USING SEMANTIC MAPPING IN TEACHING VOCABULARY THROUGH A DESCRIPTIVE TEXT - Research findings and effectiveness

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy

Semantic mapping is introduced as a vocabulary presentation technique through descriptive text. The research aims to determine the effectiveness of semantic mapping in increasing seventh-grade students’ vocabulary achievement at SMPN 1 Samalantan during the 2011/2012 academic year. The study uses a pre-experimental design with a measurement technique consisting of multiple-choice and matched-words items totaling 20 questions supported by two descriptive text passages. Data analysis shows pre-test mean 4.4 (poor) and post-test mean 7.4 (average to good), confirming effectiveness.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Vocabulary in English teaching

Problems in current vocabulary instruction

Rationale for semantic mapping

USING SEMANTIC MAPPING IN TEACHING VOCABULARY THROUGH A DESCRIPTIVE TEXT Jenny Emor,Luwandi Suhartono and Dwi Riyanti Language and Art Education Department Of Teachers Training and Education Faculty Tanjungpura University, Pontianak [email](email : Jenny_emore23@yahoo.com)[ : Jenny_emore23@yahoo.com](email : Jenny_emore23@yahoo.com) Abstract: Semantic mapping is introduced as a vocabulary presentation technique through descriptive text. The purpose of this research is to know the effectiveness of using semantic mapping in increase the students’ vocabulary achievement to the seventh grade student of SMPN 1 Samalantan in academic year 2011/2012 . The method is through pre-experimental study, using a measurement technique in form of multiple choices and matched words which consists of 20 test items with two supported descriptive text. Based on the data analysis, the mean score of pre-test 4.4, qualifying poor and post-test mean score was 7.4, qualifying average to good. The results confirmed that semantic mapping technique in teaching vocabulary through a descriptive text effectively increase the students’ achievement of vocabulary. Keywords: Vocabulary, semantic mapping, achievement Abstrak: Semantic mapping adalah teknik yang diperkenalkan sebagai salah satu teknik untuk mempresentasikan kosakata dalam suatu paragraf deskriptiv. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui semantic mapping efektiv dalam meningkatkan kosakata siswa kelas tujuh di SMPN 1 Samalantan tahun ajaran 2011/2012 . Metode yang digunakan adalah metode eksperimen, bentuk penelitian eksperimen adalah multiple choices and matched words dengan jumlah soal 20 item disertai dua paragraf deskriptiv. Berdasarkan data analisis, nilai rata-rata pre-test adalah 4.4, dalam kualifikasi rendah (poor) dan nilai rata-rata post-test adalah 7.4, dalam kualifikasi baik (good) . Maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa teknik semantic mapping dalam mengajar kosakata didalam paragraf deskriptiv efektiv menigkatkankosakata siswa. INTRODUCTION English teaching involves four language skills, Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. In teaching and learning the language, there are four linguistic aspects that support the four language skills namely, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary that are also taught in English teaching and learning process. Vocabulary is one of the aspects in teaching language, as stated by Edward (1997) vocabulary is one of the important factors in all language teaching, student must continually be learning words as they learn structure and as they practice sound system” Based on the researchers’ experience when she was taught in the seventh grade of SMPN 1 Samalantan, especially in the class that the researchers’ took as the experiment, the students still suffered a lack of vocabulary. Whenever the researcher spoke in English and asked students to mentioned vocabulary, they could not understand the meaning of words that the teacher said and most of them answered in Indonesian. Hornby (1987)”vocabulary is total number of words (with rules for combining them) which make up language”. By masteries many vocabulary we can construct or express our idea easily. Moreover, Burton (1985) said that large vocabulary helps us to express our ideas precisely, vividly, and without repeating ourselves in composition. Furthermore, Zihong (2000) cited in Elyansyah (2007) said that without sufficient vocabulary one could not communicate effectively on expressing idea. It means that having limited vocabulary is a barrier that presents students in learning a foreign language. If learners do not know how to expand their vocabulary, they gradually will lose interest in learning. As stated by Zim (1984)“weare conviced that vocabulary development is a neccesarry part of all language learning and particularly where academic study skills are concerned”. We have found that without an adequate core vocabulary, foreign readers have considerable difficulty in focu

FAQs

What is the main focus of the research?

The research focuses on using semantic mapping through descriptive text to present and teach vocabulary. It evaluates whether the technique improves students’ vocabulary achievement.

What method and assessment are used?

The study uses a pre-experimental design and measures outcomes with multiple-choice and matched-words items. The test includes 20 items supported by two descriptive text passages.

How do the results show effectiveness?

The pre-test mean score is 4.4, categorized as poor, while the post-test mean score is 7.4, categorized as average to good. The improvement confirms semantic mapping’s effectiveness for vocabulary achievement.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Franzy