A. Introduction IRMA YUNITA, English Abstract

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1 THE IMPLEMENTATION OF USING CROSSWORD PUZZLES GAME TO INCREASE STUDENT S VOCABULARY OF THE FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SD NEGERI BAPANGSARIIN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2013 by IRMA YUNITA, English department,irma_unieta@yahoo.com Abstract The objectives of this study are to describe the implementation to increase students vocabulary using crossword puzzles game, to know the students respond on teaching vocabulary crossword puzzles game, and to describe the problem faced by the teacher in teaching vocabulary using crossword puzzles game at the fourth grade students of SD Negeri Bapangsari.This research is a classroom observation. The methods of collecting the data in this research are observation, tests and interview. The conclusion for this research is that the implementation of using crossword puzzles game in teaching and learning vocabulary successfully. It means that using crossword puzzles game is successfully implemented. Due to being excited in teaching learning process, the students felt happy and made them easier in vocabulary English. Accordingly, teaching learning vocabulary using crossword puzzles can help the student s interest in learning English. Key words:implementation, increase, student s vocabulary, crossword puzzles. A. Introduction In this modern era, people demand to have more than one language. Language as a tool for communication takes an important role in our daily activities. Without communication, we will be left behind. Communication in foreign language is a bridge to get information, knowledge and culture. Indonesia as a developing country has realized that English as an International language is needed to be mastered by Indonesian people. Fauziati (2005:155) states that Vocabulary is central to language and of critical importance to typical language learners. Without a sufficient vocabulary, people cannot communicate well or express his/her ideas in both oral and written form. A language is not a dead thing, but a living thing (able to grow up)

2 in which the vocabulary is it fat. Vocabulary is an important thing in language learning in spite of other language components such as, grammar, phonology, and so on. Crossword puzzle game is chosen by the researcher for consideration that it is a useful way in teaching vocabularies for elementary students. And from the statements above, the researcher chooses this topic because the researcher is sure that using crossword puzzle game in teaching-learning vocabulary process will become a variation of teaching that helps students understand and memorize the English vocabularies easily. The material used in crossword puzzles use of synonym. The researcher limits her investigation on the fourth grade students in SD NegeriBapangsari in the academic year 2012/2013 only in order to manage her research well. The researcher focuses on the implementation of using crossword puzzle game to increase student s vocabulary. This limitation is based of the assumption that elementary school level need some media which will build up their motivation, gives a positive contribution towards and used as one of method variations of learning English. Particularly in increasing their vocabulary. There is also another important thing to remember that the researcher did the research among the students of the fourth year students of SD N Bapangsari in the academic year of 2012/2013. B. Research Method In this section the researcher formulizestype of research; the researcher appliesa qualitative research (classroom observation). The research isconducted to obtain information related to the implementation of usingcrossword puzzles to increaseenglish vocabulary mastery by the fourth grade students of SD Negeri Bapangsari in the academic year of 2012/2013 with the focus on crossword puzzles. This research focuses on the implementation of using crossword puzzles to teach vocabulary to the fourth grade students of SD Negeri Bapangsari.

3 According to Sugiyono (2009: ), there are some instruments of collecting data, such as test, interview, and observation. In the research, the researcher used test for the students, observation to observe the teacher and the students, interview to the teacher and the students to collect data. The collect data accurately, the researcher uses some methods: 1. Observation An observation is a method of collecting the data which the researcher watches the object of observation closely and directly whether the observation is a real situation. According to Riduan (2005:76), observation is directly observing the research object to observe the activities done by the object. 2. Documentation In this study the researcher uses score of vocabulary mastery borrowed from the English teacher. 3. Interview The researcher conductss the interview with the English teacher and students about classroom teaching-learning process after the use of crossword puzzles game and its impact on the student s involvement. C. Research Findings The crossword puzzleswere about fruits, vegetables, and foods. These were the results: Before the English teacher taught the students by using the Crossword puzzles, the researcher did such preparations such as giving the students test to measure the extent to which the student s vocabulary mastery and the teacher make a lesson plan beforetaught the students by using the crossword puzzles. The researcher as the observer worked collaboratively with the teacher after that, the researcher did any preparations. It included the media and the properties that were suitable with the topic.

4 After applying crossword puzzle, the researcher saw that there were good responses from the students. The students were more enthusiastic in studying English. Crossword puzzles helped the students easy to understand,memorize and helped theirto stay focused on the lessons. Crossword puzzles as the media for teaching vocabulary was very effective to make the students receive the material easily. Although teaching vocabulary using crossword puzzles was very interesting and enjoyable to the students give improvement in ability of vocabulary,there were difficulties faced by the teacher when she taught vocabulary used this media. The teacher stated in interview answer, as follow: 1) we are English teacher should prepare the materials, 2) sometimes the students are just interested in media not to the material. 3) Besides, not all of the material can be taught by using crossword puzzles game. The result of the first test showed that there were six students got the low score. Six students got 5.3 and one student got 6. While the maximum score for the first test 9.3. The result of the students changed on the second test. In the second test, the result of the students was increased. The lowest score in the second test is 6.7 and there were five students got 10. The average of the result test 1 is 7.47 and the average of the result test 2 is It means that there is an increasing from the students mastery in vocabulary. D. Conclusion Teaching vocabulary using crossword puzzles make the teaching-learning activities effective. It can be seen on the result of the students which has increased. The average of the test result 1 is 7.47 and average of the testresult 2 is Crossword puzzle is appropriate media to teach English, especially for young learners.

5 There are some suggestions stated by the researcher in order to develop and increase student s vocabulary. For the student s should be creative and they should participate in every activity that is done by the teacher in the class, because studying English using game will make them interested in class and they will like English as well as their mother tongue. The teacher should provide interesting activities and material in order to prevent the students from being bored and encourage the students interest. The suggestion for other researchers is to carry out studies related to English teaching particularly in elementary schools so that the teaching-learning process will be more successful, or at least the result and management of English teaching elementary school are better that it was. E. Reference Arikunto, Suharsimi ProsedurPenelitianSuatuPendekatanPraktik. Jakarta. BumiAksara. Fauziati, E Teaching English as a Foreign Language ( TEFL). Surakarta:Muhammadiyah University Press. Harmer, Jeremy The Practice of English Language Teaching. New York: CambridgeUniversity Press. Riduan,Drs.M.B.A Belajar Mudah Penelitian Pemula Bandung : Alfabeta. Sugiyono Metode Pendidikan Kuantitaif Kualitatif dan R & D. Bandung : Alfabeta.