The Utilization of Flashcards in Teaching English Vocabulary to Young Learners

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca

This study investigates the effectiveness of flashcards for teaching English vocabulary to young learners. The research was conducted at SDN Gempol 2 with 36 third-grade students using a one-group pre-experimental design. Pre-test and post-test scores showed vocabulary mastery increased from 65.83 to 76.80. Statistical results indicated the t-value (11.056) exceeded the critical value (2.035) with p=.000 below 0.05, confirming a meaningful difference. Findings suggest flashcards enhance engagement while supporting vocabulary acquisition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Vocabulary

Teaching Vocabulary

Vocabulary Instruction for EFL Young Learners

The Use of Flashcards in Vocabulary Learning

The Utilization of Flashcards in Teaching English Vocabulary to Young Learners 1. Wega Dhea Agnesia 2. Nurul Fadilah Nurwadi 3. Suharyadi 4. Mirjam Anugerahwati 5. Niamika El Khoiri 1,2,3,4,5 Malang State University , Indonesia Abstract This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using flashcards to teach English vocabulary to young learners. The research was conducted at SDN Gempol 2 with 36 third-grade students. A one-group pre-experimental design was employed, using pre-test and post-test to collect the data. The results revealed a significant improvement in students' vocabulary mastery, with the average score increasing from 65.83 (pre-test) to 76.80 (post-test) . Statistical analysis showed that the t-value (11 .056) exceeded the critical value (2 .035), and the significance level (p = .000) was below the threshold of 0.05, indicating a meaningful difference. These findings suggest that flashcards are an effective tool for enhancing vocabulary acquisition among young learners, as they help maintain students’ engagement through visual and interactive learning. Keywords Vocabulary acquisition Young learners Flashcards English vocabulary teaching Ethical Lingua Vol. 12 , No . 2 , 2025 ISSN 2355-3448 (Print) ISSN 2540-9190 (Online) Corresponding Email Wega Dhea Agnesia wega.dhea.2302218@student[s.um.ac.id](s.um.ac.id) Article’s History Submitted 28 August 2025 Revised 11 September 2025 Accepted 14 September 2025 DOI 10.30605/25409190.872 Copyright © 2025 The Author(s) This article is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 License The Utilization of Flashcards in Teaching English Vocabulary to Young Learners Introduction Learning vocabulary is a crucial component of language learning. As Cahyono and Widiati (2008) argue, vocabulary, in addition to grammar and pronunciation, is oneof language elements considered necessary for language mastery. A strong command of vocabulary is essential for learning English. Learning vocabulary is avery important factor in learning English. Especially for young learners, vocabulary itself serves as a foundation for developing other language skills, such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Acquiring a strong vocabulary enables students to comprehend input, express their ideas effectively, engage in meaningful communication, and has a significant impact on how a reader decodes a text (Daulay and Adelita 2023) . It belongs to the major element in learning a foreign language (Ambarwati and Mandasari 2020) . Teachers are expected to utilize a variety of teaching strategies and instructional media. In the context of English as a foreign language (EFL), vocabulary instruction requires special attention due to several pedagogical and cognitive considerations. Language and cognition are inseparable, and the study of language is bound to involve cognitive problems (Chang, Li, and Lu 2021) . The cognitive study of language is not about production, the development of a child's mother tongue, or the discovery of patterns of language acquisition in children. However, it is the study of L2 learning and acquisition that provides a theoretical foundation for L2 teaching. Unlike students in English-speaking environments, EFL students often have limited vocabulary mastery. This presents a unique challenge for EFL students, especially young learners who require structured, repetitive, and visually stimulating activities to learn new words. Vocabulary, besides having receptive and productive functions, makes a contribution that functions as a basis for communication, social reflection, emotional driver, and predictor of academic ability (Elmahdi and Hezam 2020) . If students lack adequate vocabulary, they may have difficulty understanding classroom instructions, participating in discussions, or comprehending reading texts. Teaching vocabulary these days requires a variety of teaching techniques. Various learning strategies are expected to overcom

FAQs

What is the purpose of the study on flashcards?

The study aims to investigate how effective flashcards are for teaching English vocabulary to young learners.

How was the effectiveness tested?

A one-group pre-experimental design was used with pre-test and post-test data from 36 third-grade students at SDN Gempol 2.

What results indicate improvement in vocabulary mastery?

Average scores increased from 65.83 (pre-test) to 76.80 (post-test), and statistical testing showed the t-value exceeded the critical value with p=.000 below 0.05.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by acoobca