Study on Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by High Achievers of English Education Department of University of Islam Malang

Abstract

In learning a language, vocabulary cannot be separated. Vocabulary is a key in language learning so that learners can understand the meaning in a language. To be able to master the four English skills, vocabulary skills are needed first. Learners who have little knowledge of vocabulary will find it difficult to express their ideas in English. To be able to master vocabulary, a learning strategy is needed. Learning strategies are different from one student to another, therefore students are expected to have their own learning strategies in order to achieve success in learning. The research problems in this research are: 1) What strategies do by high achievers at the fourth semester of English education department of University of Islam Malang employ in learning vocabulary? 2) What strategies mostly do by high achievers at the fourth semester of English education department of University of Islam Malang employ in learning vocabulary? The purposes of this research are: 1) To know the strategies used by high achievers at the fourth semester of English education department of University of Islam Malang in learning vocabulary. 2) To know the strategies mostly used by high achievers at the fourth semester of English education department of University of Islam Malang in learning vocabulary. The research methodology applied in this research includes: 1) Descriptive qualitative research design. 2) The English Education Department students in fourth semester especially high achievers in University of Islam Malang as subjects in this research. 3) The method to collect the data in this research employed by interview and questionnaire. 4) There are three techniques in analyzing the data involve making data reduction, drawing data display, and making conclusion/verification. The result of the study, the researcher finds various strategies in learning vocabulary employed by high achievers in fourth semester in English education department. Those learning strategies are: 1) Memory strategy. 2) Cognitive strategy. 3) Compensation strategy. 4) Metacognitive strategy. 5) Affective strategy. 6) Social strategy. For the most frequently learning strategy used is compensation strategy. The researcher offer suggestion as follows: 1) For teacher, this research can provide information related to various strategies in learning vocabulary so that it can be used to improve vocabulary skills in students also it can facilitate the teaching and learning process. 2) For students, the students are suggest to use more strategy in learning vocabulary especially compensation strategy. 3) For readers, this research can help readers to increase knowledge about vocabulary learning strategies. 4) For the other researchers, this research can be a reference and can help other researchers to develop similar research so that it is expected to find new findings from the research conducted