Chapter One

Introduction

1. Background of the Research

Teaching English to Young Learners has become a phenomenon in Indonesia nowadays. English is taught as one of the main subjects in most of Kindergarten and Elementary schools. Teaching young learners is obviously different from teaching adults. Children are easy to accept new foreign languages. The problem is they tent to get bored if the teacher uses conventional technique and method in teaching. It is the role of teachers to use interesting teaching method to motivate their students. Harmer (2008) says:

Teachers of young learners need to spend time understanding how their students think and operate. They need to be able to pick up on their students’ current interests so that they can use them to motivate the children.

Since children like to play and have fun, the learning and teaching process should be suited with the nature of the children themselves. One of the methods that can be used to avoid boredom for children is using games. Games actively involved children and create a fun learning condition. Through this paper, the writer wants to show that through games, children could enhance their language skill, such as speaking.

2. Research Questions

This research is organized based on the questions formulated as follow:

1. How is the implementation of using games in teaching vocabulary to young learner?

2. In what way are the using of games helpful in teaching vocabulary to young learner?

3. What are the practical challenges of implementing games in teaching vocabulary to young learner?

3. Purpose of the Research

This research is aimed to:

1. To investigate the implementation of using games in teaching vocabulary to young learner.

2. To investigate in what way the using games are helpful in teaching vocabulary to young learner.

3. To investigate the practical challenges of implementing games in teaching vocabulary to young learner.

4. Significance of the Research

This research purposes initially to give some contribution for teachers in teaching vocabulary especially for young learners. It will give some further information of alternative teaching technique in teaching vocabulary for young learners, in this case the use of games.

Chapter Two Literature Review

2.1 Teaching Vocabulary to Young Learner

Vocabulary is an important part in learning English. It is plays as the basic element of the language and as the main tool to understand the meaning of the language. As supported by Cameron (2001):

“Vocabulary has been seen as a major resource for language use. Early Foreign language learning offers the chance for learners to build up a solid core of words useful for further learning, together with words that are learnt because they interest excite young learners at that age. However, early vocabulary learning may be ineffective if words are not consolidated and used regularly.”

Further more it is supported by Linse (2005) that “vocabulary development is an important aspect of language development and the research that has been conducted in recent years is very exciting. A variety of studies have proven that appropriate vocabulary instruction benefits language students, especially school-age learners.”

Word memorization is important in language learning, and memorization is helped when words are recycled regularly. Vocabulary development is a continuous process, where learners meet the words many times in their learning to increase and deepen their knowledge and their use of words in the foreign language (Cameron, 2001). It is also facilitated through using meaningful activities to practice vocabulary, as it provides the learners with opportunities to memorize the words effectively, more than if they just practice them orally by drilling or by using flashcards. Activities which involve learners in thinking about the words and making decisions about them allow learners to remember the words effectively.