulary. In this research, the researcher used Nursery Ryhmes in teaching vocabulary. This research was done in two cycles. Each cycle covered two meetings of the action implementation and one meeting for administering the test. This research covered four stages of activities namely: (1) planning the actions, (2) implementing the action, (3) observing the class, (4) reflecting the action. The observation result in Cycle I showed that 71.06% of students were categorized as active students and 28.94% of students were categorized as passive students. The observation in Cycle II showed that 81.57% of students were categorized as active students and 18.43% of students were categorized as passive students. There was improvement of students‟ active participation from Cycle I to Cycle II. It indicated that the percentages of the students‟ active participation could achieve the target or the criteria of success which is the criteria of success was at least 75% of students were categorized as active students.