Increasing vocabulary mastery by using Scrabble to teaching vocabulary to the first year class of SMP Darul Mutta’allimin Sidoarjo

Juli 11, 2009 hastutik

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Language can not be separated from our lives because it is used to connect society. We can also describe our ideas, feelings and desires to other people using the language. Raja T. Nasr (1984 : 1) Language is a part of culture and also part of human behavior. There are many languages in the world. They are used to communicate between people in the world. English is an important language and is used as an international language because most countries use it. It is used in all world activities, such as conferences, sport events and world trade. Moreover, English is important in developing sciences, technology, education, and culture because most of resource books are written in English.

Based on Junior High School Curriculum, “Pembelajaran bahasa Inggris di SMP/MTs ditargetkan agar peserta didik dapat mencapai tingkat fungsional yakni berkomunikasi secara lisan dan tulis untuk menyelesaikan masalah sehri-hari”. So, the students in Junior High School should learn English more deeply in order to be able to use and apply it in communication.

H. Asy’ari (2006 : 13) states, “Tujuan Pendidikan Menengah adalah meningkatkan kecerdasan, pengetahuan, kepribadian, akhlak mulia, serta ketrampilan untuk hidup mandiri dan mengikuti pendidikan lebih lanjut. English is also important for them when they come to the next level school or look for a job.

The most important is they have to acquire English that involve four language skills; they are listening, speaking, reading and writing. But, being able to master those skills, the students need vocabulary. “No matter how well the students learn grammar, or how successful the sound of the languages are mastered, without words communication can not occur in any meaningful way (McCarthy, 1990)”.

Many teachers don’t realize that vocabulary is the major problems in confronting English as a foreign language learner. “Vocabulary is the most important component of a language power. In using the language, students who are rich in vocabulary will be successful both in expression skill: speaking and writing and receptive skill: reading and listening. But one who is poor in vocabulary will get trouble in those skills”. (Deignton, 1971: 461)

In a class, most of the students are passive because they don’t know a lot of vocabularies. The teacher uses the old method in which teacher centered. After give explanation, usually the teacher asks the students to answer the questions. So, when the teaching learning process, they give not attention and feel boring at the vocabulary subject. Because of that, the English teachers must have the ability to vary the teaching technique which focused on student centered. It is important to teacher in order to the students change to have pleasure in learning language. The teacher is as a facilitator. Furthermore, as quoted by Murdibjono (1997) teaching techniques are expected to give high priority promoting positive attitude toward learning English.

One technique for teaching English vocabulary is by using game. Games can be used as one of the educational techniques in teaching learning process of English. According to Kolf (1989), through games, vocabulary can be practiced and emphasized. In other word, students can get reinforcement as well as attention to vocabulary. In short, games can break the tension and help the students to avoid boredom in learning English.

The writer has to find out the appropriate game for Junior High School students. Scrabble is a word game for 2, 3 or 4 players. To play consist of forming interlocking words, cross-word fashion on the Scrabble playing board using letter tiles with various score values. Moreover, this game challenges its players to use the maximum number of letters little to put down words in the best possible position, therefore, scrabble presents opportunities for its players to enjoy the game, particularly in the classroom. Scrabble may be the most popular word game around. It’s designed for two to four players and the object is to score points by forming words from lettered tiles on a game board. Everyone starts out with a seven letter tiles and builds off the word constructions set out as the game processes.

Scrabble is indirect learning. When the students play the game, they don’t realize that they are learning. Students also got new words or vocabulary in nature. This competition is aimed at making the learners use the dictionary and improve their vocabulary. Scrabble is not only a fun game, but also a fantastic educational tool. Scrabble makes learning fun. Obviously, it requires and builds strong vocabulary and spelling, but it also requires math (players need to see what players are worth what) and strategy (players need to see what plays are worth the most and what plays might keep their opponents from scoring), even spatial relations and probability. And if you play in teams, you have to work together. It’s a great opportunity for kids to teach and learn from each other. There’s even a version of the classic word game devoted to mathematics, using formulas and equations instead of words. Even kids who are not strong spellers can catch the bug. Scrabble gives them a chance play with letters and develops their interest in words. If a student is good with strategy, he stands a chance. The skills he lacks will grow, watered by his success. The dictionary is the weapon of choice in Scrabble, so it requires a student to gain facility with using that otherwise dreaded book.

Scrabble also has the weakness. It can not be used to more than four students. So, the teacher should be has more than one scrabble. But, if the teachers do not have more scrabbles, they can make and create own scrabble. It called a human Scrabble. Just prepare the paper, pencil and dictionary. The number of paper is same with the number of students. Write down the alphabet letters in those papers, start from vowel (A, I, U, E, O) and another consonants (The comparison between the number of vowel and consonant should be similar. The way of human scrabble playing is easy. Give those paper to every student. Each student get one paper. After that, make a group of them. Give the time about 5 – 7 minutes to every group to discuss the words that formed. After the time over, each group is called consecutively and asked to show the words. If the letters in a group are used that group has a score 10 (highest score). In spite of, if there is one letter is unused, so it will be decreased to score 10. The teacher should be requires the dictionary.

Based on the explanation, the writer hopes students can enjoy their studying and increase the student’s vocabulary continually and hopefully enjoy learning a foreign language. This method will become one new break through in teaching learning activity, which can contribute as an educational research.

1.2 Statement of the Problems

Referring to the background of the study above, the writer wants to reveal by doing this research:

“Can Scrabble increase vocabulary mastery to the first year class students at SMP Darul Mutta’allimin?”

1.3 Purpose of Study

Based on the statement of the problem above, the purpose of this research is as follow:

“To know that the Scrabble can increase the student’s vocabulary mastery

1.4 Significance of the Study

1.4.1 For the teachers of Junior High School

The teacher of Junior High School can get input about the ways of increasing the student’s vocabulary.

1.4.2 For the students of Junior High School

The students can enjoy themselves in learning English in the class and enlarge their vocabulary easily.

1.5 Scope and Limitation

1.5.1 The scope of this research is at SMP Darul Mutta’allimin of the first year class students.

1.5.2 The material of the study is scrabble which is used as an object of discussing in this thesis. The writer limits on concrete vocabulary.

1.6 The Definition of Key Terms

Definition is intended to avoid the ambiguity in perception of some terms used in this study. They are operationally only applied to this study. The definition is as follows:

1.6.1 Teaching

Teaching is the work or profession of a teacher (Longman, 2001 : 1613). Teaching gives somebody instruction, knowledge or skill in school. (Manser, 1991 : 425),

To show somebody how to do something so that they will be able to do it themselves, to give somebody information about a particular subject; to help somebody learn something. (Hornby, 1995 : 1225)

1.6.2. Vocabulary:

The total number of words in a language. List of words with their meanings, especially at the back of the book used for teaching a foreign language. (Manser, 1991 : 461).

All the words known to a person or used in a particular book, subject, etc. (Hornby, 1995 : 1331).

A list of words and sometimes phrases, usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined; a dictionary, glossary, or lexicon. All the words used by a particular person, class, profession, etc: sometimes, all the words recognized and understood by a particular person, although not necessary used by him. (Mckechnie, 1979 : 2046)

1.6.3 Scrabble

A board game in which words are formed from letters in patterns similar to a crosswords puzzle; each letter has a value and those values are used to score the game. (wordnet.princeton.du/perl/webwn)

Scrabble is also a board game in which players draw letter tiles and take turns to make interlocking words like a crossword, scoring points according to the letters played and their positions on the board. (en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Scrabble)