IMPROVING STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY MASTERY THROUGH WORD SEARCH PUZZLE GAME WHEN STUDYING DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

Abstract

The title of the research is “Improving Students’ Vocabulary Mastery
Through Word Search Puzzle Game when Studying Descriptive
Text”. The aims of the research are to investigate whether or not
word search puzzle game is effective in improving students’
vocabulary mastery when they learn descriptive text and to know the
students responses toward the use of word search puzzle game in
learning vocabulary. The writer used a Pre-experimental research
method to conduct the research. The subject of the research was the
first grade students of MTs Al-Halimiyah. The writer took one class
as the sample which consisted 30 students. The writer collected the
data through pre-test, post-test, and questionnaire. The pre-test was
administered to obtain the data of students’ vocabulary mastery
before they were given the treatments. The post-test was
administered to obtain the data of students’ vocabulary mastery after
they were given the treatments. The results of pre-test and post-test
score were analyzed through the t-test formula to find out whether or
not word search puzzle game was effective. Based on the
computation result by using t-test formula, with df = N-1=30-1=29 at
p= .05 the critical value of t is 2.045. The research findings the mean
score of the post-test was higher than the mean score of pre-test, it
can be seen from the mean score of pre-test was 52.73 and the mean
score of post-test was 64.93 (52.73 < 64.93). It meant there were
improvements after the treatments. The obtained t-test was 8.106,
whereas the critical value of t (t-table) was 2.045. The t-test was
higher than the t-table (8.106 >2.045). So that, the Null Hypothesis
(Ho) was rejected and the Alternative Hypothesis (Ha) was accepted.
Based on the research findings. It can be concluded that word search
puzzle game was effective used for improving students’ vocabulary
mastery when studied descriptive text. Based on the result of questionnaire, the students liked being taught vocabulary by using
word search puzzle game. In addition, more than half of the students
felt easy to memorize some new vocabulary and almost of all the
students were more motivated to learn English, especially learning
vocabulary.