English Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used By Junior High School Students

Abstract

Vocabulary learning strategy is one of the strategies for success that used by students in learning English. Therefore, effective use of vocabulary learning strategies may improve students‟ learning to be easier, faster, and enjoyable. Each student learns uniquely and may have their method for learning vocabulary outside of the classroom. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the teacher to use creative thinking while selecting vocabulary-learning exercises to create a fun environment. Vocabulary learning strategies are important for students; students need to apply the right strategies, learning strategies are taken by students to make learning easier, faster, more fun, more self-directed, more effective, and more transferable. Vocabulary learning strategies consist of 5 types, which are: determination, social, memory, cognitive, and metacognitive. This study aims to find out what vocabulary learning strategies were used by second-grade students at MTs Almaarif 01 Singosari. The fourth research questions raised by the researcher are,(1)what vocabulary learning strategies are mostly used by male students,(2)what vocabulary learning strategies are mostly used by female students,(3)what vocabulary learning strategies are used the least by male students, and (4)what vocabulary learning strategies are used the least by female students. The method used in this research is qualitative. The researcher took 43 students consisting of 22 male students and 21 female students who were divided into two classes at MTs Almaarif 01 Singosari. A questionnaire with 50 items which was adapted from the taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) developed by Schmitt (1997). This research procedure includes several steps; taking scores from English teachers, distributed questionnaires, and analyzed data using Microsoft Excel. The findings of this study are. The strategy that is mostly used by male and female students is the strategy of determination, boys (3.29) and girls (3.51). the strategy that was used slightly by male and female students was the metacognitive strategy, male (2.09) female (2.50). The research results from this study indicate that the determination strategy is mostly used by male and female students because it has some form of research that allows students to actively engage with new or common words and feel they own their learning process. The data also shows that female students have an advantage over male students in the Vocabulary Learning Strategy because female students study more formally, such as; revising the acquired vocabulary, and compose and analyze the words in a sentence. So it can be concluded that in the determination strategy, female students are superior to male students in using Vocabulary Learning Strategies. Metacognitive strategies are learning strategies that are slightly used by male and female students in the results of this study. That is, students rarely learn English by using media such as music, newspapers, and radio. Metacognitive strategies require a higher level of awareness and self-reflection, which may be more challenging for some learners to develop and apply them effectively. In addition, metacognitive strategies may be less familiar to students and teachers, and therefore may not be emphasized or taught as often as other strategies. In addition, after knowing the results of this vocabulary learning strategy, it can be concluded that in the determination strategy, female students are superior to male students in using Vocabulary Learning Strategies and determination strategies including strategies that are effectively used in learning English vocabulary in class. Metacognitive strategies require a higher level of awareness and self-reflection, which may be more challenging for some learners to develop and apply them effectively. In addition, metacognitive strategies may be less familiar to students and teachers, and therefore may not be emphasized or taught as often as other strategies. Keywords: Vocabulary, Learning Strategies