The main aim of language is the students’ ability in acquiring the language successfully. The success of teaching can be judged by how well students used words and ruler of language, especially in their ability of applying four basic skills (listening, Speaking, Reading and writing).
The teaching of English Vocabulary instance needs a strategy namely the teacher responsible. Mr. Sumardi states : “The success or failure of the teaching language program is often evaluated from the method used by the teacher[1]”. The teacher who teaches vocabulary should be familiar with ways of improving student vocabulary. He should be adaptive to learners needs and method to be used. This means that vocabulary should be taught in various ways and interesting settings.
In this case, Adrian doff said the teacher who teaches new words at vocabulary should know at least two important ways where he can improve the students chance of learning vocabulary successfully that is “By creating a productive working atmosphere in the classroom and a good relationship with the class. By being sensitive to the individual students recognizing that students are different and have different needs and problem[2]”.
According to Adrian Doff, there are some techniques for teaching new words: “Say the word clearly and write it on the board. Get the class to repeat the word chorus. Translate the word into the student’s own language. Ask students to translate the word. Draw a picture to show what the word means. Give an English example to show the word is used. Ask question using the new word[3]”.
Clearly, based on the comment above the teacher and student have their own part in teaching and learning process. The students have responsibility to recognize the value of grammatical and also to design or make some vocabulary for discussing in classroom meeting, so that the students can understand and pronounce the word correctly as well as can use to constructively in speaking and writing.
Meanwhile, Jane Willis illustrates in his book that :
“The presentation of vocabulary or new words can be implemented through some techniquies such as by drawing pictures, bringing maps, charts, and graphs, explaining simply, mime or act, writing in figures, using symbol or a model, talking students out of the classroom, translating into student language then exemplify in English giving a context and letting students guees synonyms, antonyms[4]’.
Based on the statements above the writer can say that are may different techniques which can be used by the teacher in teaching vocabulary or new words to his students such as through traslation, mime and demonstration, visualization, synonyms, and antonyms.
The principle of teaching vocabulary is to reach of teaching, so the method and techniques are very important in this case. According to Sukirah; “there are various ways of teaching vocabulary, but there is no singgle best way for teaching vocabulary[5]”.
Based on statement, the teacher should choose an appropriate methods in teaching vocabulary, the teacher should actually master the method himself in position of leader who give instruction to the students in the classroom.
Another statement is stated by Hocked, “Vocabulary was the easiest aspect of a second language to learn and that it hardly required formal attention in the classroom[6]. It is clear that the teacher who guides the student in the classroom pays a great attention to build up the student’s vocabulary. The students who study about the language also need a number of vocabulary when they want it speak to other, and have to understand the speakers mean. If the student have no vocabulary, what would they do with communication or understand what the other say.
In addition we can not ignore vocabulary, because it is one of the most important factors. However students should master vocabulary to express their idea or something they want to say. It means that vocabulary should be learned seriously and continuously.
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[1] Sumardi, M. Pengajaran Bahasa Asing, Sebuah Tinjauan dari Segi Methodology, (Jakarta: Bulan Bintang, 1975), P.7
[2] Adrian Doff, Teaching English: A Training Course for Teacher, (New York : Cambridege, University Press, 1988), P. 283
[3] Adrian Doff, Teaching English: A Training…, P.11
[4] Jane Willis, Teaching English Trough English, (England: London Group Ltd, 1985), P. 114
[5] Sukirah Kustaryo, Reading Techniques For College Student, (Jakarta: Department of Education and Culture, 1988), P. 23
[6] David Nunan, Language Teaching Methodology, A Text Book For Teacher, (Toronto: Prentice Hall, 1991), P. 177
