The Implementation Guessing Game to Improve Students’ Motivation in Learning
Vocabulary at Fourth Grade in SDN 4 Bendoharjo
Ageng Wulan Yulista
Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang
agengwulany@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
In this era of globalization, the government realizes the importance of the role of foreign
languages in Indonesia, especially English. The role of English is learning with new concepts for
children in understanding new languages that are adapted to the child's daily life. Learning
English at the basic education level is more identical to teaching a baby the mother tongue.
Therefore, the pattern of teaching English in basic education is more of an introduction.
Selection of interesting teaching methods and techniques is also needed in teaching English so
that students are able to understand it well.
In Indonesia, English is one of the languages taught in formal education, from
kindergarten to university. In elementary school, English lessons are additional lessons that are
done once a week for one hour. This lesson in English is very important to be taught to children
from an early age because it is the main foundation for learning to a higher level. According to
Singleton in Brumfit (1997), there are several reasons for teaching English in elementary
schools, namely:
1. The need to teach children from an early age in order to be tolerant and sympathetic
to others
2. The need for understanding communication well
3. With a second language, teachers can use it as a teaching media.
Mastery of vocabulary is a problem where motivated students will continue to learn to
find solutions, while students who are not motivated will be lazy to learn vocabulary (Grogan et
al., 2018). In addition, learning motivation is one aspect of determining student vocabulary
learning achievement. Vocabulary also has an important role in mastering 4 English skills,
namely listening, speaking, writing and reading. Mc Catty and O'Dell (2001) suggest that
English has a very large vocabulary, which greatly increases our chances of expressing meaning
in different styles. Therefore, teachers must provide media or methods that can motivate students
and make students interested in learning English vocabulary.
Based on the author's observations at SDN 4 Bendoharjo, She found that some children
are less enthusiastic about learning English and already find it difficult, especially in learning
vocabulary. They also do not know and understand the meaning of these words. As a result,
students cannot learn vocabulary well. Seeing these conditions, the teacher must be able to make
vocabulary learning fun with the appropriate method. According to Suyanto (2007), in choosing
learning techniques, teachers must always remember that students like to learn by using action,
not monotonous. One of the techniques that can be used in teaching vocabulary is guessing
games. Hadvield (1984) argues that play is one of the elements that contains fun. Using game
techniques in teaching vocabulary will make it easier for students to remember new words.
Students will enjoy playing games, and have motivation in learning vocabulary. Guessing game
is a game in teaching techniques. Guessing games are games where the object is to guess several
types of information, such as words, titles, and objects. It is clear that guessing games will
increase students' motivation in learning English and improve their vocabulary.
Based on some of the opinions above, it can be concluded that the guessing game in
learning English vocabulary is basically one of the learning strategies that can make learning
meaningful, fun, creative, and in accordance with existing facts and involve students actively
learning, either mentally, intellectually, physically, and socially.
