The Effectiveness of Using Word Search Maker as the Medium in Teaching Vocabulary Achievement Through Cooperative Learning Method to the First-Grade Students’ of SMP N 33 Purworejo in the Academic Year 2011/2012

Abstract

Vocabulary is commonly defined as all the words known and used by a particular person. The use of an appropriate method in the learning process is also very important. Many students are poor in vocabulary English. Learning vocabulary will be more interesting if the unique media can be applied in the classroom activity since it would help the students to acquire vocabulary in effective way. One of the media is Word Search Maker. Based on the statement above, the purpose of this study is to find out whether the use Word Search Maker as the medium in teaching vocabulary achievement through cooperative learning method effective or not. The study is called experimental research. The population of this research is the first grade students of SMP N 33 Purworejo in the academic year of 2011/2012.Population of this research is 230 students. The writer takes 65 students as the sample; there are experimental group and control group. For the experimental group, the writer uses class VII C, which consists of 33 students. Meanwhile, as the control group, the writer takes 32 students of class VII B. Then, the writer gives pre-test and post-test to both classes. After analyzing the data, the writer concludes that teaching vocabulary by using Word Search Maker as the medium is effective. As the fact, the result of tvalue is 3.354. Based on the 0.05 significant levels, the value of t-table is 2.000. The result of computation shows that t- value is higher than t-table that is 3.354> 2.000. Another fact shows that the medium used is effective, it is shown by the mean of experimental group that is higher than the mean of control group. In the experimental group, the mean is 68.121. On the contrary, the mean of control group is 61.875.If the value of t test is higher that t table, the alternative hypothesis can be stated that it is effective to use Word Search Maker as the medium in teaching vocabularyto the first grade students of SMP N 33 Purworejo in the academic year of 2011/2012. Based on the result finding, it can be seen that the students’ vocabulary in teaching increases. They can understand the passages easier and encourage their motivation. Moreover, the students are not bored in learning English since as the medium used is not boring. By using this medium, the students become more creative since they get more practice.